Evocatus
Encyclopedia
Evocatus was the Latin
term for a soldier in the Roman army
who had served out his time and obtained a discharge
(missio) but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the consul
or other commander.
There always existed a considerable number of evocati in every army of importance, and when the general was a favorite among the soldiers, the number of veteran
s who joined his standard naturally increased. The evocati were released, like the vexillarii
, from the common military duties of fortifying the camp, making roads, et cetera, and held a higher rank in the army than the common legionary
soldiers. They are sometimes written of in conjunction with the equites Romani
, and sometimes classed with the centurion
s. They appear to have been frequently promoted to the rank of centurion. Thus, Pompey
induced a great many of the veterans who had served under him in former years to join his standard at the outbreak of the civil war
with the promise of rewards and the command of centuries
. Not all evocati could, however, have held the rank of centurion, nor could they belong to certain cohort
s in the army. Cicero
speaks of a Praefectus
evocatorum, an officer in charge of the evocati.
The name evocati was also applied to a select body of young men of the equestrian
order who were appointed by Emperor Domitian
to guard his bedchamber. This body is supposed by some writers to have existed under succeeding emperors
and to have been the same as that consisting of those known as Evocati Augusti
.
by William Smith
, 1875
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
term for a soldier in the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
who had served out his time and obtained a discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
(missio) but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
or other commander.
There always existed a considerable number of evocati in every army of importance, and when the general was a favorite among the soldiers, the number of veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s who joined his standard naturally increased. The evocati were released, like the vexillarii
Vexillatio
A vexillatio was a detachment of a Roman legion formed as a temporary task force created by the Roman Army of the Principate. It was named from the standards carried by legionary detachments, vexillum , which bore the emblem and name of the parent legion...
, from the common military duties of fortifying the camp, making roads, et cetera, and held a higher rank in the army than the common legionary
Legionary
The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign...
soldiers. They are sometimes written of in conjunction with the equites Romani
Equestrian (Roman)
The Roman equestrian order constituted the lower of the two aristocratic classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the patricians , a hereditary caste that monopolised political power during the regal era and during the early Republic . A member of the equestrian order was known as an eques...
, and sometimes classed with the centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
s. They appear to have been frequently promoted to the rank of centurion. Thus, Pompey
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great , was a military and political leader of the late Roman Republic...
induced a great many of the veterans who had served under him in former years to join his standard at the outbreak of the civil war
Caesar's civil war
The Great Roman Civil War , also known as Caesar's Civil War, was one of the last politico-military conflicts in the Roman Republic before the establishment of the Roman Empire...
with the promise of rewards and the command of centuries
Centuria
Centuria is a Latin substantive from the stem centum , denoting units consisting of 100 men. It also denotes a Roman unit of land area: 1 centuria = 100 heredia...
. Not all evocati could, however, have held the rank of centurion, nor could they belong to certain cohort
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
s in the army. Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
speaks of a Praefectus
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
evocatorum, an officer in charge of the evocati.
The name evocati was also applied to a select body of young men of the equestrian
Equestrian (Roman)
The Roman equestrian order constituted the lower of the two aristocratic classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the patricians , a hereditary caste that monopolised political power during the regal era and during the early Republic . A member of the equestrian order was known as an eques...
order who were appointed by Emperor Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
to guard his bedchamber. This body is supposed by some writers to have existed under succeeding emperors
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
and to have been the same as that consisting of those known as Evocati Augusti
Evocati Augusti
The Evocati Augusti, Evocati of the Praetorian Guard, had even greater social standing than the Evocati of the Legions.They would have served out their time and obtained their discharge with the Praetorian Guard, but then enlisted again voluntarily....
.
Secondary Sources
This article incorporates public domain text from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman AntiquitiesA Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities is an English-language encyclopedia first published in 1842 and then in many revised editions through 1890...
by William Smith
William Smith (lexicographer)
Sir William Smith Kt. was a noted English lexicographer.-Early life:Born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents, he was originally destined for a theological career, but instead was articled to a solicitor. In his spare time he taught himself classics, and when he entered University College...
, 1875