page_title: Primus pilus
section_title: Historical role
hierarchical_section_title: Primus pilus / Historical role
caption_attribution_description: English: Votive altar for Fortuna Conservatrix, 222-235 A.D. Sandstone. Inscription: M. Aurelius Cocceius, primus pilus of the Legio X Gemina Severiana, with his people, to Fortuna Conservatrix. The vow was redeemed voluntarily, happily and accordingly. Deutsch: Weihealtar für Fortuna Conservatrix. 222-235 n. Chr. Sandstein, Gefunden: 1, Neuer Markt 10-11, 1898. Inschrift: M. Aurelius Cocceius, primus pilus der legio X Gemina Severiana, mit den Seinen der Fortuna Conservatrix. Das Gelübde wurde gern, freudig und nach Verdienst eingelöst. &#160;Dieses Bild wurde anlässlich des österreichischen Tags des Denkmals 2013 in Wien eingereicht. Español: Inscripción votiva romana dedicada a la Fortuna Conservatrix entre 22 y 235, procedente de Viena (Austria), correspondiente con CIL III 14359,26 = AEA 2001/02, 60 = AEA 2005, 36 = AEA 2006, 10 = AEA 2010, 6: Fortunae / Conservatri/ci M(arcus) Aur(elius) Cocce/ius Florianus / p(rimus) p(ilus) leg(ionis) X G(eminae) Sev(erianae) / cum suis / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) l(aetus) [m(erito)]
context_page_description: The Primus pilus or Primipilus was the senior centurion of the first cohort in a Roman legion.
context_section_description: In the late Roman republic, the cohort (of which there were between six and ten) became the basic tactical unit of the legions. The cohort was composed of five to eight centuries, each led by a centurion assisted by an optio, a soldier who could read and write. The senior centurion of the legion and commander of the first cohort was called the primus pilus, a career soldier and advisor to the legate. While every normal cohort was composed of five to eight centuries (normally six in secondus to decius cohorts), the one that was led by the primus pilus (the first) had about ten centuries, or 800 men. It also had a number of other staff, such as cooks, clerks, etc.; that is, non-combatants. In modern infantry ranks, primus pilus would be considered a lieutenant colonel in relation to battalion-size units, though there is no direct corresponding equivalent.
  Only eight officers in a fully officered legion outranked the primus pilus: The legate (lēgātus legiōnis), commanding the legion; the senior tribune (tribunus laticlavius); the Camp Prefect (praefectus castrorum); and the five junior tribunes (tribuni angusticlavii).
caption: Altar dedicated to Fortuna Conservatrix by Marco Aurelio Cocceius Floriano, who was Primus Pilus of the Legio X Gemina the time of Severus Alexander in Vindobona.
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