Short Rounds

Paying Miles Gloriosus

As the Empire emerged from the ruins of the Republic after nearly two decades of civil wars that followed Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon in 49 B.C., the latter’s adopted son Octavian established himself as the sole imperator by 30 B.C., and ruled until his death in A.D. 14. Assuming the name Augustus, he instituted numerous reforms in the military system, most notably giving Rome its first permanent standing army; hitherto, at least on paper, the army was still essentially an impermanent force, raised for emergencies.

Among his many military reforms, Augustus set the pay for the army. Surprisingly, over the next 250 yeas or so, the army would receive only three raises. Domitian (r. 81-96) would raise the pay in A.D. 84, by the simple expedient of adding a fourth payday to the annual calendar. In 197 Septimius Severus (r. 193-211), who believed in enriching the army and ignoring everyone else, doubled the pay. Fifteen years later his son Caracalla (r. 211-217) increased pay by 50 percent, to insure the loyalty of the troops after he had murdered his younger brother and co-emperor. 

This table sets out the standard pay rates for legionary “enlisted” personnel, but not for officers, who were compensated on a much higher scale.

Figures are in sestertii, the value of which remained fairly stable until widespread debasement of the coinage began under Maximinus Thrax, who came to power in 235. This debasement was one factor in the disastrous bout of civil wars the followed over the next 50 years.

The ranks were,

•   Primus pilus, or primpilus: senior centurion of the legion, something like a divisional command sergeant major.
•   Primi ordines: the senior centurion in command of a cohort, a battalion-like formation.
•   Centurio: effectively a company commander, though not actually an officer in the modern sense.
•   Eques legionis: legionary cavalryman
•   Miles legionis:  legionary infantryman
•   Eques cohortis: cavalryman of an auxiliary cohort
•   Miles cohortis: infantryman of an auxiliary cohort.

Personnel assigned to various special duties, such as legionary clerks, standard bearers, scouts, and so forth, would receive additional sums above their normal base pay, usually defined as a “pay-and-a-half man” or a “double pay man.”.

Although about half of a soldier’s pay ended up as deductions – rations, equipment, pension, etc. – his compensation compared rather favorably with most civilian jobs. In the First Century, for example, a secretary, a fairly high status civilian occupation, might earn about 700 sestertii in a year, assuming he worked full time. As for purchasing power, for one sestertius a person could buy a pound of bread and a pint of vino vulgaris in Rome itself, where prices were about double those in the provinces, and maybe have a little left over to spend an hour or so in the baths. 

Honors Compared

In 1829, shortly after the end of the most recent iteration of the seemingly interminable series of Russo-Turkish wars (at least nine by then, with about four more to go), a Turkish officer and a Russian officer chanced to find themselves serving as parlementaires together to implement some aspect of the peace arrangements.

Noting a number of impressive decorations hanging on ribbons around the Russian’s neck, the Turk pointed at one and asked, “What is this?”

The Russian proudly replied, “That is the Cross of the Order of St. Anne, given me by the Tsar for my services."

“Wonderful!" exclaimed the Turk, who then produced a handsome jewelled snuff-box, “The Sultan gave me this for my services, is it not better?”

Before the startled Russian could respond, the Turk pointed to another cross. “What is this?”

“The Order of St. Vladimir,'' replied the Russian, still trying to wrap his mind around the Turk’s assertion that the snuff box was better than the Cross of St. Anne, adding, “also given me by the Tsar for my services.”

“Wonderful!" exclaimed the Turk, who then produced an elaborately decorated Koran, saying “and this was also given me by the Sultan on another occasion, when I pleased him; is it not better?” Then, fingering the third cross around the Russian’s neck, he said, “What is this?”

The Russian swelled with pride, saying “Ah ! this is the most precious token of my sovereign's regard. This is the Cross of St. George, only bestowed for courageous action; to gain it nearly cost me my life.”

“God is great!” said the Turk, “but you are easily satisfied.” Then, reaching into his  robe, he said “Behold!” and pulled out a purse fat with gold coins, “the Sultan gave me this as a reward for my services against you on such a day.  Friend, my Sultan knows better how to recompense merit than your Tsar.”