Signifer

Roman troops of the Legio XV Apollinaris with Signifer and Aquilifer, represented by reenactors , marching out of their recronstructed camp in Pram (Upper Austria) .

The Signifer (Latin signum = "character", ferre = "carry, bring"), the support of the was field sign a Centurie in the Roman military . He belonged to the Principales (for example NCOs / Sergeants) and received a higher pay than ordinary soldiers. Literally translated, he corresponds to the modern ensign and was also formally the highest non-commissioned officer of the Centurie, but his rank among the Romans was not designed as part of an officer or centurion career (this was more the case with the optio ad spem ).

equipment

Modern performer of a signifer with a replica of the LEGIO XXX VLPIA TRAIANA VICTRIX standard .

Outwardly, Signiferi were very prominent, as they wore a special helmet that could be closed with a mask and to which the prepared head of a predator's fur (wolf, lion, bear) was attached. The front paws of the fur were tied over the chest, the rest of the fur covered the back of the Signifer. In contrast to the other legionaries, the Signifer did not wear a scutum , but the small oval shield ( Parma equestris ) originally from the cavalry .

tasks

Experienced soldiers with proven bravery were often appointed to signiferi because the centurie's sign was an essential point of reference for the legionnaires in the turmoil and was not allowed to fall. In addition, they were responsible for supplying their Centurie with food and for finances.

After the centurion, the signifer was the highest-ranking soldier in the centurion. Since he was very limited in combat due to his special task, he was not the tactical deputy of the Centurion in battle (this was the option ). He received one and a half times the pay of a normal legionnaire.

The most senior signifier of a legion was the Aquilifer , who wore the legionary eagle . This was a special honorary post for deserving NCOs shortly before their discharge.

present

Today the term is occasionally used, mostly in the form of signiferary , in the context of the Catholic mass for the altar servers who wear the episcopal insignia miter and staff .

literature

• Stefan Zehetner: The Signifer. Position and tasks in the Imperial Army. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken 2011, ISBN 978-3-639-33690-0 (Partly also: Vienna, University, diploma thesis, 2009).
• Joachim Ott: The Beneficiarier. Investigations into their position within the hierarchy of the Roman army and their function (= Historia . Individual writings. 92). Franz Steiner, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-515-06660-8 (At the same time: Frankfurt am Main, Universität, dissertation, 1993; limited preview in the Google book search, [accessed on July 20, 2015]).

Individual evidence

1. ^ Joachim Ott: The Beneficiarier. 1995, p. 73.
2. ↑ Stefan Zehetner: The Signifer. Position and tasks in the Imperial Army. Vienna 2009, p. 13, (Vienna, University, diploma thesis, 2009; digitized version (PDF; 21.2 MB) , [accessed on January 22, 2017]).

See also

• List of ranks and branches of service in the Roman army

Web links

Commons : Signifer  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Legionary eagle and standard. Varus battle in the Osnabrück region: the Roman army. In: Varus Battle. Museum und Park Kalkriese, accessed July 20, 2015 .