# Optio > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Optio > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Optio.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optio > Source revision: 1317501564 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Officer rank within the Roman army}} {{Italics title}} {{Refimprove|date=February 2013}} {{RomanMilitary}} [[Image:optio.jpg|thumb|Roman ''optio'' in a re-enactment at [Chesters Fort](/source/Cilurnum) in May 2000]] {{Wikt|optio}} In a [Roman army](/source/Roman_army) an '''{{Lang|la|optio}}''' ({{langx|la|italic=yes|optiō}}, from {{Lang|la|optāre}}, 'to choose', so-called because superior officers chose the {{Lang|la|optio}}; {{plural form}}: {{lang | la | optiones}}) held a [rank](/source/Ranks_in_the_Roman_army) in a {{lang | la | [centuria](/source/centuria)}} (century) similar to that of an [executive officer](/source/executive_officer). The main function of an {{Lang|la|optio}} was as an {{Lang|la|optio centuriae}}, the second-in-command of a century, although there were many other roles an {{Lang|la|optio}} could fulfill. {{Lang|la|Optiones}} carried out vital roles in the Roman military. An {{Lang|la|optio}} was stationed at the rear of the ranks to keep the troops in order. His duties would include enforcing the orders of the [centurion](/source/centurion), taking over the centurion's command in battle should the need arise, supervising his subordinates, and a variety of administrative duties.{{cn|date=September 2021}} {{Lang|la|Optio}} pay was double the standard [legionary](/source/legionary) pay and {{Lang | la | optiones}} were the most likely candidates to replace the centurion if his position became vacant. ==Types of {{Lang|la|optio}}== Titles held by {{Lang|la|optiones}} included: * {{Lang|la|Optio ad carcerem}}: chosen man on prison duty ([incarceration](/source/incarceration)). * {{Lang|la|Optio ad spem ordinis}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} being groomed for promotion to the rank of centurion. * {{Lang|la|Optio candidatus}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} being groomed or marked out for promotion to the rank of centurion. * {{Lang|la|Optio carceris}}: soldier in charge of the prison cells. * {{Lang|la|Optio centuriae}}: 'chosen man of the {{Lang|la|centuria}}'''''; second-in-command and rear rank officer of a {{Lang|la|centuria}}; classed as a ''[duplicarius](/source/duplicarius)'', a soldier receiving double basic pay; he carried a {{Lang|la|hastile}} (wooden staff). * {{Lang|la|Optio centurionis}}: 'chosen man of the centurion'; same as {{Lang|la|optio centuriae}}. * {{Lang|la|Optio custodiarum}}: soldier in charge of guard posts. * {{Lang|la|Optio draconarius}}: 'chosen man among the dragon bearers', a late Roman senior standard bearer. * {{Lang|la|Optio equitum}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} in the legionary or [Praetorian](/source/Praetorian_Guard) [cavalry](/source/cavalry) ({{Lang|la|equus}} meaning ''horse''). * {{Lang|la|Optio fabricae}}: soldier in charge of a workshop. * {{Lang|la|Optio navaliorum}}: soldier in charge of boats. * {{Lang|la|Optio praetorii}}: soldier attached to headquarters. * {{Lang|la|Optio principalis}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} who held supervisory rank ({{Lang|la|principales}} from the 2nd century onwards); not all who had the title of {{Lang|la|optio}} held this status. * {{Lang|la|Optio speculatorum}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} in the elite cavalry bodyguards. * {{Lang|la|Optio spei}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} being groomed for promotion to the rank of centurion. * {{Lang|la|Optio statorum}}: {{Lang|la|optio}} of military police. * {{Lang|la|Optio tribuni}}: assistant to a [tribune](/source/tribune). * {{Lang|la|Optio valetudinarii}}: orderly in charge of a hospital. ==Uniform== Unlike the centurion, the [cuirass](/source/cuirass) was not the distinguishing part of the {{Lang|la|optio}}'s uniform. {{citation needed|date=June 2015}} An {{Lang|la|optio}}'s armour would be more like those of the common [legionary](/source/legionary). He could wear the ''[lorica segmentata](/source/lorica_segmentata)'' or a ''[lorica hamata](/source/lorica_hamata)'' as well as have his ''[gladius](/source/gladius)'' on the right, not the left, side. One thing that did separate him from the common legionary was the staff (called a {{Lang|la|hastile}}), which was used to keep the legionaries in line. This staff would be roughly as tall as the {{Lang|la|optio}} himself. {{Lang|la|Optiones}} often carried wax tablets on which they kept the orders of the day. == Vegetius on {{Lang|la|optiones}} == {{Quote|The {{lang|la|optiones|italic=yes}} are [subaltern](/source/Subaltern_(military)) officers, so denominated from their being selected by the ''option'' of their superior officers, to do their duty as their substitutes or lieutenants in case of sickness or other accident. |author=[Flavius Vegetius Renatus](/source/Flavius_Vegetius_Renatus) |source={{cite book |chapter=Book II: The Organization of the Legion |chapter-url=http://www.digitalattic.org/home/war/vegetius/index.php#b200 |title=[De re militari](/source/De_re_militari) |trans-title=Concerning Military Matters |year=1767 |location=London, UK |via=Digital Attic}} Translated from the Latin by Lieutenant John Clarke.}} ==See also== * [Imperial helmet](/source/Imperial_helmet) – helmet "Type I" may have belonged to an {{Lang|la|optio}}. * [List of Roman army unit types](/source/List_of_Roman_army_unit_types) ==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Ancient Roman titles Category:Military ranks of ancient Rome --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Optio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optio) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optio?action=history)). 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