ACW09 TRIBUNO ROMANO

A military tribune (Latin tribunus militum) is a command post (today one might say an officer rank) in the structure of the Roman legion of the Republic, especially the Republic, located in the command structure above the centurion, but below the legate or consul. During the Republic, six tribunus militum led the Roman legion and led it into battle with the centurions. Very often, military tribunes were young (from 20 to 30 years of age) representatives of the Roman socio-political elite who were just starting their military and political careers. Initially, military tribunes could only come from patrician families, but with time this dignity could also be extended to people from plebeian families. After the reforms of consul Mariusz, carried out around 100 BC, the function of the military tribune still existed, but in the command structure of the legion it actually played a smaller role than before, losing its importance to the legate. At the end of the Republic (1st century BC), the title tribunus militum was primarily honorary.