08-17-2010, 12:54 AM
The likely real reason that there was no cohort commander is the straightforward one that in battle, the level of noise etc was such that the commander/centurion could not be heard/seen beyond the 20 X 10 yards or so area occupied by his century - even with the aid of his cornicen/trumpeter and signifer. The 60 yards or so of frontage occupied in battle by a cohort could not be effectively commanded by a single person.
Off the battlefield, if a cohort ever needed a single commander e.g. for administrative purposes, then as has been suggested, it is likely the senior centurion had the final decision.
Off the battlefield, if a cohort ever needed a single commander e.g. for administrative purposes, then as has been suggested, it is likely the senior centurion had the final decision.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
