02-10-2001, 12:01 PM
Salve,<br>
<br>
Confusion abounds concerning grades, ranks, pay scales and fuctions and the uncertainty is likely to be greater than acknowledged in some modern publications. One of the problems is that <i> optio</i>, 'chosen man', was apparently not only used to designate the <i> duplicarius</i> functioning as rearrank officer(<i> ouragos</i>), but also given to other soldiers with various functions, some of which are not <i> duplicarii</i>, but rather rankers with a special function. It thus seems not to be a precisely defined rank designation.<br>
<br>
This is comparable to the modern differences between the naval rank of lieutenant and captain and the army/marine corps rank of lieutenant and captain (same differences apply to the Netherlands rank structure and US armed forces). A navy lieutenant is of comparable rank to an army captain and outranks the army lieutenant, and a navy captain is equivalent in rank to an army colonel, outranking an army captain. The same title can thus be applied to soldiers of different rank. <i> Optio</i> similarily does not seem to be equivalent to a specific rank. A chosen man need not necessarily have been a <i> duplicarius</i>, but could also be a <i> simplaris</i>. In the latter case, it might be an <i> immunis</i>, it might be not, it might be an <i> immunis perpetuus</i>, it might be not. This is all very confusing to establish a systematic, logical and coherent table of career and promotion structure.<br>
<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'Paygrades and ranks below the centurionate' in: <i> JRS</i> 61 (1971) 130-135.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The career structure below the centurionate during the principate' in: <i> ANRW</i> II-1 (Berlin-New York 1974), 435-451.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The organisation of the career structure of the immunes and principales of the Roman army' in: <i> BJ</i> 174 (1974), 245-292.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The ownership of weapons' in: <i> Britannia</i> 7 (1976), 93- 95.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'A note on the use of the titles Optio and Magister below the centurionate during the principate' in: <i> Britannia</i> 7 (1976), 127-133.<br>
<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Confusion abounds concerning grades, ranks, pay scales and fuctions and the uncertainty is likely to be greater than acknowledged in some modern publications. One of the problems is that <i> optio</i>, 'chosen man', was apparently not only used to designate the <i> duplicarius</i> functioning as rearrank officer(<i> ouragos</i>), but also given to other soldiers with various functions, some of which are not <i> duplicarii</i>, but rather rankers with a special function. It thus seems not to be a precisely defined rank designation.<br>
<br>
This is comparable to the modern differences between the naval rank of lieutenant and captain and the army/marine corps rank of lieutenant and captain (same differences apply to the Netherlands rank structure and US armed forces). A navy lieutenant is of comparable rank to an army captain and outranks the army lieutenant, and a navy captain is equivalent in rank to an army colonel, outranking an army captain. The same title can thus be applied to soldiers of different rank. <i> Optio</i> similarily does not seem to be equivalent to a specific rank. A chosen man need not necessarily have been a <i> duplicarius</i>, but could also be a <i> simplaris</i>. In the latter case, it might be an <i> immunis</i>, it might be not, it might be an <i> immunis perpetuus</i>, it might be not. This is all very confusing to establish a systematic, logical and coherent table of career and promotion structure.<br>
<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'Paygrades and ranks below the centurionate' in: <i> JRS</i> 61 (1971) 130-135.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The career structure below the centurionate during the principate' in: <i> ANRW</i> II-1 (Berlin-New York 1974), 435-451.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The organisation of the career structure of the immunes and principales of the Roman army' in: <i> BJ</i> 174 (1974), 245-292.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'The ownership of weapons' in: <i> Britannia</i> 7 (1976), 93- 95.<br>
Breeze, D.J., 'A note on the use of the titles Optio and Magister below the centurionate during the principate' in: <i> Britannia</i> 7 (1976), 127-133.<br>
<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
