A ''signifer'' () was a

standard bearer A standard-bearer, also known as a colour-bearer or flag-bearer, is a person who bears an emblem known as a Standard (flag), standard or Military colours, standards and guidons, military colours, i.e. either a type of flag or an inflexible ...

of the

Roman legion The Roman legion (, ) was the largest military List of military legions, unit of the Roman army, composed of Roman citizenship, Roman citizens serving as legionary, legionaries. During the Roman Republic the manipular legion comprised 4,200 i ...

s. He carried a ''signum'' ( standard) for a cohort or

century A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. ...

. Each century had a ''signifer'' so there were 60 in a legion. Within each cohort, the first century's ''signifer'' would be the senior one. The ''-fer'' in ''signifer'' comes from ''ferre'', the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

for 'to bear' or 'to carry'.

Standard-bearer

The standard had a number of ''phalarae'' (disks or

medallion A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be in ...

s) along with a number of other elements mounted on a pole. The pole could be topped with a leaf-shaped spear head or a ''manus'' (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 the ''signum'' in battle was dangerous: a soldier had to stand in the first rank and could carry only a small buckler. It was that banner around which the men from each individual century would rally. A soldier could also gain the position of ''discentes signiferorum'', or standard bearer in training. If the signifer was lost in battle, the whole unit was dishonored.

Uniform

Archaeological and literary sources indicate that standard bearers wore mostly

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...

furs and sometimes

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...

furs. Although often depicted and adopted in modern re-enactments covering their helmets with

wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a Canis, canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus, subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, includin ...

furs, those animals are never mentioned.

Treasurer

In addition to carrying the ''signum'', the ''signifer'' also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' treasurer. The Signifer was also a

Duplicarius ''Duplarius'' (: ''duplares''), ''duplicarius'' or ''dupliciarius'' was an inferior, low-ranking Roman officer, who received double rations or increased payment valuing the 2nd ration based on their valor. As part of cavalry, one '' decurio'', one ...

, paid twice the basic wage.

Roman Republic and Roman Empire

In the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

, the signifer probably applied to all standard bearers, but in the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...

, the signifer was just one of a number of types of signiferi, which also included

aquilifer An ''aquilifer'' (, "eagle-bearer") was one of the '' signiferi'' in a Roman legion who carried the eagle standard of the legion. The name derives from the type of standard, '' aquila'', meaning "eagle" (which was the universal type used since 1 ...

s (responsible for the legion's '' aquila''), imaginifers (who carried an image of the emperor), vexillarii (who carried the ''

Vexillum The ''vexillum'' (; : ''vexilla'') was a flag-like object used as a War flag, military standard by units in the Roman army. A common ''vexillum'' displayed imagery of the Aquila (Roman), Roman ''aquila'' on a reddish backdrop. Use in Roman arm ...

'', a banner representing the legion), and draconarii (who carried the standard of a cavalry unit).

References

Sources