Speaking about Rome let's say during the first two centuries AD.
The romans fought in very disciplined rows of men, so what could one soldier do to be recognized as a particularly skilled fighter or for valor/bravery? Did they just stab more enemies than the people to their left/right? Did they break formation and win a bunch of one vs one duels (doubtful, however this is what I picture when I hear someone was a particularly great fighter)? Just curious how a soldier fighting in a tight formation could distinguish himself from the others on the battlefield.
Sorry if the question is confusing. It's just confusing to me how this would work as I picture romans standing side by side and taking turns stabbing the enemies in front of one another. It seems like it would be hard to get recognized for individual feats as it's much more about working well With the group.
Thanks
Hopefully a greater historian can speak better to the tactics, but there were a number of Roman military awards for valor ---
Camp crown, for being first over the wall or to otherwise break into an enemy camp
Naval crown -- first onto an enemy ship
Civic crown -- saving the life of a Roman citizen by slaying an enemy in battle; only the citizen could confer the award. Caesar got one of these, it's why he's often depicted with a laurel wreath.
And the highest and rarest military honor, the Grass Crown. Given to the commander who by his actions saved the lives of a legion or army on the point of defeat. It could only be awarded by the common consent of the grateful soldiers, and was woven of the very grass of the battlefield where their lives had been saved.
Be the first one onto the walls during a siege of save a fellow centurion. (Caesar Gallic Wars)
Piggybacking off of this: were these rewards thought to act as incentive to do necessary tasks that would bring the Romans closer to victory? Or did it have more to do with these acts being brave and heroic, in a more idealized kinda way?
Unfortunately we don't have many detailed accounts of Roman battles, most histories being written long after the war. The notable exception is Caesar's commentaries. On several occasions he calls out the feats of his soldiers and centurions.
During the invasion of Britain, the Britons had met them on the beach. The balistae on the ships kept them back, but the men balked at getting off the ships. Then an unnamed standard-bearer of the Tenth legion jumped off with his eagle standard and dared the soldiers to follow, lest the eagle be captured.
At Dyrrhachium, one fort was hard-pressed, but held. The men brought Caesar the shield of their wounded centurion, Scaeva, with some 120 arrow hits. Caesar promoted him to First Centurion (primus pilus) of the legion.
Caesar also tells of two rival centurion of the 13th legion, Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. When their fortified camp was attacked by the Nervii, Pullo jumped outside the wall and engaged the enemy directly. When Pullo was wounded, Vorenus went to save him. Vorenus, in turn, lost his footing and was saved by Pullo. They were eventually pulled back over the wall.