Glossary

Glossary

Term	Reference Book	Page	Definition
AGENTES IN REBVS	Bury, J. B. History of the Later Roman Empire v.1	30	Government secret service Agent who spied on Roman and Byzantine government officials
A LIBELLIS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	74	Minister of notes, freedman advisor to the emperor
ANNONA	Bury, J. B. History of the Later Roman Empire v.1		Agricultural tax that was the main source of revenue for the late Roman government. It was usually collected in kind (agricultural products) than in money.
A RATIONABIS	Grant, Michael The Twelve Caesars	143	Finance Minister. Grant discusses these secretaries on pp. 141 - 144 0f The Twelve Caesars
A STVDIIS	Grant, Michael The Twelve Caesars	143	The A Studiis was an imperial secretary who served as librarian and cultural advisor to the emperor. He was also supposed to be responsible for commendations and promotions of men whom the emperor deemed worthy.
AB EPISTALIS	Grant, Michael The Twelve Caesars	142	Minister of letters. Grant discusses these secretaries on pp. 141 - 144 0f The Twelve Caesars
ADIECTIO STERILIVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	41	A system where state owned land is assigned to private individuals for cultivation in order to generate taxes (late Roman govt.)
AENEATORES	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	trumpeters
AGASO, STRATOR	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	batman
AGENTES IN REBVS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
AGER PVBLICVS	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	21	Ager publicus was public land that was distributed amongst retiring veterans. Most of it was held by the large senatorial landowners, leading to the reforms of the Gracci. The land was usually territory captured from an enemy.
AMMIANVS MARCELLINVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	60	Roman historian c. A. D. 330 - 400 who wrote about events in the late 3rd and 4th Centuries up till the defeat and death of Valens at Adrianople.
ANNONA	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	The Most important provincial tax
ANNONA	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	40	A tax, payable in kind, levied on rural populace
AQUILIFER	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	Eagle-bearer
AQVILIFER	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Bearer of the legionary eagles. He is described in the text
ARMILLAE	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	Bangles worn at the wrists awarded for bravery in battle
Army Pay	CORNELL & MATTHEWS, ATLAS OF THE ROMAN WORLD, FACTS ON FILE PUB.	71	Julius Caesar raises legionary pay from 120 to 225 denarii per year in 46 B.C. (480 to 900 sestertii)
Army Pay	GREENE, KEVIN, THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE ROMAN ECONOMY, U. C. PRESS	59	Domitian raises pay from 900 to 1200 sestertii per year; Sept. Severus raises pay to 1800 to 2000 sestertii per year.
army pay	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	11	According to Parker, Camillus was first Roman general to pay the troops.
Army training manual	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	72	Describes proper use of gladius (GLADIVS), the military pace, etc.
Arrian	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	60	Wrote records of campaigns in Britain
AVRI LVSTRALIS COLLATIO	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	41	tax on commerce and industry dating from time of Conatantine
AVXILIA	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	63	Auxiliary units in the Roman Army
BALLISTAE	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	63	Roman military siege engine which fired heavy bolts, or short, thick arrows.
BENEFICIARVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text
CALIGAE	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	military boots
CAPITIO IVGATIO	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	40	combination of head and land tax started under Diocletianvs
CAPVT	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	40	an individual person associated with the ivgivm (the farmer or laborer)
CASSIS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	helmet
CATAPVLTAE	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	63	Roman military siege engine capable of throwing large, heavy projectiles over the walls of an enemy town
Centurion	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	62	Roman non-commissioned officer in charge of a century (unit of 80 men)
CENTVRIO SPECVLATORVM	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Centurion in charge of the speculatores
CENTVRION	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	73	ff. Officer in command of a century of 80 troops. Their responsibilities varied widely, as did their pay
CENTVRION	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text. Junior Centurions were more like lieutenants, primus pilus was more like a full colonel. Some were commissioned directly and some rose through the ranks
CENTVRION	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	14	The centurion was an officer in command of a century.
CETRA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	small round shield
CINGVLA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	waistbelts
city prefects	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	36
CLARISSIMI	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	(late Roman high social order above spectabiles
CLIPEVS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	long, oval-shaped shield
COLLEGIA	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	trade corporations or guilds
COLONI	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	40	late Roman peasants
COLONIA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	21	Settlement for Roman legionary veterans who were given small plots of land to farm outside the walls after retirement
COMES AVRI	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	special officer in charge of the provision of gold. his signature, COMOB, was placed in the exergue of gold coins from Gratian on
COMES RERVM PRIVATARVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(official in charge of privy purse)
COMES SACRARVM LARGITIONVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(official in charge of national budget)
COMES SACRARVM LARGITIONVM	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	chief treasury official
Consul	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
CONTVS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	special heavy spear carried by nvmeri
CORNICVLARIVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text, officer in charge of headquarters staff
CORONA CIVICA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	civic crown, a very high decoration awarded for rescuing a Roman citizen from danger in the face of the enemy
CVRATOR THESAVRI SACRI IN ARCA AVRI	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	officer who certified purity of gold
CVRIOSI	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
CVRSVS PVBLICVS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(imperial postal system)
DE RE MILITARI	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	60	Manual of military tactics written by Vegetius (VEGETIVS) A. D. 383 - 450
DILECTVS	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	17	The dilectus was a levy of troops during Republican times (e. g. Secong Punic War. 212 B. C. a dilectus was used to raise troops.
Diplomas	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	61	Diplomas were awarded to legionary veterans upon retirement when they had completed their service.
DUX	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	35	(duke)
ENSIS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	long sword
eparch of constantinople	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	36
EPHIPPIVM	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	saddle cloth or blanket
EPISTULARVM	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	a class of imperial secretary
EQVITES	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Men could become equites, or Roman knights after five years' service in the Praetorian Guard. At that time, they became cavalry troops.
EVOCATI	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	24	Discharged veterans
EXERCITATOR	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Cavalry riding instructor for the speculatores
EXERCITVS COMITATENSIS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	42	a strong military mobile strike force created by Diocletianvs to supplement the frontier forces
FISCVS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(national budget)
FRENA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	Harness
GALEA			Helmet
G. PETRONIVS TVRPILLIANVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	147	Governor sent by Nero to Britain A. D. 61 - 63
GLADIVS	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	15	The Gladius was a two - edged Spanish sword carried by Roman legionaries on the right side.
GLORIOSI	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	(late Roman high social order above clarissimi
gold economy	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	41
GROMA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	26	Roman engineer's surveying instrument
HASTA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	spear
HASTA VELITARIS	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	15	Thrusting spear with a wooden haft 3ft. long and an iron head 9 inches in length used by velites.
HONESTA MISSIO	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	31	honorable dismissal from service
ILLVSTRES	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	(late Roman high social order)
IMAGINIFERI	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	standard-bearers ranking below the AQUILIFERI
Immunes	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text
IMMVNIS	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	A soldier who has attained the status of immunis is not required to perform ordinary fatigues.
ITINERARVIM ANTONII	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	26	The Antonine Itinerary measures out the distances between cities in Roman Britain, measured in Roman miles (1000 double paces)
IVGIVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	40	a unit of agricultural land based on productivity created for taxation purposes
IVLIVS FRONTINVS	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	44	Julius Frontinus was the Roman governor of Britain before A. D. 78
JOSEPHVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	60	Josephus wrote on military campaigns in Britain, Judea, and elsewhere during Vespasian's time.
Jugurtha	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	20	A Numidian chieftain who fought Rome in about 110 B. C.
JVLIVS AGRICOLA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	18	Julius Agricola was sent to Britain as governor in A. D. 78
LATIFVNDIVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	29	(great estate)
LEG II AVGVSTA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	40	The Second Augusta Legion was sent by Claudius to conquer Britain
LEG IX HISPANA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	40	The Ninth Hispania Legion was sent by Claudius to conquer Britain. It disappeared from the records early in the Second Century.
LEG XIV GEMINA	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	40	The Fourteenth Gemina Legion was sent by Claudius to conquer Britain
LEG XX VALERIA VICTRIX	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	40	The Twentieth Valeria Victrix Legion was sent by Claudius to conquer Britain
LEGION	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	17	The Roman legion was about 5200 - 6000 men during the time of the Macedonian Wars, according to Titus Livy.
Legionary Fort	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	40	Entire chapter discusses CASTRA, legions, army organization, PRINCIPIA, VALLVM, wall, PILVM, GLADIVS
LEGITIMA STIPENDIA	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	20, 25	A man could not be made to serve in the pre-Marian republican armies for more than twenty stipendia, or campaigns.
LIBELLORVM	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	a class of imperial secretary
LONDINIVM	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	22	Roman name for London, largest town in Britain but neither a COLONIA nor a MVNICIPIVM.
LORICA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	295	cuirass
LORICA	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	62	Roman legionary's cuirass or upper body armor
MAGISTER EQVITVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	master of horse
MAGISTER EQVITVM ET PEDITVM PRAESENTALIS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	Master of soldiers and horse who remained close to the emperor
MAGISTER MILITVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	master of soldiers, master-general
MAGISTER MILITVM PER ORIENTALIS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	Master general of the Roman Orient
MAGISTER OFFICIORVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(master of offices) also master of ceremonies
MAGISTER OFFICIORVM	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	master of offices
MAGISTER PEDITVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	master of infantry
MANIPLE	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	11	The maniple was a small company of Roman troops consisting of 60 men at first but it was later made up of two centuries, or 120 to 160 men.
MEMORIAE	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	a class of imperial secretary
MILES	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	Ordinary soldier
MILES GREGARIVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	77	Described in text
Military hospital	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	63	A military hospital at an army camp at Carnuntum (CARNVNTVM) is described
MILITIA EQVESTRIS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	70	Three officer posts in the army which comprise the beginning of an equestrian officer's career (Augustus)
mutiny	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	75	Tacitus, writing about the mutinous climate in some of the legions at the time of Tiberius' accession, puts words into the mouths of some soldiers "Why do we go on obeying a handful of centurions ... body and soul bought for ten coppers a day ..."
MVNICIPIVM	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	21	Roman provincial town with rights to govern itself and citizenship granted to all free residents (VERVLAMIVM, St. Albans, was only example in Roman Britain.
NVMERI	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	297	irregular cavalry units
NVMERI	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	irregular cavalry units
OFFICIA	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
OFFICIALES	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	civil servants
OFFICINAE	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	workshops (ex. in the mints)
OFFICIVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
OFFICIVM	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	the body of civil servants that constituted the staff of a minister or governor
OPTIO	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	A centurion's deputy
OPTIO	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text, roughly equivalent rank to sergeant
OPTIO	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	14	Junior officer under the centurion
OPTIO EQVITVM	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Officers in charge of turnae
PALATINI	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	43	crack units of the comitatensis who replaced the praetorian guard. They were contolled by the magister officiorvm
PARMA	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	15	Small, round buckler
PARMAE	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	small. round shields
PETILLIVS CERIALVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	69	Commander of ninth legion (LEG IX) which was mauled by Boudicca (Boadicea)
PHALERAE	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	295	orders or medals
PILVM	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	11	Camillus supposedly introduced the pilum, a short, well - balanced throwing spear
PILVM	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	15	The pilum was a Roman throwing spear with 4 1/2 foot haft and an iron head of about the same length. The iron shank of the head was driven up into the haft about 1/2 its length.
PRAEFECTI	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	23	Magistrate or officer in command of allied units (SOCII)
PRAEFECTVS CASTRORVM	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	69	Camp Commandant
PRAEFECTVS VIGILVM	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	officer in charge of city police
PRAEPOSITVS SACRI CVBICVLII	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(grand chamberlain)
PRAETOR	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
praetorian prefecture	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	36	retained both civil & military authority under Diocletian
PRIMVS PILVS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	73	The primus pilus was the head centurion, sometimes in command of a cohort
PRINCEPS	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	31	a civil service head of staff (as opposed to an imperial title)
PRINCIPALIS	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	A Praetorian Guardsman with several years' service who draws double pay
PROBATVS	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	Probationary Praetorian Guardsman candidate
Proconsul	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
Procurator	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
QUAESTOR	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
QVAESTOR SACRI PALATII	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
RES PRIVATAE	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(imperial privy purse)
Roman Army Organization, 350 B. C.	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	13 - 14	Each legion has 4200 - 6000 men, 10 maniples each of HASTATI, PRINCIPES, & TRIARII plus lightly armed VELITES. Each MANIPLE has 120 - 160 troops or 2 CENTURIES. 2 CENTURIONS & 2 OPTIONES per century,
Roman Dagger	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	23	Picture
SACRA VESTIS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(imperial camera)
SACRAMENTVM	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	25	The sacramentum was the sacred military oath of loyalty in the Roman legions. It was sometimes administered annually.
SACRVM CVBICVLVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37
SAGVM	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	295	cloak
SCALPTORES	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	die cutter or celator in the LateRoman mint
SCHOLAE PALATINAE	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	37	(imperial bodyguard) commanded by magister officiorvm
SCRINIA	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	29	secretarial bureaux
SCVTVM	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	regular legionary shield
SCVTVM	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	11	The scutum was a long, curved rectangular or oval shaped shield supposedly introduced by Camillus.
SCVTVM	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	15	The scutum was an oval shield made of wood covered with hides and strengthened with an iron rim and central boss.
SCVTVM, shield	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	23	Picture
SELIQVA, SILIQVA	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	42	silver coin from time of Constantivs ll on
SENATVS CONSVLTA	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	38
SIGNIFER	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text, roughly equivalent rank to sergeant
SIGNIFERI	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	standard-bearers ranking below the AQUILIFERI
SILENTVM	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	meetings of sacrvm consistorvm
SILENTVM ET CONVENTVS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	meetings of sacrvm consistorvm and senate
SOCII	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	13	Allies of Rome during the Republic
SOLIDVS	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	42	gold coin, i/72 of a Roman pound (4.48g) that kept its weight and stability for several centuries
SPATHA	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	298	long sword
SPECTABILES	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	39	(late Roman high social order above illustres)
SPECVLATORES AVGVSTI	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Elite imperial cavalry bodyguard
SVPPOSITORES	ROMAN OMPERIAL COINAGE VOL IX	XXXV	worker who holds the flan for striking in the Roman mint
synkletos	Ostrogorsky, George History of the Byzantine State	38	(senate) Greek
TESSERARIVS	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	9	Praetorian Guardsman in charge of passing on the watchword
TESSERARIVS	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion		Described in text, roughly equivalent rank to sergeant
TRECENARIVS	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Senior centurion who is immediate subordinate to the tribune in charge of a Praetorian cohort
Tribal capitals (Britain)	Priestly Britain Under the Romans	22	List of tribal centers in Britain
Tribune	Leonard Cottrell, The Great Invasion	68ff	Discussed in chapter
TRIBVNE (Military)	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	13, 18	High - ranking legionary officer. There were six tribunes to a legion. They were later replaced bt the LEGATI
TRIBVNVS ANGUSTICLAVII	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	70	Military tribune of equestrian rank
TRIBVNVS LATICLAVIVS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	70	Military tribune of senatorial rank
TVRNAE	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Praetorian cavalry units of thirty men
VEII, siege of	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	11	Ancient Etruscan city that vied with Rome for controlling the trade routes up the Tiber
VEII, siege of	Tim Cornell Atlas of the Roman World Facts on File Publications	29	The Etruscan city of Veii controlled the right bank of the Tiber and was one of Rome's most bitter rivals during the fifth Century B. C. The Roman hero, M. Furius Camillus, was credited with destroying Veii in a war lasting ten years, 405 to 396 B. C.
VEXILLARII	H. M. D. Parker The Roman Legions	14	Standard bearers
VEXILLARIVS EQVITVM	Rankow and Hook The Praetorian Guard Osprey Military Elite Series	8	Cavalry flag bearer
VICARIVS	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	27	diocesan govenor
VIGILES	BURY, J. B. HISTORY OF THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE VOL 1.	28	city police
VITIS	Grant, Michael Army of the Caesars	296	vinewood staff carried by a centurion