Field archive · Britannia · AD LXXXIII

Legio IX

A century advances beneath an iron sky. Leather creaks. Standards answer the wind. Every night, a city rises from the mud.

Enter the column
VEXILLATIO IX HISPANASTORM FRONT · THIRD WATCH
I · SACRAMENTVM

The aquilifer speaks before first light

“EAGLE BEFORE BODY.
LINE BEFORE SELF.
ROME AFTER DUST.”

The oath is not shouted. It passes shield to shield, low enough that only the century hears. Marcus Aelius Varro, eagle-bearer, has carried the gilt standard across 1,140 miles and buried three pairs of marching boots.

Centuria · 80 shields · one body

FORMATIONS
THAT DRILL

Scroll the field order. The century reforms without breaking step: road column, red line, locked testudo, then the wedge. Turn on sound to hear every shield seat against the next.

Strength
LXXX
Frontage
XLVI passus
Signal
Cornū · II
01 / 04

AGMEN

MARCHING COLUMN

Keep six feet. Eyes on the standard.

Interactive Roman century formation Shield figures move from column to line, testudo, and wedge as the page scrolls.
REFORM
FRONTEach mark = 2 men

Marching column selected.

II · CASTRA

A city before the cooking fires

THE CAMP
STAKES ITSELF OUT

At the halt, fatigue becomes geometry. Surveyors sight the groma; eight-man teams cut ditch and bank. Before dusk, 4,800 soldiers sleep behind the same plan they built last night—and will erase at dawn.

Perimeter
2,340 passus
First stake
17:42
Gates shut
20:06
Marching camp blueprintAnimated plan showing gates, roads, headquarters, tents, ditch, and defensive stakes. PORTA PRAETORIAVIA PRINCIPALISPRINCIPIAI COH.III COH.PORTA DECUMANAFOSSA · VALLVM · SVDES
  1. 01Groma sighted
  2. 02Ditch cut
  3. 03Stakes seated
  4. 04Watch posted

Marius’ mule, itemised

WHAT XXX KG
FEELS LIKE

A legionary carries the wall, the kitchen, the grain and the means to move all three. Move the march distance; the silhouette takes the strain.

01
SCVTVMcurved shield · poplar & hide
10.2 kg
02
SARCINAcloak, bowl, tools, stakes
9.1 kg
03
LORICAiron bands · leather ties
7.8 kg
04
GLADIVSPompeii pattern · ash grip
1.5 kg
05
PILVMone heavy throwing spear
1.8 kg

Shoulders burning. Two boot nails worked loose.

III · VITIS

The vine-staff ladder

WHO GIVES
THE ORDER

The centurion’s vitis is badge, pointer and warning. Rank is measured not in distance from danger, but in who must still be standing when the signal changes.

  1. I
    PRIMVS PILVSFirst spear · voice of the legion
    60×
  2. II
    PILVS PRIORLeads a cohort from its right
    30×
  3. III
    PRINCEPS PRIORVeteran of the forward line
    18×
  4. IV
    HASTATVS POSTERIORCommands the younger century
    12×
  5. V
    OPTIOAt the rear; keeps the line shut
    2×

Tablet XXIV · second quarter

PAY, SALT
& DEDUCTIONS

Recruit Titus Flavius Secundus has served 431 days. Rome promises three hundred denarii a year. Rome also charges for sandals.

RATIO STIPENDIICOH · II / CENT · V
Quarterly stipend+ LXXV
Barley, salt & vinegar− XII · VI
Boots, 2 pairs / hobnails− VIII · III
Funeral club− I · II
Standard fund− II
SEALED TO SAVINGSLI · Idenarii

Roll call · after the storm

THE LINE HOLDS.
THE NAMES REMAIN.

Gaius Marius Cotta · Lucius Petronius Firmus · Aulus Severus Naso · Quintus Attius Faustus · Marcus Vibius Celer

Five absent at the third watch · their shield places left open Return to the standard ↑