Legatus legionis

Legatus legionis Campaign history of the Roman military
Active	- August 476
Country	Ancient Rome
Type	Infantry
Part of	Roman Legion
Garrison/HQ	Castra
Patron	Mars
Equipment	Gladius, Scutum, Galea
Insignia
Senatus popolusque romanus and l'Aquila legionaria

Legatus legionis was a title awarded to legion commanders in Ancient Rome.

History

By the time of the Roman Republic, the term legatus delegated authority (usually a consul or proconsul). Julius Caesar made wide use of the title throughout the Gallic Wars.

From Augustus, the emperor gave the title of legatus legionis to senior commanders (former military tribunes) of a legion, except in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where the legions were commanded by a praefectus legionis of an equestrian rank. The legatus legionis was under the supreme command of Legatus Augusti pro praetore of senatorial rank. If the province was defended by a single legion, the Legatus Augusti pro praetor was also in direct command of the legion.

A legatus legionis could order capital punishment.

The senatorial legatus legionis was removed from the Roman army by Gallienus, who preferred to entrust the command of a legionary unit to a leader chosen from within the equestrian order who had a long military career.

This post generally lasted 3 or 4 years, but could be much longer. A legatus legionis was usually from a wealthy or important family.

In literature

• The book Voluptas by Jonathan Shane O'Brien contains a character, Vincent, who is a legatus legionis.
• The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow features Vespasian, the future Emperor, during his years as legatus legionis of the Legio II Augusta during the Roman conquest of Britain.

Bibliography

• EB Thomasson, Legatus: Beiträge zur römischen Verwaltungsgeschichte, Stockholm, Göteborg, 1991
• Sir William Smith, A dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities, Volume 1, Ed. William Wayte and George Eden Marindin, 3rd Edition, J. Murray, 1901
• L. Keppie, The Making of the Roman Army, from Republic to Empire, 1984.