Editing Roman legion (section)

==Symbols==
From 104 BC onwards, each legion used an ''[[Aquila (Roman)|aquila]]'' (eagle) as its standard symbol. The symbol was carried by an officer known as [[aquilifer]], and its loss was considered to be a very serious embarrassment, and often led to the disbanding of the legion itself. Normally, this was because any legion incapable of regaining its eagle in battle was so severely mauled that it was no longer effective in combat.<ref name="Authors2015">{{cite book|author=Several Authors|title=History of The Roman Legions: History of Rome|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLQ2CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1069|date=2015|publisher=Self-Publish|pages=1069–|id=GGKEY:DXPWT430TXP}}</ref>
[[File:Roman soldiers with aquilifer signifer centurio 70 aC.jpg|thumb|Reenacters portraying Roman legionaries of [[Legio XV Apollinaris]]]]
In ''Gallic War'' (Bk IV, Para. 25), Julius Caesar describes an incident at the start of his first invasion of Britain in 55 BC that illustrated how fear for the safety of the eagle could drive Roman soldiers. When Caesar's troops hesitated to leave their ships for fear of the Britons, the aquilifer of the [[Legio X Gemina|tenth legion]] threw himself overboard and, carrying the eagle, advanced alone against the enemy. His comrades, fearing disgrace, 'with one accord, leapt down from the ship' and were followed by troops from the other ships.

With the birth of the Roman Empire, the legions created a bond with their leader, the emperor himself. Each legion had another officer, called ''[[imaginifer]]'', whose role was to carry a pike with the ''imago'' (image, sculpture) of the emperor as ''[[pontifex maximus]]''.

Each legion, furthermore, had a ''vexillifer'' who carried a ''[[vexillum]]'' or ''signum'', with the legion name and emblem depicted on it, unique to the legion. It was common for a legion to detach some sub-units from the main camp to strengthen other corps. In these cases, the detached subunits carried only the ''vexillum'', and not the ''aquila'', and were called, therefore, ''[[vexillatio]]nes''. A miniature ''vexillum'', mounted on a silver base, was sometimes awarded to officers as a recognition of their service upon retirement or reassignment.

Civilians could also be rewarded for their assistance to the Roman legions. In return for outstanding service, a citizen was given an arrow without a head. This was considered a great honour and would bring the recipient much prestige.