Optio
2049142
218563942
2008-06-11T05:35:08Z
Mrrhum
67566
/* Uniform */ Removed " (spelt "armor" in the U.S.A American English dictionary)" on two grounds: (1) it is semiliterate; (2) it is unnecessary.
[[Image:optio.jpg|thumb|Roman Optio in a reenactment at [[Chesters Fort]] in May 2000]]
{{RomanMilitary}}
An '''''Optio''''' (from the [[Latin]] verb ''optare'', 'to choose', because an Optio was chosen by his [[centurion]]) was a soldier in the [[Roman army]] who held a position similar to that of an [[Executive Officer]] in modern armies. The main function of an Optio was as an ''Optio centuriae'', the second-in-command of a ''[[centuria]]'' (century), although there were many other positions an Optio could hold.
Optios were vital units in the late Roman army, as casualties were often high among Centurions due to their position at the front of the century, which made them easy targets. An Optio was stationed at the rear of the ranks to keep the troops in order. Their duties would include enforcing the orders of the Centurion, supervising his subordinates, and a variety of administration duties.
Optio pay was double the standard legionary pay and they were the most likely men to be promoted after a death of a centurion.
==Types of Optio==
Titles held by ''optiones'' included:
*''Optio ad carcerem'': chosen man on prison duty ([[incarceration]]).
*''Optio ad spem ordinis'': ''optio'' being groomed for promotion to the rank of centurion.
*''Optio candidatus'': ''optio'' being groomed for promotion to the rank of centurion.
*''Optio carceris'': soldier in charge of the prison cells.
*''Optio centuriae'': 'chosen man of the ''centuria'''; second-in-command and rear rank officer of a ''centuria''; classed as a ''duplicarius'', a soldier receiving double basic pay; he carried a ''hastile'' (wooden staff).
*''Optio centurionis'': 'chosen man of the centurion'; same as ''optio centuriae''.
*''Optio custodiarum'': soldier in charge of guard posts.
*''Optio draconarius'': 'chosen man among the dragon bearers', a late Roman senior standard bearer.
*''Optio equitum'': ''optio'' in the legionary or [[Praetorian Guard|Praetorian]] [[cavalry]] (equus=horse).
*''Optio fabricae'': soldier in charge of a workshop.
*''Optio navaliorum'': soldier in charge of boats.
*''Optio praetorii'': soldier attached to headquarters.
*''Optio principalis'': ''optio'' who held supervisory rank (''principales'' from the [[2nd century]] onwards); not all who had the title of ''optio'' held this status.
*''Optio speculatorum'': ''optio'' in the elite cavalry bodyguards.
*''Optio spei'': ''optio'' being groomed for promotion to the rank of centurion.
*''Optio statorum'': ''optio'' of military police.
*''Optio tribuni'': assistant to a [[tribune]].
*''Optio valetudinarii'': orderly in charge of a hospital.
==Uniform==
Unlike the Centurion, the uniform was not the distinguishing part of the Optio's uniform. The identifying part would be his helmet; this would have had plumes of horse hair or feathers on either side of his helmet that could be accompanied by a helmet crest.
An optio's armour would be more like those of the common legionary. He could wear the [[lorica segmentata]] or a [[lorica hamata]] as well as have his gladius on the right not left side. One thing that did separate him from the common legionary was the staff (called a hastile), which was used to keep the legionaries in line. This staff would be roughly as tall of the Optio himself. Optios often carried wax tablets on which they kept the orders of the day.
==References==
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}}
==External links==
[[Category:Ancient Roman titles]]
[[Category:Military ranks of ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman soldiers]]
[[ca:Optio]]
[[de:Optio]]
[[es:Optio]]
[[fr:Optio]]
[[it:Optio]]
[[la:Optio]]
[[nl:Optio]]