Centurion A centurion ( ; ) , also hekatontarch ( , " hekatontarchos " ) in Greek sources , or , in middle Byzantine times , kentarch ( κένταρχος , " kentarchos " ) , was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 B . C . Most centurions commanded 80 men but senior centurions commanded cohort s , or took senior staff roles in their legion . Centurions were also found in the Roman navy . Centuries , or " Centuriae " , means tribe or company . Theoretically , this word traces its roots to " centum " which is Latin for one hundred , but that connection is widely disputed or disregarded . Role . In the Roman infantry , centurions initially commanded a " centuria " or " century " . Centuries , or centuriae , developed from the Roman tribal system under the Servian reforms and could contain 200 to 1000 men . Later , generals and Caesars further manipulated these numbers with double and half - strength units . Gaius Julius Caesar , for instance , made the first century double strength . Centurions seemed to receive a much higher rate of pay than the average legionary , twice as much or more ( possibly as much as 17 times as much as a legionary soldier ) . Veteran legionaries often worked as tenants of their former centurions . During the Imperial era , centurions gradually rose in seniority in their cohort , commanding centuries with higher precedence , until commanding the senior century and therefore the whole cohort . The very best centurions were then promoted to become centurions in the First Cohort , called " Primi Ordines " , commanding one of the ten centuries and also taking on a staff role . The most senior centurion of the legion was the " Primus Pilus " who commanded the first century . All centurions , however senior , had their own allocated century . There was little difference between the ranks of centurions except for the " Primus pilus . " The Primus Pilus also participated in war councils . The Primus Pilus was so called because his own century was the " first file " ( " primus pilus " ) of the first ( rightmost ) cohort . Only eight officers in a fully officered legion outranked the " Primus Pilus " : the legate ( " legatus legionis " ) , commanding the legion ; the senior tribune ( " tribunus laticlavus " ) , second - in - command of the legion ; the Camp Prefect ( " praefectus castrorum " ) ; and the five other tribunes ( " tribuni angusticlavii " ) , who apparently served as senior staff officers to the legate with a rank roughly equivalent to a modern colonel . Comparisons between the centurion grades and modern officer ranks can lead to many incorrect assumptions . Centurions could be elected , appointed by the Senate , or promoted " from the ranks " for a variety of reasons . Julius Caesar is said to have promoted his centurions for displays of valor . Other historians cite examples of them being the first over the enemy ' s wall or through the breach . If this case were strictly so , then there would be a lack of centurions in peacetime garrisons , which is where the Roman Army mostly spent its time . Nonetheless , although not directly comparable to modern ranks , the various centurion grades may be loosely compared to modern junior and middle officer grades . Centurions often suffered heavy casualties in battle , generally fighting alongside the legionaries they commanded . They usually led from the front , occupying a position at the front right of the century formation . They could be identified by the transverse horse - hair crest on top of their helmet , their metal greaves and ( unlike the legionaries ) the sword worn on the left , like all Roman officers . They led and inspired their men by example . They also sought to display the skill and courage that may have brought them to their rank in the first place . It is for these reasons that they often suffered a disproportionate number of casualties . Below the centurions were the " optio nes " , seconds - in - command of centuries . Being held personally responsible for the training and discipline of the legionaries under their command , centurions had a well - deserved reputation for dealing out harsh punishment . In " The Annals " , Tacitus tells the story of one known as ' Cedo Alteram ' - which roughly translates to ' Gimme Another ' : " The mutinous soldiers thrust out the tribunes and the camp - prefect ; they plundered the baggage of the fugitives , and then killed a centurion , Lucilius , to whom , with soldier ' s humour , they had given the nickname ' Gimme Another ' , because when he had broken one vine - stick across a soldier ' s back , he would call in a loud voice for another . . . and another . " The vine - stick mentioned above by Tacitus was called a " vitis " ; it was a symbol of the centurion ' s authority and the implement with which they would mete out punishment . Evidence suggests that centurions had important social status and held powerful positions in society . They seemed to receive their status according to their rank . On retirement they could be eligible for employment as Lictor s . Seniority . Each century had a precedence within the cohort . Centurions ' seniority within the cohort and legion depended on the position within the legion of the century they were in charge of , which often took their name from their centurion . Centurions began by leading junior centuries before being promoted to leading a more senior one . Promotion usually came with experience , or at least length of service , but many still never made it as far as leading a 1st cohort . Yet for centurions who showed , say , particularly conspicuous bravery during battle , there was the opportunity to be promoted several grades at once . For example , Julius Caesar ' s reward for a centurion who had greatly pleased him was to advance him eight grades . Promotion through the various grades often meant transferring to another legion . The precedence during the times of the manipular legion , commanding sixty men , was organized like this : For the imperial legion they were organized ( in order of who advanced first ) ; and so on . There were five centuries in the first cohort , each century with twice the number of soldiers of a normal century . All first - cohort centurions outranked all centurions from other cohorts . The qualities necessary for the centurion . Centurions had to be literate , have connections ( letters of recommendation ) , be at least 30 years of age , and had already served a few years in the military . The centurion in the infantry is chosen for his size , strength and dexterity in throwing his missile weapons and for his skill in the use of his sword and shield ; in short for his expertness in all the exercises . He is to be vigilant , temperate , active and readier to execute the orders he receives than to talk ; Strict in exercising and keeping up proper discipline among his soldiers , in obliging them to appear clean and well - dressed and to have their arms constantly rubbed and bright . ( Vegetius . De Re Militari , II , 14 )