The term ''accensi'' (Singular: ''accensus'') is applied to two different groups. Originally, the ''accensi'' were light infantry in the armies of the early Roman Republic. They were the poorest men in the legion, and could not afford much equipment. They did not wear armour or carry shields, and their usual position was part of the third battle line. They fought in a loose formation, supporting the heavier troops. They were eventually phased out by the time of Second Punic War. In the later

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

the term was used for civil servants who assisted the elected

magistrates The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

, particularly in the

courts A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accorda ...

, where they acted as

ushers An usher is a person who welcomes and shows people where to sit, especially at a church, theatre or when attending a wedding. History The word comes from the Latin ''ostiarius'' ("porter", "doorman") through Norman French, and is a cognate of ...

and

clerks A clerk is someone who works in an office. A retail clerk works in a store. Office holder Clerk(s) may also refer to a person who holds an office, most commonly in a local unit of government, or a court. *Barristers' clerk, a manager and adminis ...

Infantry

History and deployment

''Accensi'' appear to have evolved from the old fifth class of the army under the Etruscan kings when it was reformed by

Marcus Furius Camillus Marcus Furius Camillus (; c. 446 – 365 BC) was a Roman soldier and statesman of the patrician class. According to Livy and Plutarch, Camillus triumphed four times, was five times dictator, and was honoured with the title of ''Second Founder ...

. The fifth class was made up of the poorest soldiers in the legion who were equipped with slings and perhaps a small shield. They acted as skirmishers, screening their own formations and disrupting the enemy. It is likely that engagements with the Samnites and a crushing defeat at the hands of the

Gauls The Gauls ( la, Galli; grc, Γαλάται, ''Galátai'') were a group of Celtic peoples of mainland Europe in the Iron Age and the Roman period (roughly 5th century BC to 5th century AD). Their homeland was known as Gaul (''Gallia''). They s ...

taught the Romans the importance of flexibility and the inadequacy of the phalanx on the rough, hilly ground of central Italy.

Camillan system

In the early Camillan system of organisation of the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, men were sorted into classes according to wealth, the ''accensi'' being the poorest. ''Accensi'' were armed with slings which they used to hurl stones at enemy formations. They fought as

skirmishers Skirmishers are light infantry or light cavalry soldiers deployed as a vanguard, flank guard or rearguard to screen a tactical position or a larger body of friendly troops from enemy advances. They are usually deployed in a skirmish line, an i ...

, wearing only a tunic and sometimes carrying a small round shield. In this type of legion, the 900 ''accensi'' formed 15 maniples, military units of 60 men each, which were in turn part of 15 '' ordines'', larger units made up of a maniple of ''

triarii ''Triarii'' (singular: ''Triarius'') were one of the elements of the early Roman military manipular legions of the early Roman Republic (509 BC – 107 BC). They were the oldest and among the wealthiest men in the army and could afford high qua ...

'', a maniple of ''

rorarii ''Rorarii'' were soldiers who formed the final lines, or else provided a reserve thereby, in the ancient pre- Marian Roman army. They may have been used with the ''triarii'' in battle near the final stages of fighting, since they are recorded as be ...

'' and a maniple of ''accensi''. The ''accensi'' stood in the last line of the legion, behind the front line of ''

hastati ''Hastati'' (singular: ''hastatus'') were a class of infantry employed in the armies of the early Roman Republic, who originally fought as spearmen and later as swordsmen. These soldiers were the staple unit after Rome threw off Etruscan rule. ...

'', the second line of ''

principes ''Principes'' (Singular: ''princeps'') were spearmen, and later swordsmen, in the armies of the early Roman Republic. They were men in the prime of their lives who were fairly wealthy, and could afford decent equipment. They were the heavier in ...

'', the third of ''

'' and the fourth of ''rorarii''. In a

pitched battle A pitched battle or set-piece battle is a battle in which opposing forces each anticipate the setting of the battle, and each chooses to commit to it. Either side may have the option to disengage before the battle starts or shortly thereafter. A ...

, the ''

leves ''Leves'' (Singular: ''Levis'') were javelin-armed skirmishers in the army of the early Roman Republic. They were typically some of the youngest and poorest men in the legion, and could not afford much equipment. They were usually outfitted w ...

'', javelin armed skirmishers who were attached to maniples of ''hastati'', would form up at the front of the legion and harass the enemy with javelin fire and cover the advance of the ''hastati'',

spear A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...

armed infantry. If the ''hastati'' failed to break the enemy, they would fall back and let the ''principes'', heavier and more experienced infantry, take over. If the ''principes'' did not break them, they would retire behind the ''triarii'', who would then engage the enemy in turn—hence the expression ''rem ad Triarios redisse'', "it has come to the ''triarii''"—signalling an act of desperation. The '' equites'', cavalrymen, were used as flankers and to pursue routing enemies. The ''

'', the poorer reserve soldiers, and ''accensi'', the least dependable troops armed with slings, would be used in a support role, providing mass and supporting wavering areas of the line.

Polybian system

By the time of the later Polybian system of the 2nd century BC, ''accensi'' had been phased out. ''

Velites ''Velites'' (singular: ) were a class of infantry in the Roman army of the mid-Republic from 211 to 107 BC. ''Velites'' were light infantry and skirmishers armed with javelins ( la, hastae velitares), each with a 75cm (30 inch) wooden shaft the ...

'', light skirmishers, would now fulfill skirmishing duties and troops that would usually have gone into the accensi would now be excluded from service.

Civil servants

As with the

lictor A lictor (possibly from la, ligare, "to bind") was a Roman civil servant who was an attendant and bodyguard to a magistrate who held ''imperium''. Lictors are documented since the Roman Kingdom, and may have originated with the Etruscans. Origi ...

s, A''ccensi'' were usually professional civil servants, providing assistance to the elected

during their term in office. They also helped in writing

edict An edict is a decree or announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism, but it can be under any official authority. Synonyms include "dictum" and "pronouncement". ''Edict'' derives from the Latin edictum. Notable edicts * Telepinu Pro ...

s and

laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...

. In the courts, they summoned witnesses, kept track of time, and helped keep order. Outside of the courts, they escorted the magistrate and acted as heralds. It is also possible they were messengers and

orderlies In healthcare, an orderly (also known as a ward assistant, nurse assistant or healthcare assistant) is a hospital attendant whose job consists of assisting medical and nursing staff with various nursing and medical interventions. The highest ...

. The ''Accensi Velati'' were non military participants of military campaigns. They probably assisted clerks, accountants, supply officials, and aides. The ''Accensi Velati'' had a centuriate assembly dedicated to them. The ''Accensi Velati'' also assisted religious affairs especially the

Feriae Latinae The ''Feriae Latinae'' or Latin Festival was an ancient Roman religious festival held in April on the Alban Mount. The date varied, and was determined and announced by the consuls each year when they took office. It was one of the most ancient f ...

. The ''Accensi Velati'' formed a

collegium A (plural ), or college, was any association in ancient Rome that acted as a legal entity. Following the passage of the ''Lex Julia'' during the reign of Julius Caesar as Consul and Dictator of the Roman Republic (49–44 BC), and their rea ...

dedicated to managing the streets.

References