Was there detailed ranks in the Roman Empire's armies? If so, what were they?

by Frawwst
Agrippa911

I'm assuming you're looking for ranks below the officer grades in the army under the Empire?

A soldier would start as a recruit (tiro) for a period of 4 months at which point he took the oath and became a full soldier (miles).

As a miles there were several grades that determined things like pay and fatigues:

  • munifex: had to do fatigues, regular salary
  • immunes: no fatigues, regular salary
  • principalis sesquiplicarius: no fatigues, 1.5x salary
  • principalis duplicarius: no fatigues, 2x salary
  • principalis triplicarius: no fatigues, 3x salary

Then you had honours or tasks, a beneficarius was an assistant to a tribune or prefect, curator was one tasked with a specific mission/duty, a magister directed the artillery, discentes were instructors.

Above the common soldiers were the centurion who was in charge of the century (80 men). He had an adjutant/second in command, the optio. There was also the standard-bearer (signifer) and the commander of the guard (tesserarius).

Sources: Goldsworthy: The Complete Roman Army, Le Bohec: The Imperial Roman Army

Edit: fixed century for cohort.