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Quiz about Ranks and Terms of the Roman Legion

Ranks and Terms of the Roman Legion Quiz

This quiz is on the military terms used to describe units and individual soldiers in both the Army of the Republic and the Imperial Legions.

A multiple-choice quiz by trojan11. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
trojan11

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
295,876

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
666

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (7/10), Guest 107 (7/10), Guest 101 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What were the light armed troops of the middle period of the Roman Republic known as? Hint

Rastati

Accensi

Legatis

Denasis

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Question 2 of 10

2. Each legion had its own standard. What was the standard-bearer of the legion called? Hint

Bansado

Andarte

Aquilifer

Legustus

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Question 3 of 10

3. What were the Hastati? Hint

Legionary veterans

Young legionary soldiers

Deserters

Middle ranking officers

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the origin of the Roman short stabbing sword, the gladius? Hint

Spanish

Etruscan

Nubian

Greek

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the original meaning of the term 'Legion' (legio)? Hint

A group of common people

Levy of all men eligible for military service

A fortified village

A fortified river town

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the function of a conquisitor? Hint

Recruiting officer

Legion executioner

Senior Tribune holding a captured town/city

Commander of four or more legions

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was a peltast? Hint

A slinger

A cook

A runner/messenger

Light infantryman

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Question 8 of 10

8. All legionaries carried a pugio. What was this? Hint

Leather strapping to bind wounds

A spear

A dagger

Pig skin bag to hold food

9. The triarii and the pilani performed the same function within the legion but in different eras. The triarii functioned in the middle Republic and the pilani in the Imperial legions. Who were they and what was their function? Hint

Novice soldiers placed in the rear

Older soldiers forming the reserve

The legion's best, placed at the front

Auxiliaries placed on the wings

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Question 10 of 10

10. A cohort was made up of between four to five thousand men.

True

False

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Dec 11 2024 : Guest 136: 7/10
Dec 07 2024 : Guest 107: 7/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What were the light armed troops of the middle period of the Roman Republic known as?

Answer: Accensi

The Accensi (as described by Livy) were the light armed troops of the middle period of the Roman Republic. Later this term term was used to denote soldiers' servants and non-combatant personnel in general.

2. Each legion had its own standard. What was the standard-bearer of the legion called?

Answer: Aquilifer

The standard of the legion was called an aquila and the standard-bearer an Aquilifer.

3. What were the Hastati?

Answer: Young legionary soldiers

The Hastati (lit. spearmen) were the younger soldiers of the legion and they formed the front line of the manipular army of the Middle republic.

4. What was the origin of the Roman short stabbing sword, the gladius?

Answer: Spanish

The gladius was of Spanish origin and only became the legionary's chief weapon for close range fighting from the second century BC onwards.

5. What was the original meaning of the term 'Legion' (legio)?

Answer: Levy of all men eligible for military service

Originally, the term Legion (legio) meant merely the levy of all men eligible and available for military service. This meaning changed to its more familiar military designation during the period of the middle Republic.

6. What was the function of a conquisitor?

Answer: Recruiting officer

A conquisitor was the recruiting officer appointed by a magistrate to hold a levy of troops as and when needed.

7. What was a peltast?

Answer: Light infantryman

A peltast was a lightly armed infantryman of Thracian origin and would have made up the numbers in an auxiliary unit. He was named after the distinctive crescent shaped shield (pelta) that he always carried.

8. All legionaries carried a pugio. What was this?

Answer: A dagger

A pugio was a short dagger, really a smaller version of the gladius as it was the same shape, and was carried by all legionaries.

Answer: Older soldiers forming the reserve

The triarii and the pilani were older soldiers, often nearing retirement, that had served with the legions for many years. These men formed the third line (the reserve) of the legion.

10. A cohort was made up of between four to five thousand men.

Answer: False

A cohort (cohors) was originally a contingent of Latin or allied troops of about 500 men. By the time of the Imperial legions it had become the chief sub-unit of the legion and still retained the same number of 500 men. Also, under the Empire a like number of auxiliaries (500) would be designated as a cohort.

Source: Author trojan11

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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