Frvmentarivs

Profile description

Frvmentarivs is the main liaison between the civilian kitchen crew and the rest of the legion. His duties include ensuring food supplies for the entire camp and providing the resources necessary to carry out this task, such as wood, cooking ingredients, oven operation, and so on.

Frumentarii were a special group of soldiers in the Roman army, originating from the legions, whose original task was to supply the troops with food (frumentum, meaning grain). Over time, however, their role expanded significantly.

Officially, they performed logistical and administrative functions: they transported supplies, conveyed orders, and acted as couriers between units and the central authorities. While supplying the legion, they also gathered information about the activities of enemy forces and peoples, so they may be described as spies. They operated throughout the entire empire, collecting information, tracking suspects, and carrying out secret orders of the emperor.

Their equipment did not differ significantly from the standard gear of a legionary — they carried typical weapons, such as the sword (gladius), and light protective equipment. Due to the nature of their tasks, they often travelled in less conspicuous gear.

The pay of the frumentarii was higher than that of an average soldier, due to their special duties and the trust placed in them. They also received additional benefits, such as easier access to promotion and privileges.

!!! T O  B E  F I N I S H E D !!!

Tasks and duties in the camp

Leading the legionary section assigned to assist in the kitchen

Frvmentarivs :

1. After consulting the kitchen crew, he determines the number of kitchen assistants needed for the given day, who will be assigned from among the rank-and-file legionaries. For this purpose, he cooperates directly with the Tesserarivs, to whom he reports the need and from whom he receives information about the soldiers assigned to this task for the entire day.
2. He is required to take part in staff councils (Consilivm) in order to learn the day's schedule and the established times of activities and displays (he records the schedule on his tablet). He passes this information to the kitchen section, which organises its own council, gathering at his signal. During this internal council:
   • the kitchen group establishes the course of the day for the civilian section in accordance with the schedule previously set by the Legion Staff. The Frvmentarivs, together with the head of the kitchen, decides at what times people may go into town / attend photo sessions / watch displays, when breaks are ordered, and at what times selected persons will be needed to assist in the camp. These arrangements are within the authority of the Frvmentarivs and the head of the kitchen section and are entirely independent of Staff decisions.
   • the kitchen section prepares a list of the planned menu for the mealtimes of the given day
3. In exceptional situations, for example a large evening feast in the camp, he may request additional soldiers only for that occasion, or even an entirely new shift for that evening to serve during the feast.
4. He supervises the legionaries selected for a given day to assist in the kitchen, including:
   • informing them about the tasks to be performed, for example: washing dishes, chopping wood, cleaning in the dining area - popina, lighting the fire, helping carry purchased supplies to the cellarivm, and so on
   • assigning and supervising all these tasks,
   • helping and motivating them to work efficiently.
5. If necessary, he assists the kitchen crew on trips to the nearby Vicvs in order to supply the camp with the food and drink needed for the coming days.

Supply of water and food

Frvmentarivs is, broadly speaking, responsible for ensuring that the legionaries do not go hungry or thirsty.

Therefore :

1. He passes the soldiers' daily programme to the kitchen section and helps plan the times at which meals should be issued.
2. He is responsible for continuously organising drinking water for the legionaries, both so that it is available during the day in the popina during and between meals, and also in situations when the legion sets out for training, parades, or other activities outside the camp.
3. He monitors water supplies and is responsible for replenishing them in the storage area (aqvarium) before they are exhausted.  
4. In exceptional situations, for example when the legionaries march out on a long and distant patrol, it depends on him whether the troops receive any dry provisions, and he reminds them to take a personal supply of water with them.

Other kitchen-related duties

1. He is responsible for oil lighting in the popina during evening meals.

Reporting

Frvmentarivs submits at least one report per day to the Centvrio, for example in the evening, informing him about the efficiency with which tasks were carried out during the day and about any problems that occurred. In particular, he reports whether all assigned soldiers showed activity and conscientiously performed the work assigned to them.

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