Contubernium

Contubernium (from Latin contubernium,"co-tents") - a minimal tactical unit of the army of Ancient Rome. It consisted of 8-10 people under the command of the dean. They lived,ate,drank,and fought together. During the campaigns,the personnel of the contubernium were located in one tent. In case of barracks accommodation — in one room,also called contubernium (contubernium). Ten contubernia made up a century.

The Legion’s Small Group

The contubernium was a practical unit of accounting and daily life. Men of one tent shared equipment, cooked food, carried campaign loads and answered for one another before junior officers. In battle this bond did not always become a separate tactical command, but in camp and on the march it made the army manageable.

Tent, Barrack and Responsibility

The word contubernium could mean both the group of men and the room where they lived. In a permanent fort it was a barrack room; on campaign, a leather tent. This double meaning matters: Roman organisation tied space, equipment and group together. Loss of gear, indiscipline or unreadiness of one man affected the whole group.

Related topics

Legion,Legionary,Dean's Office

Literature

1. Polybius. Histories, book VI. 2. Adrian Goldsworthy. The Complete Roman Army. 3. M. C. Bishop. Handbook to Roman Legionary Fortresses.