Immunes

Ancient Rome's military was highly advanced for its time, divided into multiple units to maximize efficiency and power. One such unit was the immune class. By definition, the immunes were legionary soldiers who possessed specialized skills, qualifying them to perform duties atypical of a Roman soldier. [cite web|url=http://www.helium.com/tm/412597/julius-caesar-fortune-which |title= History of the Roman Army |accessdate=2008-01-10 |format= |work= ] Immunes’ expertise in their respective fields allowed them to be exempt from the more tedious and dangerous tasks other soldiers were required to do, such as ditch digging and rampart patrol. [cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/glossary_m.htm
title= Roman Military Glossary |accessdate=2008-01-10 |format= |work= ] Their intelligence also enabled them to rise in rank much more rapidly than foot soldiers. The immune unit was also considered to be a sub-class of the Praetorian Guard unit, or a group of soldiers reserved as a privilege for the emperor who conducted all military activity within the empire.

Becoming an Immune

Immune status within the army was achieved through promotion. Prior to reaching the immunity stage, men were required to serve as a "munifex", or a labor-working soldier ranked in the lowest class of the Roman army structure. Men remained a munifex receiving basic pay for several years before becoming eligible for promotion. It was also common for soldiers to be required to undergo instruction as a "discen" to attain immunity. [cite web|url=http://history-world.org/roman_army.htm|title= The Roman Army |accessdate=2008-01-10 |format= |work= ] Discens were privates in training for a special function. Like the munifex division, discens received basic pay [cite web|url=http://s_van_dorst.tripod.com/Ancient_Warfare/Rome/hierarchy.html
title= Rank Structure of the Imperial Roman Army|accessdate=2008-01-10 |format= |work= ] and were fully trained in combat, thus eligible to fight in the infantry if necessary.

Typical duties

Military police, musicians, drill and weapons instructors, engineers, carpenters, hunters and medical staff [cite web|url=http://www.crystalinks.com/romemilitary.html
title= Ancient Roman Military | accessdate=2008-01-10 | format= | work= ] were among the multiple specialized jobs the immunes provided for the Roman army. Immunes also received better pay than the regular troops. [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/wales/legio.html]

Citations

External links

* [http://history-world.org/roman_army.htm http://history-world.org/roman_army.htm]
* [http://s_van_dorst.tripod.com/Ancient_Warfare/Rome/hierarchy.html http://s_van_dorst.tripod.com/Ancient_Warfare/Rome/hierarchy.html]
* [http://www.roman-britain.org/glossary_m.htm http://www.roman-britain.org/glossary_m.htm]
* [http://www.helium.com/tm/412597/julius-caesar-fortune-which http://www.helium.com/tm/412597/julius-caesar-fortune-which]
* [http://www.crystalinks.com/romemilitary.html http://www.crystalinks.com/romemilitary.html]