Your Life as Every Rank in a Roman Legion (From Farm Boy to Emperor)

A Roman legionary was paid 300 denarii a year, and the army took part of it back for his boots. One centurion broke so many vine sticks on his men that they called him "Bring me another." And however brave you were, the top of the ladder was locked. So how far could a farm boy actually climb? Here is your life as every rank in a Roman legion, from recruit to centurion to camp prefect, and the one common soldier who kicked the door in and became emperor. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 The top of the ladder is locked 0:29 Level 1: Tiro, the recruit 1:35 Level 2: Miles, the common soldier 2:53 Level 3: Immunis, the specialist 4:04 Level 4: Principalis, extra pay 5:07 Level 5: Centurion, 80 men and a stick 6:27 Level 6: Primus Pilus, the first spear 7:23 Level 7: Camp Prefect 8:20 Level 8: The ceiling (tribune and legate) 9:19 Level 9: The emperor 📚 SOURCES Tacitus, Annals 1.23 (Centurion Lucilius, "Cedo alteram"). Polybius 6.37 (fustuarium). Herodian 6.8, 7.1 (Maximinus Thrax). Digest 50.6.7 (the list of immunes). Survival estimate: W. Scheidel on the demography of the Roman army. Map borders: historical-basemaps by A. Ourednik (GPL-3.0), github.com/aourednik/historical-basemaps. Coastlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Font: Patrick Hand (SIL Open Font License). 🏛️ More: The ENTIRE History of the Roman Empire: [   • The ENTIRE History of the Roman Empire Exp...  ] 🔔 Subscribe and tell us which army's ranks we should climb next. #RomanLegion #RomanArmy #AncientRome