A
centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army. Centurions commanded a
century of soldiers and noncombatants. As a centurion grew in seniority, he could command a
cohort[?], and eventually become
primipilus[?], lit. "first spear," of a legion.
The centurion's uniform was marked by two alterations from standard Roman uniform: his helmet crest was side to side instead of back to front, and he wore greaves. The centurion also carried a vine staff as a badge of office.
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