Roman Drill Commands

Евсеенков А.С., Куцый О.А.

The Roman army, renowned for its discipline and clear commands since the Republican era, effectively utilized these attributes to implement battle strategies and formations that were unconventional for their time.

This article introduces the reader to the Latin commands and their execution in Ancient Rome, as well as demonstrating how modern reenactors use these drill commands. The sources for these commands are listed at the end of the article. The primary source is the most comprehensive treatise on later Roman military strategy: "Strategikon of Maurice," supplemented by earlier written sources from authors such as Vegetius and Polybius.

Part 1. The basics

General Commands:

Dirige frontem – [dí-rige frón-tem] – attention

Venite – [ve-ní-te] – form up

Reverte – [re-vér-te] – cancel command

Signum demittite – [síg-num de-mít-ti-te] – dismiss

Silentium – [si-lén-ti-um] – silence

Mandata captate – [man-dá-ta kap-tá-te] – attention

Turns:

Ad contum, clina – [ad kón-tum klí-na] – right turn

Ad scutum, clina – [ad skú-tum klí-na] – left turn

Move ad contum – [mó-ve ad kón-tum] – step to the right

Move ad scutum – [mó-ve ad skú-tum] – step to the left

Ad contum (scutum) depone – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) de-pó-ne] – right (left) shoulder turn

Ad contum (scutum) deponite – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) de-pó-ni-te] – right (left) turn while moving, leader turns first, others follow

Battle Commands::

Arma portate – [ár-ma por-tá-te] – take up arms

Arma demittite – [ár-ma de-mít-ti-te] – lower arms

Ad arma – [ad ár-ma] – to arms

Gladius destrigite – [glá-di-us des-trí-gi-te] – draw swords

Gladius recondite – [glá-di-us re-kón-di-te] – sheathe swords

Vos servate – [vós ser-vá-te] – shield yourselves

Percute – [per-kú-te] – advance, close in on the enemy with shields up

Pila tollite – [pí-la tól-li-te] – prepare pilum for throwing

Pila jactate – [pí-la yak-tá-te] – throw pilum

Movement:

Transforma – [trans-fó-r-ma] – about face

Redi! – [ré-di] – return to position

Movete – [mo-vé-te] – forward march

Ad contum (scutum) move – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) mó-ve] – step to the right (left)

State – [stá-te] – halt

Celerate – [kèl-e-rá-te] – faster

Tardate – [tar-dá-te] – slower

Cede – [ké-de] – move back (until the command "Sta")

Sta – [sta] – halt movement back

Unum, duo, tres, sta – [ú-num dú-o trés stá] – one, two, three, halt

Gradum servate – [grá-dum ser-vá-te] – keep pace

Part 2. Basic Formation

Alignment of the formation is based on the right member. Shield overlapping in a close formation also aligns to the right. After counting off into "first" and "second" (prímus, secúndus), the second numbers (secúndi) step back and right to form behind the first numbers (prími).

In primum, secundum numeramini – [in prí-mum se-kúnd-um nu-me-rá-mi-ni] – count off by first and second

Ad duo, intra! – [ad dú-o, ín-tra] – form two ranks from one rank

Ad duo, exi! – [ad dú-o, ék-si] – form two ranks from four ranks

Ad quattuor, intra! – [ad kwát-tu-or, ín-tra] – form four ranks from two ranks

Ad quattuor, exi! – [ad kwát-tu-or, ék-si] – form four ranks from eight ranks

Ad octo, intra! – [ad ók-to, ín-tra] – form eight ranks from four ranks

Ad unum, exi! – [ad ú-no, ék-si] – form one rank from two ranks

Iunge – [yún-ge] – close ranks to elbow distance

Largi – [lár-gi] – open ranks

Mutare – [mu-tá-re] – replace the first rank; on "mu-ta," the second rank covers the first rank with shields, on "re," the first rank moves to the last row through the right side, backing up without exposing themselves.

Part 3. Special Formations

Murus – [mú-rus] – form a wall of shields

On "mu," the first rank places shields in front, kneels down, and braces them. If equipped with pilum/spear, it is angled at 45 degrees and braced against the ground and foot. On "rus," the second rank places shields over the first, and the third over the second. Subsequent ranks do not overlap shields.

Tela – [té-la] – form a protective formation against projectiles

On "te," the first rank covers with shields; the second and following ranks lift and rotate shields 90 degrees. On "la," the second and subsequent ranks overlap shields over the legionnaire in front.

Ad cuneum – [ad kú-ne-um] – form a wedge

Formation occurs relative to the center (centurion/optio). The center stays in place; adjacent soldiers step back two steps. Each subsequent soldier steps back two steps more than the previous. The vexillation group moves inside the wedge, centered and far from the center.

Ad testudinem – [ad tes-tú-di-nem] – form a tortoise

On "ad tes," the first rank covers with shields; the second and following ranks lift and rotate shields 90 degrees, ready to overlap, except for flank legionnaires who cover their flank regardless of rank (right flank holds shields in the right hand). On "tu-di," the second and following ranks overlap shields over the legionnaire in front. On "nem," flank legionnaires tightly join the formation, covering the "tortoise" from the sides.

Undique servate – [un-dí-kwe ser-vá-te] – form a circular defense

On "un-di-kwe," legionnaires form a defensive perimeter. On "ser-va-te," the remaining legionnaires cover the top of the outer perimeter with shields. The standard-bearing group stands in the center.

In the presence of a vexillarius, alignment and shield overlapping are based on him (those to his right align left, those to his left align right, with shield overlapping accordingly). The same applies to formations with a change in the number of rows.

Glossary of Commands

Silentium – [si-lén-ti-um] – silence

Mandata captate – [man-dá-ta kap-tá-te] – attention

Dirige frontem – [dí-ri-ge frón-tem] – attention

Venite – [ve-ní-te] – form up

Signum demittite – [síg-num de-mít-ti-te] – dismiss

Reverte – [re-vér-te] – cancel command

Ad contum, clina – [ad kón-tum klí-na] – right turn

Ad scutum, clina – [ad skú-tum klí-na] – left turn

Move ad contum – [mó-ve ad kón-tum] – step to the right

Move ad scutum – [mó-ve ad skú-tum] – step to the left

Ad contum (scutum) depone – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) de-pó-ne] – right (left) shoulder turn

Ad contum (scutum) deponite – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) de-pó-ni-te] – right (left) turn while moving, leader turns first, others follow

Transforma – [trans-fó-r-ma] – about face

Redi! – [ré-di] – return to position

Arma portate – [ár-ma por-tá-te] – take up arms

Arma demittite – [ár-ma de-mít-ti-te] – lower arms

Ad arma – [ad ár-ma] – to arms

Gladius destrigite – [glá-di-us des-trí-gi-te] – draw swords

Gladius recondite – [glá-di-us re-kón-di-te] – sheathe swords

Vos servate – [vós ser-vá-te] – shield yourselves

Percute – [per-kú-te] – advance, close in on the enemy with shields up

Pila tollite – [pí-la tól-li-te] – prepare pilum for throwing

Pila jactate – [pí-la yak-tá-te] – throw pilum

Movete – [mo-vé-te] – forward march

Ad contum (scutum) move – [ad kón-tum (skú-tum) mó-ve] – step to the right (left)

State – [stá-te] – halt

Celerate – [kèl-e-rá-te] – faster

Tardate – [tar-dá-te] – slower

Cede – [ké-de] – move back (until the command "Sta")

Sta – [sta] – halt movement back

Unum, duo, tres, sta – [ú-num dú-o trés stá] – one, two, three, halt

Gradum servate – [grá-dum ser-vá-te] – keep pace

In primum, secundum numeramini – [in prí-mum se-kúnd-um nu-me-rá-mi-ni] – count off by first and second

Ad duo, intra! – [ad dú-o, ín-tra] – form two ranks from one rank

Ad duo, exi! – [ad dú-o, ék-si] – form two ranks from four ranks

Ad quattuor, intra! – [ad kwát-tu-or, ín-tra] – form four ranks from two ranks

Ad quattuor, exi! – [ad kwát-tu-or, ék-si] – form four ranks from eight ranks

Ad octo, intra! – [ad ók-to, ín-tra] – form eight ranks from four ranks

Ad unum, exi! – [ad ú-no, ék-si] – form one rank from two ranks

Iunge – [yún-ge] – close ranks to elbow distance

Largi – [lár-gi] – open ranks

Mutare – [mu-tá-re] – replace the first rank; on "mu-ta," the second rank covers the first rank with shields, on "re," the first rank moves to the last row through the right side, backing up without exposing themselves.

Murus – [mú-rus] – form a wall of shields

Tela – [té-la] – form a protective formation against projectiles

Ad cuneum – [ad kú-ne-um] – form a wedge

Ad testudinem – [ad tes-tú-di-nem] – form a tortoise

Undique servate – [un-dí-kwe ser-vá-te] – form a circular defense

Related topics

Legion, Legionnaire, Auxiliaries

Literature

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