Centurions

[bunn]

The title of 'centurion' in the second-century AD Roman army seems to cover a pretty broad range of jobs - Wikipedia seems to think from about the equivalent of a modern British army lieutenant, up to about the equivalent of a major.

I have a character who has a background among the provincial aristocracy (not quite equestrian, but a rich family),  has served as an Auxiliary centurion for a while, and is now doing a pretty responsible/important job, reporting direct to the provincial governor.   I think he is still called a Centurion (even though he's presumably getting paid quite a lot) because he's not quite at equestrian level, and he's a career soldier who has been promoted.

When I am writing about him, I feel I need a way to refer to him that somehow communicates:  'This is a Very Important Centurion' to make it clear that he is In Charge, and other centurions are reporting to him. Any suggestions?

Comments

[firin.livejournal.com]

Is the position of Primus Pilus not appropriate?

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I wondered about that, but I get the impression that Primus Pilus is mostly about running a Legion under the Legate? IE, a key part of the main Legion admin/hierarchy?

Whereas this guy is an auxiliary centurion rather than a legionary (so little known about auxiliaries, hurray!) and has been sent to Sort Out The Silver Trade in Dumnonia, so he's sort of on secondment to do a specific job as a kind of governor's deputy, in an area where there aren't many conventional legionary troops.

Possibly this would really be a civilian job, but because I am trying to reconcile Eagle of the Ninth with history, I need it to be an auxiliary one, and there does seem to be some evidence to support centurions being assigned to do that sort of thing.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

... my main problem is almost a problem of expression - how would a lowly member of the troops refer to him in a way thta makes it clear he's in charge? Maybe I should give him a nickname or something. :-/

[firin.livejournal.com]

A nickname would work, clearly one of which he approves, together with an attitude that indicates respect.