Signifer

Gravestone for thesigniferOclatius.

Relief in theArch of Constantinedepicting severalsigniferes

Asignifer(Latin:[ˈsɪŋnɪfɛr]) was astandard bearerof theRoman legions.He carried asignum(standard) for acohortorcentury.Each century had asigniferso there were 60 in a legion. Within each cohort, the first century'ssigniferwould be the senior one. The-ferinsignifercomes fromferre,theLatinfor 'to bear' or 'to carry'.

Standard-bearer

The standard had a number ofphalarae(disks ormedallions) along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole. The pole could be topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or amanus(open human hand) image denoting the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers. It sometimes included a representation of a wreath, probably denoting an honour or award.

The task of carrying thesignumin battle was dangerous, a soldier had to stand in the first rank and could carry only a smallbuckler.It was that banner that the men from each individual century would rally around. A soldier could also gain the position ofdiscentes signiferorum,or standard bearer in training. If the signifer was lost in battle, the whole unit was dishonored.

Uniform

Although often depicted as such and adopted in modern re-enactments, signifers do not seem to have covered their helmets withwolffurs. Archaeological and literary sources indicate that standard bearers wore mostlybearfurs and sometimeslionfurs, and wolf skins are never mentioned.

Banker

In addition to carrying thesignum,thesigniferalso assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' banker. The Signifer was also aDuplicarius,paid twice the basic wage.

Roman Republic and Roman Empire

In theRoman Republic,the signifer probably applied to all standard bearers, but in theRoman Empire,the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi, which also includedaquilifers(responsible for the legion'saquila),imaginifers(who carried an image of the emperor),vexillarii(who carried theVexillum,a banner representing the legion), anddraconarii(who carried the standard of a cavalry unit).

See also

• Aquilifer
• Imaginifer
• Vexillarius

Sources

• Zehetner, S. 2011:Der Signifer. Stellung und Aufgaben in der Kaiserzeitlichen Armee.VDM Verlag, Saarbrücken.