Roman Republic The rank of legate existed as early as the
Samnite Wars, but it was not until 190 BC that it started to be standardized, meant to better manage the higher numbers of soldiers the
Second Punic War had forced to recruit. The legate of a Roman Republican army was essentially a supreme
military tribune, drawn from among the senatorial class of
Rome (usually a
consul or
proconsul), This role was usually played by either seasoned generals or ambitious young senators; the latter option eventually displaced the military tribune as a path to gain recognition. The legate was officially assigned by the
Senate, the republic's highest governing body. An appointment was generally only done after consulting with the magistrate in command, Initially, only conflicts on foreign ground had demanded the presence of legati, but the beginning of the
Social War in 90 BC saw them being increasingly deployed in Italia.
Roman Empire From
Augustus onwards, the emperor gave the title of
legatus legionis to senior commanders (former
military tribunes) of a legion, except in
Egypt and
Mesopotamia where the legions were commanded by a
praefectus legionis of an equestrian rank. The
legatus legionis was under the supreme command of a
legatus Augusti pro praetore of senatorial rank. If the province was defended by a single legion, the
legatus Augusti pro praetore was also in direct command of the legion. This post was generally appointed by the
emperor. The person chosen for this rank was a former
tribune, and although the emperor
Augustus set a maximum term of command of two years for a
legatus, subsequent emperors extended the tenure to three or four years, although the incumbent could serve for a much longer period. In a province with only one legion, the legate served as the provincial governor, while in provinces with multiple legions each legion had a legate and a separate provincial governor who had overall command. A legate was the principal commander of their assigned
legion. The
Legatus legionis would delegate operational duties to their command staff of
Tribunus laticlavius,
Praefectus castrorum,
Tribunus angusticlavii &
Primus pilus who would collectively be responsible for the legion's operational effectiveness. The legate could be distinguished in the field by his elaborate
Attic helmet and
Lorica musculata or
plumata, as well as a scarlet
paludamentum (cloak),
cincticulus (a sash tied around the waist) and a
parazonium (status sword). The senatorial
legatus legionis was removed from the Roman army by
Gallienus, who preferred to entrust the command of a legionary unit to a
leader chosen from within the
equestrian order who had a long military career. The title has other uses from the period of Augustus onwards, following the constitutional resettlement of 27 BC "that senatorial governors in the People's provinces bore the republican title of 'proconsul', while those appointed by the Emperor bore a title which explicitly referred to their dependence on him, namely
legatus, or deputy". == Diplomatic legates ==