The ''immunes'' were

ancient Roman In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...

soldiers who possessed specialized skills. They were exempt from the more tedious and dangerous tasks other soldiers were required to do, such as ditch digging and rampart patrol.

Becoming an ''immunis''

Prior to becoming an ''immunis'', men were required to serve as ''miles gregarius'' (also known as ''munifex''), a non-specialist regular soldier. These men were the soldiers that made up the bulk of the legions, liable to perform guard duties, labour work and other less than desired duties. '' Milites'' would usually have to serve for several years before becoming eligible for training to become ''immunes''. ''Immunis'' status within the army was achieved either through selection or through promotion. If not possessing the specialist skills that could see a soldier chosen to become an ''immunis'', the legionary who wished to become one would have to undergo a period of specialist training, during which time they would be known as '' discens''. The ''discens'' received the same basic pay and board as the non-specialists until he qualified for ''immunis'' status.

Typical duties

Engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...

s, artillerymen,

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s, drill and weapons instructors,

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...

carpenter Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenter ...

hunter Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, ...

s and medical staff were among the multiple specialized jobs ''immunes'' provided for the

Roman army The Roman army () served ancient Rome and the Roman people, enduring through the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509–27 BC), and the Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 1453), including the Western Roman Empire (collapsed Fall of the W ...

. ''Immunes'' also received better pay than the regular troops.

Citations

External links

*{{usurped,
https://web.archive.org/web/20180603205504/http://history-world.org/roman_army.htm
}

* ttps://www.roman-britain.co.uk/glossary/ https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/glossary/ Military units and formations of ancient Rome