⚔ glossary

[primavictrix]

A NOTE

Caeso's canon uses a lot of technical and Latin words that relate to the Roman military, politics, and society. This includes a few that have slightly different uses or meanings in the game. I've collated those that are important to canon or to my playing of Caeso. Definitions are not scholarly; they're based on usage in canon and my several years studying Latin and Roman history.

GLOSSARY

censor

One of two magistrates who served five year terms to undertake the census of the Roman people. Censors were responsible for maintaining the senatorial rolls and could add or expel senators. They also allocated individuals to their property class.

centurio

Centurion, the commander of a century, consisting of approximately 80 soldiers. The senior centurion in a cohort would lead the cohort.

cliens

A person in a position of social obligation to a patronus of higher social rank. The patronus would support their cliens in legal, political, and financial matters. In response, the cliens would attend their patron in Rome, and would provide political support. Liberti became cliens of their former masters, and veterans became cliens of their general. Caeso is a cliens of the player character, who in turn is a cliens of Lucullus.

cohort

A group of six centuries, approximately 480 men, and playing a similar tactical role to a modern infantry battalion. It was commanded by the senior centurion among the six centuries. The First Cohort was the senior and most prestigious, and its commander was the third in command of the legion.

contubernium

A group of eight soldiers who share a tent or barracks, and also sometimes suffer punishments or receive rewards together.

consul

The senior magistrate in Rome in any normal year. Two consuls are elected each year and take turns holding supreme authority. The consul is generally term-limited to one year, and then goes to a province as a proconsul to be governor.

dictator

An extraordinary magistrate and commander appointed to serve with total authority over a particular problem threatening the Roman state. Generally appointed by one of the consuls. Superior in power to all other magistrates during his term, including the consuls. The powers are prone to abuse by people like Sulla.

eques/equites

Literally, "horseman", because this class originally provided Roman cavalry. The equites were the highest of Rome's property based social classes (though an additional wealth qualification existed for membership of the Senate). Equestrians are often described as middle class; they were not, as they had to hold significant property to maintain their rank. Typically wealthy businessmen, contractors, or landowners, but also included others who had earned wealth. Retired primipili could become equestrian, and I assume that Caeso did sometime around Act III.

legatus

The commander of a legion. The player character is generally referred to in canon as "the legatus".

libertus/liberta/liberti

Freedman or freedwoman. A freed slave took on the family name of their former master and became their cliens. I assume that Lucia and Caeso's daughter were freed by the player character.

lictors

In canon, the scarlet-clad bodyguards of a serving magistrate, who serve as both guards and as a visible symbol of a magistrate's authority. Praetorians are also described as lictors.

nobilis

Literally, "noble". A term denoting anyone descended through the male line from an ancestor who had held the consulship. Nobility carried significant social status, and was distinct from whether your family was patrician or plebeian. Plebeian nobles in canon include Cato, Cotta, and Pompey.

novus homo

Literally, "new man". A politician without an ancestor who has been consul, particularly if the novus homo becomes consul. For our purposes, basically Cicero.

optimas/optimates

literally, "the best men". Sometimes also boni "good men". One of the two prominent political factions in the late Roman Republic, the optimates stood for aristocratic power and privileges and the authority of the Senate rather than an appeal to popularity with the people. At times they were traditionalists, aristocrats, conservatives, or even reactionaries. They emerge in canon as the opponents of attempts to defeat the player character's enemies by force, led by Cato the Younger and Cicero.

patrician

Equivalent in Rome to landed aristocracy, patricians were the descendants of the original leading families in Rome. They did not necessarily have wealth or political rank, though many had both. Patrician status brought with it certain benefits of rank, such as eligibility to certain priesthoods.

patronus

A person of greater social status, or greater means, who acted as a protector, sponsor, and benefactor of their cliens. The patronus would be obliged to defend client in court, to support their political career, and provide other social support. The player character's patronus is Lucullus.

plebeian

Anyone not a patrician. By the late Republic, this no longer meant a family was unknown or poor, and a significant plebeian nobility existed. Many plebeian families had risen to serve the state in the highest political offices and had become very wealthy; Pompey and Cato were both plebeian. So is Caeso.

praetor

The second most senior of the annual magistracies in Rome, praetors were responsible for the law courts and other civil matters such as adoptions. Former praetors often served as propraetor to govern a province.

praetorian

Member of the praetorian cohort, the bodyguard of a Roman general. Mechanically in canon, this consists of the player character's companions and recruits.

primus pilus

Literally "first spear", as the centurion commanding the first cohort. The senior centurion of a legion and the legion's third in command behind the legatus and the camp prefect. He served on the legate's war council and was a trusted advisor. Caeso served as primus pilus of Legio Prima Italica under Lucullus.

pomerium

The sacred boundary around the city of Rome, inside which certain acts were considered sacrilegious, particularly the bearing of arms. Roman legions were forbidden to cross the pomerium without disbanding. To do so constituted an invasion of Rome and a declaration of civil war. In real life the boundary was within the city itself, but in canon it is a set point outside the city, marked by a bridge over the Rubicon river.

popularis/populares

One of the two main political factions in the late Roman Republic, and opposed by the optimates. Populares were portrayed by their opponents as radical rabble-rousers, and tended to propose popular legislation such as free food or land redistribution. Where optimates found their power base in the aristocracy, populares passed their programs through popular vote by appealing to the people. In canon, if you take radical actions and appeal to protecting the people instead of saving the Senate, you may be denounced by Caeso as popularis.

praetorian

Member of the praetorian cohort, the bodyguard of a Roman general. Mechanically in canon, this consists of the player character's companions and recruits.

res publica

Source of the word "republic", literally meaning "public affairs". Used by the Romans as a short hand for their form of government, but also to mean the state of Rome itself as a political entity.

senate

The advisory council that governed much of Rome's political life, consisting of former magistrates. The Senate gave orders to military commanders and controlled public expenditure. Entry to the Senate had property qualifications above those for membership of the equestrian class, and entitled a man to a wide purple stripe on his toga and tunic. Generally considered the aristocratic part of Rome's blended constitution. Often in conflict with the democratic elements of the state, the popular assemblies.

speculatores

Technically scouts, but effectively special forces strike teams, operating in small groups to undertake tasks not well suited to larger formations. In canon, the role is undertaken by the praetorians, particularly Julia Calida.

MISC

🌕 fact 🌕 fact 🌕 fact

OOC

NAME

player

CONTACT

contact

PB

pb name

TIMEZONE

timezone