Roman Army

Rewards, Triumph & Ovation

Rewards for Emperors and Generals

Triumph

Rewards for Soldiers & Officers

• (1) the legionaries were given regular pay (three times a year)

• (2) peace-time pay-outs were also sometimes made, including when a new emperor began his reign. This was often the equivalent of five years pay. They were also sometimes given a day off to celebrate pay with sports and games.

• (3) There was also plenty of rewards for heroic victories in order to keep the soldiers’ loyalty and enthusiasm. Particular heroic feats were rewarded with crowns (corona). Different crowns were awarded for different achievements, though during the empire, most were only given to soldiers of higher rank.

• (a) The most prestigious was the siege crown (corona obsidionalis), given to an officer who set free an army that had been besieged. It was made of grass. Pliny, who wrote during the first century AD, names only eight people who had received it.

Crowns and other awards

• (b) The corona muralis was a gold crown awarded to the first man over the wall in a siege. During the empire, it could only be awarded to a soldier of the rank of a centurion or above.

• (c) The corona vallaris was also a gold crown. It was awarded to the first man over the rampart during a siege. Again, during the empire, it could only be awarded to a soldier of the rank of a centurion or above.

• (d) A silver spear could be awarded to the Primus Pila and the tribune.

• (e) A plain gold crown (corona aurea) could be awarded to centurions and above.

• (f) Arm bands (armillae), neck bands (torques) and large gold, silver, or bronze sculpted medals or discs (phalerae) were awarded to legionaries. These medals were worn on the breastplate during parades. A centurion usually received these as well as the gold crowns.

• (g) The corona civica was an oak leaf crown awarded to a soldier who saved the life of a fellow citizen. It was an award that was not restricted to rank. Therefore it is seen displayed by individuals from various classes, from the doorway of a house in Pompeii (image on left) all the way up to the emperor Augustus (image on right).

• (h) A diploma was awarded to auxiliaries. This was two small engraved bronze tablets bound together with bronze threads. They recorded the privileges granted to the soldier on his discharge, which often included citizenship and the right to contract a legal marriage.

• (i) Victorious generals received the most tangible awards as well as the highest honours. They frequently set up a triumph (tropaeum) in a prominent location, displaying enemy shields, weapons, and armour captured in battle. They could also claim the largest share of the booty and spoils from conquered cities and tribes, including captives who could be sold into slavery or appear in their triumphal procession, with the possibility of subsequent execution.