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Romans in Britain - Glossary of military terms Category: History and Culture > Romans Date & country: 12/12/2007, UK Words: 983

Bandifer
Byzantine standard bearer.

Bandon
Late Roman military unit.

Bandum
Late Roman military standard.

Barbaricum
The world beyond the imperial frontiers.

Barbarus
Non Roman. foreigner.

Baro
Servant. groom.

Barritus
Battle cry.

Basileus
Emperor.

Basilica equestris exercitatoria
Cavalry training hall.

Basilica exercitatoria
Drill hall.

Basilikon telos
Imperial guard.

Basilikos
Imperial.

Batavus
A - Batavian. B - nickname of imperial horse guard trooper.

Battualia
Fighting exercise.

Bebra
Barbarian heavy javelin.

Bellator
Fighter. warrior.

Bellum
War.

Belos
Missile.

Beneficiarius
A - soldier on special assignment. B - military police.

Beneficiarius consularis
Soldier attached to a provincial governor's staff.

Beneficiarius legati legionis
Soldier attached to staff of legionary commander.

Beneficiarius tribuni
Soldier attached to the staff of a tribunus .

Beneficium
Military promotion.

Benephikiarios
Greek equivalent of beneficiarius .

Biarchus
Late Roman NCO.

Bipennis
Double headed axe.

Boukellarèos
Personal retainer, Greek equivalent of Buccellarius .

Bracae
Trousers.

Brittunculus
'Little Briton'. derogatory name for Roman adversary in Britannia.

Buccellarius
Private retainer.

Buccellatum
Hard tack. ration.

Bucculla
Helmet cheeck piece.

Bucina
Musical instrument.

Bucinator
Trumpeter.

Bucinator principalis
Trumpeter with NCO rank.

Burgarius
Soldier stationed at burgus .

Burgus
Small fortification.

Cacula
Military servant.

Caesim ferire
To slash (with a sword).

Calceus
Shoe. boot.

Calciarium
'Shoe money'. bounty demanded by troops for prolonged marching.

Caliga
Leather personnel carrier. military boot.

Caligatus
Person wearing caligae . soldier, NCO or officer below the social rank of eques Romanus .

Calo
Horse groom. military servant.

Campicursio
Military exercise.

Campidoctor
Drill instructor.

Campigenus
'Born at the exercise field'. elite legionary soldier.

Campus
Cavalry training area. exercise field.

Campus Martius
Field of Mars where during the republic troops were assembled prior to military campaigns.

Canabae
Civilian settlement attached to military base.

Candidatus
A - soldier awaiting promotion. B - late Roman guardsman.

Cannensis
The nickname of the soldiers who had survived the defeat at Cannae and were kept in service until Carthage was defeated in the Second Punic War.

Capite censi
'Head count'. citizens that could not meet the property demands required for military service.

Capsa
Container with bandages and medical implements carried by medics.

Capsarius
Medic.

Caput contubernii
Head of tentparty.

Caput porcinum
'Boar's head'. attack column or wedge formation.

Carcer
Prison cell.

Carcerarius
Prison guard.

Carroballista
Torsion artillery.

Cassis
Helmet.

Castellum
Fort.

Castigatio
Corporal punishment.

Castra
Camp.

Castra aestiva
Summer campaigning camp.

Castra hiberna
Winter base.

Castra movere
To break camp.

Castra peregrina
Military base at Rome for personel seconded from the provincial armies.

Castra praetoria
Praetorian camp. A - base of the praetorian guard at Rome established by Tiberius. B - dense close ordered formation in the late Roman army.

Castrense peculium
Possessions acquired by soldier during military service which remained outside the patria potestas .

Cataphracta
Body armour.

Cataphractarius
Heavily armoured cavalryman.

Cataphractus
Heavily armoured cavalryman.

Catapulta
'Shield smasher'. torsion gun.

Causarius
Soldier discharged for wounds or other medical reasons.

Cedo alteram
'Give me another'. nickname of a hated centurio killed in the Pannonian mutiny of AD 14 who used to break his vine sticks on the back of his men.

Celeusta
Naval officer.

Cenaticum
Provision of (money for) food. often extorted by soldiers billeted on civilians.

Centenaria
Small fortification.

Centenarius
Late Roman officer of equivalent rank as centurio .

Centenus
Unit of nominally a hundred men.

Centuria
'Hundred'. military unit of some thirty to two hundred foot soldiers.

Centurio
'Commander of hundred'. centurion. officer.

Centurio exercitator
Cavalry training officer.

Centurio ordinarius-ordinatus
Centurion commanding a centuria .

Centurio posterior
Second in command of a manipulus .

Centurio prior
Senior centurion of a manipulus .

Centurio regionarius
District centurion responsible for administration and law enforcement.

Centurio speculatorum Augustorum
Officer attached to the speculatores of the praetorian guard.

Centurio stratorum
Officer in charge of horse supply to the army which was at times placed in command of the pedites singulares .

Centurio supernumerarius
Supernumerary centurion with special assignments.

Cervus
'Animal horn'. obstacle made of pointed stakes.

Cetra
Shield. small Hispanic buckler.

Cetratus
A - soldier equipped with a small shield. B - skirmisher.

Charax
Wall.

Cheiroballistra
Torsion artillery.

Chiliarchia
Unit of nominally a thousand men.

Chiliarchos
'Commander of a thousand'. Greek term for tribunus .

Choortè
Cohort.

Cibaria
Rations.