# Discens

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{{short description|Ancient Roman specialist soldier in training}}
{{RomanMilitary}}
A '''''discens''''' ({{langx|la|[discens, -entis](/source/Latin_declension)}}) was a soldier of the [military of ancient Rome](/source/military_of_ancient_Rome) who was in training to become an ''[immunis](/source/immunes)'', or specialist within the army.

''Immunes'' took up the trades and skills of [engineers](/source/engineers), field [medics](/source/medics), [carpenter](/source/carpenter)s, and [craftsmen](/source/Artisan). However, they were also fully trained and would be expected to fight in the [infantry](/source/infantry) or [cavalry](/source/cavalry) if necessary. The ''discentes'' were probably exempted, like the ''immunes'', from standard combat and camp duties since their main occupation would have been time-consuming technical training.

Some known classes include:
* ''Discens Architecti'' - Trainee engineer or artillerist. 
* ''Discens Armaturae'' - Trainee weapons instructor. 
* ''Discens Aquiliferum'' (or ''Aquiliferorum'') - Trainee eagle standard-bearer. 
* ''Discens Bucinatorem'' - Trainee trumpeter. 
* ''Discens Capsariorum'' - Trainee medical orderly. 
* ''Discens Epibatae'' - Trainee marine. 
* ''Discens Equitum'' - Trainee cavalryman. 
* ''Discens Lanchiariorum'' - Trainee javelin-thrower. 
* ''Discens Mensorem'' - Trainee surveyor. 
* ''Discens Phalangarium'' - A soldier training as a ''phalangarius'' during the 3rd century AD several experiments were conducted with Macedonian phalanx tactics, apparently requiring special training in weapons handling and drill. 
* ''Discens Signiferorum'' (or ''discentes signiferorum'') - Trainee standard-bearer.

==References==
* Parker, H. M. D. ''The Roman Legions''. Barnes and Noble Books. 1993. {{ISBN|0-88029-854-5}} 
* Peddie, John. ''The Roman War Machine''. Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd. 1995. {{ISBN|0-938289-85-3}}
* Webster, Graham. ''The Roman Imperial Army'' A. and C. Black (Publishers) Limited 1979 (2nd edition) {{ISBN|0-7136-1909-0}} 
* The temetfuture web site: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/temetfutue/{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.UNRV.com  UNRV]

Category:Military units and formations of ancient Rome
Category:Ancient Roman titles

{{AncientRome-mil-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Discens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discens) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discens?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.