Centurion Position in Battle

[Nathan Ross]

just what was his job in battle?

It's a question worth considering. I think the answer depends on whether we should see the centuria as an semi-independent tactical unit on the battlefield.

If not, the amount of command options, if you like, available to individual centurions are very limited - they can advance or retreat, basically, in more or less degree.

So the 'job' of the centurion on the battlefield* is quite simple, and best carried out from the front, where they can see what the enemy are doing and lead by example.

If we follow the suggestion that Polybius calling an optio an ouragos ('tail man') means that the optiones were stationed at the rear, there is surely no need for anyone else controlling the rear ranks. Everyone can look forward, towards the centurion and standard bearer (and the enemy!), and take their direction from there.

* centurions did all sorts of other things, on and off the field, of course. But it's the men in command of the centuria in the battle line we're discussing here.