Optio

Options (Pl. optiones, from Latin optare " want " it "type of wizard " ) was a rank in the Roman military system, in particular the Roman Legion. He was selected by the centurion as a deputy and was among the principales, the lower officer ranks. Because of the wide operating field he is to be settled in rank between a sergeant and a lieutenant today.

A tactical options could be the deputy of the centurion. Fell this, the command of the Centuries went to the options centuriae, the highest-ranking options, which was selected for the delegate, over, even if theoretically the Signifer held a higher rank. Outside of battle, there were options for different applications, such as:

• Optio ad spem ( Ordinis ): Rank Higher options, which was intended for the carriage to the centurion and those represented administratively
• Optio ballistariorum: commander of an artillery unit
• Optio carceris: Administrator of the military prison
• Optio custodiarum: commander of a guard force
• Optio equitum: Under command of a cavalry unit
• Optio valetudinarii: hospital administrator.
• Optio fabricae: Head of the arms factory

The options differed in uniform hardly of the teams, he probably wore a helmet with a longitudinally placed crest and a rod with knob, the so-called hastile ( the plume is said to have served in combat as a landmark, but this function can also hastile have taken ). He received a half times to twice the pay of a legionary simple.

Optiones are already occupied in the Roman army at the time of the Punic Wars. In imperial times it gave them except for legions and auxiliary troops in all other military formations such as the Praetorians, the Vigiles or Cohortes urbanae and in the civil administration, eg as optional from actis urbi, a kind of secretary of a city prefect.