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Description

This is a concept of what the rank insignia of the army of the New Roman Empire could look like.

The New Roman Army is split into “infantry branches” and “cavalry branches”, with both branch groups using their own unit designations and rank names – a similar system is used in the modern-day French Army. We’ll focus on the infantry branches first, and then look at the cavalry branches.

The infantry branches use the following unit designations:

Quarterion – a fireteam equivalent, rarely used outside of Infantry proper.

Contubernium – a section equivalent.

Manipulus – a platoon equivalent.

Centuria – a company equivalent.

Cohors – a battalion equivalent.

Legio – a brigade equivalent.

Divisio – a division equivalent.

Corpus – a corps equivalent.

Exercitus – a field army equivalent.

And now on to the ranks:

Enlisted (Gregarii):
OR-2 Miles – Private, a rank-and-file soldier. A recruit in basic training is referred to as a Tiro instead (in the New Roman Army, even the lowest rank of Miles has to be earned).
OR-3 Immunis – Lance Corporal. A soldier can get promoted to this rank for a variety of reasons, including having valuable skills, long service or general merit. This rank is not necessary for further promotion and can be “skipped”.
OR-4 Principalis – Corporal. Leads a Quarterion and assists the Contubernium leader. An NCO in all but a name, a Principalis is usually either an experienced Immunis or a fresh Schola Subpraefecti (NCO school) graduate.

NCOs (Duplicarii):
OR-5 Decanus – Sergeant, the first NCO rank. It is usually necessary to graduate a Schola Subpraefecti for a promotion to this rank, although in wartime it is possible to become a Decanus based on merit. A Decanus leads a Contubernium.
OR-6 Triarchus – Colour Sergeant. Typically an assistant Manipulus leader, he is tasked with helping young Signiferi and Optiones to lead a unit of 30+ soldiers.

Senior NCOs (Tesserarii, colloq. Duplicarii Maiores):
OR-8 Tesserarius – Company Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in a Centuria and the highest rank most legionnaires can hope to gain during their service.
OR-9 Trecenarius – Regimental Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in an entire Legio. It is extremely difficult to get promoted to this rank even after decades of service, so a Trecenarius almost always commands immense respect from soldiers and officers alike.

Company Grade Officers (Praefecti Centuriae, colloq. Praefecti Minores):
OF-1a Signifer – Ensign or Second Lieutenant. Typically, a young Schola Praefecti (military academy) graduate. Usually a Manipulus commander.
OF-1b Optio – Lieutenant. A Manipulus commander or a Centurio second in command.
OF-2 Centurio – Captain, almost always commands a Centuria.

Senior Officers (Praefecti Maiores):
OF-3 Primus Pilus – Major, a second in command of a Cohors. Unlike the Roman army, a Primus Pilus does not lead a Centuria.
OF-4 Tribunus – Lieutenant Colonel. Commands a Cohors or assists a Legatus.
OF-5 Legatus – Colonel. Commands a Legio.

General Officers (Praefecti Magni, colloq. Duces)
OF-6 Dux Legionis – Brigadier General. A Legatus posted to a staff position at a Divisio level or higher.
OF-7 Dux Divisionis – Major General. Commands a Divisio.
OF-8 Dux Corporitis – Lieutenant General. Commands a Corpus.
OF-9 Dux Exercitus - General. Commands an Exercitus.
OF-10 Dux Magnus – Field Marshal. An honorary rank for outstanding General officers.

=============================================

The cavalry branches use the following unit designations:

Vexillatio – a detachment/section equivalent.

Decuria – a troop equivalent.

Turma – a squadron equivalent.

Ala – a regiment equivalent.

Legio – a brigade equivalent.

Above Legio, units are not usually divided into infantry and cavalry.

The cavalry ranks are as follows:

Enlisted (Gregarii):
OR-2 Alaris – Trooper, a rank-and-file cavalryman.
OR-3 Immunis – Lance Corporal. Same as in infantry branches.
OR-4 Principalis – Corporal. This rank is used less often than in infantry branches.

NCOs (Duplicarii):
OR-5 Duplicarius Minor – Sergeant. Usually commands a vehicle or a Vexillium.
OR-6 Duplicarius Maior – Staff Sergeant. Assistant Decuria leader.

Senior NCOs (Tesserarii):
OR-8 Tesserarius – Squadron Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in a Turma.
OR-9 Trecenarius – Regimental Sergeant Major.

Company Grade Officers (Praefecti Centuriae, colloq. Praefecti Minores):
OF-1a Draconarius – Cornet or Second Lieutenant. Typically, a young Schola Praefecti (military academy) graduate. Usually a Decuria commander.
OF-1b Optio – Lieutenant. A Decuria commander or a Turma second in command.
OF-2 Decurio – Captain, commands a Turma.

Senior Officers (Praefecti Maiores):
OF-3 Decurio Maior – Major, a second in command of an Ala.
OF-4 Praefectus Alae – Lieutenant Colonel. Commands an Ala or assists a Legatus. Not to be confused with Praefectus Equitum, which is a general term for any cavalry officer.
OF-5 Legatus – Colonel. Commands a Legio.

The General Officer ranks are the same as in the infantry branches.

Description

This is a concept of what the rank insignia of the army of the New Roman Empire could look like.

The New Roman Army is split into “infantry branches” and “cavalry branches”, with both branch groups using their own unit designations and rank names – a similar system is used in the modern-day French Army. We’ll focus on the infantry branches first, and then look at the cavalry branches.

The infantry branches use the following unit designations:

Quarterion – a fireteam equivalent, rarely used outside of Infantry proper.

Contubernium – a section equivalent.

Manipulus – a platoon equivalent.

Centuria – a company equivalent.

Cohors – a battalion equivalent.

Legio – a brigade equivalent.

Divisio – a division equivalent.

Corpus – a corps equivalent.

Exercitus – a field army equivalent.

And now on to the ranks:

Enlisted (Gregarii):
OR-2 Miles – Private, a rank-and-file soldier. A recruit in basic training is referred to as a Tiro instead (in the New Roman Army, even the lowest rank of Miles has to be earned).
OR-3 Immunis – Lance Corporal. A soldier can get promoted to this rank for a variety of reasons, including having valuable skills, long service or general merit. This rank is not necessary for further promotion and can be “skipped”.
OR-4 Principalis – Corporal. Leads a Quarterion and assists the Contubernium leader. An NCO in all but a name, a Principalis is usually either an experienced Immunis or a fresh Schola Subpraefecti (NCO school) graduate.

NCOs (Duplicarii):
OR-5 Decanus – Sergeant, the first NCO rank. It is usually necessary to graduate a Schola Subpraefecti for a promotion to this rank, although in wartime it is possible to become a Decanus based on merit. A Decanus leads a Contubernium.
OR-6 Triarchus – Colour Sergeant. Typically an assistant Manipulus leader, he is tasked with helping young Signiferi and Optiones to lead a unit of 30+ soldiers.

Senior NCOs (Tesserarii, colloq. Duplicarii Maiores):
OR-8 Tesserarius – Company Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in a Centuria and the highest rank most legionnaires can hope to gain during their service.
OR-9 Trecenarius – Regimental Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in an entire Legio. It is extremely difficult to get promoted to this rank even after decades of service, so a Trecenarius almost always commands immense respect from soldiers and officers alike.

Company Grade Officers (Praefecti Centuriae, colloq. Praefecti Minores):
OF-1a Signifer – Ensign or Second Lieutenant. Typically, a young Schola Praefecti (military academy) graduate. Usually a Manipulus commander.
OF-1b Optio – Lieutenant. A Manipulus commander or a Centurio second in command.
OF-2 Centurio – Captain, almost always commands a Centuria.

Senior Officers (Praefecti Maiores):
OF-3 Primus Pilus – Major, a second in command of a Cohors. Unlike the Roman army, a Primus Pilus does not lead a Centuria.
OF-4 Tribunus – Lieutenant Colonel. Commands a Cohors or assists a Legatus.
OF-5 Legatus – Colonel. Commands a Legio.

General Officers (Praefecti Magni, colloq. Duces)
OF-6 Dux Legionis – Brigadier General. A Legatus posted to a staff position at a Divisio level or higher.
OF-7 Dux Divisionis – Major General. Commands a Divisio.
OF-8 Dux Corporitis – Lieutenant General. Commands a Corpus.
OF-9 Dux Exercitus - General. Commands an Exercitus.
OF-10 Dux Magnus – Field Marshal. An honorary rank for outstanding General officers.

=============================================

The cavalry branches use the following unit designations:

Vexillatio – a detachment/section equivalent.

Decuria – a troop equivalent.

Turma – a squadron equivalent.

Ala – a regiment equivalent.

Legio – a brigade equivalent.

Above Legio, units are not usually divided into infantry and cavalry.

The cavalry ranks are as follows:

Enlisted (Gregarii):
OR-2 Alaris – Trooper, a rank-and-file cavalryman.
OR-3 Immunis – Lance Corporal. Same as in infantry branches.
OR-4 Principalis – Corporal. This rank is used less often than in infantry branches.

NCOs (Duplicarii):
OR-5 Duplicarius Minor – Sergeant. Usually commands a vehicle or a Vexillium.
OR-6 Duplicarius Maior – Staff Sergeant. Assistant Decuria leader.

Senior NCOs (Tesserarii):
OR-8 Tesserarius – Squadron Sergeant Major. The most senior NCO in a Turma.
OR-9 Trecenarius – Regimental Sergeant Major.

Company Grade Officers (Praefecti Centuriae, colloq. Praefecti Minores):
OF-1a Draconarius – Cornet or Second Lieutenant. Typically, a young Schola Praefecti (military academy) graduate. Usually a Decuria commander.
OF-1b Optio – Lieutenant. A Decuria commander or a Turma second in command.
OF-2 Decurio – Captain, commands a Turma.

Senior Officers (Praefecti Maiores):
OF-3 Decurio Maior – Major, a second in command of an Ala.
OF-4 Praefectus Alae – Lieutenant Colonel. Commands an Ala or assists a Legatus. Not to be confused with Praefectus Equitum, which is a general term for any cavalry officer.
OF-5 Legatus – Colonel. Commands a Legio.

The General Officer ranks are the same as in the infantry branches.