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((Short description|Officer rank within the Roman army))
((Refimprove|date=February 2013))
((Italics title))
((RomanMilitary))
[[Image:optio.jpg|thumb|Roman ''optio'' in a reenactment at [[Cilurnum|Chesters Fort]] in May 2000]]
An '''((Lang|la|optio))''' (((lang-lat|italic=yes|optiō)), from ((Lang|la|optāre)), 'to choose', so-called because an ((Lang|la|optio)) was chosen by a [[centurion]]; ((plural form)): ''optiones''), was a position in a ''[[centuria]]'' (century) of a [[Roman army]] similar to that of an [[executive officer]].<!-- Commented out the following because an officer like a centurion is equivalent to a captain/major in modern armies and his "executive officer" / second in command, especially since an ''optio'' was well educated, was closer to a 1st/2nd lieutenant not a "first sergeant" The optio seems to have held a rank roughly equivalent to that of a modern [[First Sergeant]], reflective of his status as the second in command of the century in which he served. --> 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 adopt.

((Lang|la|Optiones)) were vital in the Roman army. An ((Lang|la|optio)) was stationed at the rear of the ranks to keep the troops in order. Their duties would include enforcing the orders of the 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 pay and they were the most likely men to replace the centurion if the 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]]).
*((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))''<nowiki/>'''; second-in-command and rear rank officer of a ((Lang|la|centuria)); classed as a ''[[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 Guard|Praetorian]] [[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]].
*((Lang|la|Optio valetudinarii)): orderly in charge of a hospital.

==Uniform==
Unlike the centurion, the [[cuirass]] was not the distinguishing part of the ((Lang|la|optio))'s uniform. The identifying part would be his helmet; this would have had plumes of horse hair or feathers on either side of his helmet that could be accompanied by a helmet crest.((citation needed|date=June 2015))  

An ((Lang|la|optio))'s armour would be more like those of the common [[legionary]]. He could wear the ''[[lorica segmentata]]'' or a ''[[lorica hamata]]'' as well as have his ''[[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 (military)|subaltern]] 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=((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]] |trans-title=Concerning Military Matters |year=1767 |location=London, UK |via=Digital Attic)) Translated from the Latin by Lieutenant John Clarke.))

==See also==
* [[List of Roman army unit types]]
* [[Imperial helmet]] – helmet "Type I" may have belonged to an ((Lang|la|optio)).

==References==
((reflist))

[[Category:Ancient Roman titles]]
[[Category:Military ranks of ancient Rome]]

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