Princeps prior

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Princeps prior was a high-ranking Roman centurion. Each of the ten cohorts that made up a legion had at its head the rank of pilus prior followed by the princeps prior.^[1]

History

The position reflects the Roman Republic tradition of arranging the legion into three lines: the pilani, the principes and the hastati.^[2] During the Republic, the princeps prior was the centurion in command of a manipulus (unit of two centuries) of principes (legionary heavy infantry).

See also

Fields, Nic (2009). Volume 37 of Battle Orders: The Roman Army of the Principate 27 BC-AD 117. Osprey Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 1-84603-386-1.

References