Infantry Commands of Legio XXI Rapax

General information 
 Below we present selected Roman commands in Latin, used by Legio XXI Rapax both during drill and during the execution of other camp duties, as well as when carrying out actions in combat and on the Campvs Martivs. The commands have been grouped by category and may be used in any situation, depending on the commander’s decision. For example, an officer may order the soldiers to sing both on the march and in camp, while turns may be performed while standing in formation at assembly, as well as during a march. 
 It is worth noting here that, when reconstructing a legion from the 1st century AD, we try to pronounce words as they were pronounced at that time. For this purpose, we use the principles of the pronunciation of so-called restored Latin ( latina restitvta ). Therefore, during our conversations you are more likely to hear: kenturio, salłe, and kajsar... rather than centurio, salwe, and cezar. Learning the rules of pronunciation will make it easier to read the Latin expressions below correctly. 
 Commands 
 ASSEMBLY 
 Milites! Ad arma! - Soldiers! To arms! Alarm! Signifer veni - Standard-bearer, present yourself Ad signvm / Ad signa venite - Come to the standard / to the standards; Assembly! Avdite me - Listen to me Silentivm! - Silence! State - Attention Laxate - Stand at ease Envmerate - Count off Ad dvos / tres nvmerate - Count off by twos / threes Enominate - Give your names Adsvm - Present Acies - Line, battle formation Vnvs ordo - One rank Dvo / tres ordines formate - Form two / three ranks Primvs / secvndvs / novissimvs ordo - First / second / last rank Agmen - Marching column Dvos / tres agmina formate - Form two / three columns Vnvs / dvo / tres passvs (gradvs) procedite - Advance one / two / three double steps (single steps) Qvattvor / qvinqve / sex passvs (gradvs) recidite - Move back four, five, six double steps (single steps) Salvtate - Salute Spectate ad frontem - Look straight ahead Spectate ad dextram / sinistram - Look to the right / left Dirigite - Align yourselves Dirigite ad dextram / sinistram - Align to the right / left Arma (scvta / pila) svrsvm / deorsvm - Weapons (shields / javelins) up / down Arma (scvta / pila) deponite / svmite - Put down / pick up weapons (shields / javelins) Abite - Dismiss Silentivm - silence! 
 ON THE MARCH AND IN COMBAT 
 In aeqvatis passibvs / Sine passvs pergite - March in step / march without step Ad dextram / sinistram vertite - turn right / left Convertite - Turn around Dvplicate - Double the formation In acie ad dextram / sinistram pergite - Move [rotate] in formation to the right / left In agmine ad dextram / sinistram vertite - Turn the column right / left Ad signvm ad dextram / sinistram pergite - Follow the standard to the right / left Ad Optionem / Centvrionem pergite - Follow the Optio / Centvrio In loco calcate - March in place Recta - Straight ahead Consistite - Halt Conglobate / Densate - Close up In agmine / ordinibvs laxate - Loosen the column / ranks In agmine / ordinibvs densate - Close up the column / ranks Sine principalibvs pergite - March without the officers Transite - “Pass through each other”; description of the manoeuvre : the left wing turns 90 degrees to the right, and the right wing turns 90 degrees to the left, and they pass through each other through the gaps between the columns. Mvta locvm - Change place; descriptively:   a 180-degree change in the direction of march of the formation; each soldier individually follows his own column,  In duas partes separate - “Divide into two parts”;  description of the manoeuvre : the right and left sides of the formation from the Principales  operate separately as two distinct units, each having its own assigned commanders directing their actions in the further part of the demonstration until the centvria is reunited. Gladios stringite - Draw swords Gladios recondite - Sheathe swords Pila praeparate - Prepare javelins [for throwing] Pila iacite - Throw javelins Pila infigite - Drive the javelins into the ground Retro - Repeat; descriptively: return to the previous position Cvrrite - At the run Accelerate - Speed up Tardate - Slow down Pvgna! Praeparate! - To arms! Prepare yourselves! Porro! - Attack! [charge in formation]! 
 FORMATIONS 
 Testvdinem formate / deformate - Form / break the tortoise formation Cvnevm formate - Form a wedge Orbem formate - Form a circular formation Pontem formate - Form a ramp Ad orbem! - To the circle! Scvta castrorvm formate - Shield wall 
 IN CAMP 
 Adportate aqvam / lignvm - Bring water / firewood Date aqvam / lignvm - Give water / firewood Nvntio me! Mvnvs factvm - I report! Task completed Me volo campvm / latrinam / tentorivm / silvam ire - I would like to go to the field / to the latrine / to the tent / to the forest Permitto / Non permitto - I permit / I do not permit Excvbia prima ab secvnda ad qvartam horam - First watch from the second to the fourth hour Svrgite! - Wake up! [but also: Rise, Stand up, for example from the ground] Dormite - Go to sleep Cantate - Sing Omnes tirones / milites - All recruits / soldiers Laborate - Work Sedete - Sit down Videte - Watch, look Tentoria stativte / detendite - Pack / pitch the tents In tentorium / tentoria - Into the tent / tents Extingvite lvmina - Extinguish the lights Orate - Pray 
 Learning all these expressions and performing them correctly does not by any means mark the end of Latin study for a recruit. It is difficult at our meetings to get by without basic knowledge of Roman numerals, both cardinal and ordinal, and in particular of the Latin names of all elements of weaponry and camp equipment.  We invite you to read the next articles in the Latin language section .