Contubernium
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The contubernium was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army and was comprised of eight legionaries, comparable to the modern squad, known as an octet. Two "servants" (actually comparable to modern support troops) were assigned to each octet. They were responsible for the care of the octet's pack mule, making sure the legionaries had water during the march, and often had special skills like blacksmithing or carpentry. Ten contubernia were grouped into a centuria. Soldiers of a contubernium shared a tent, and were rewarded or punished together. If one member of the contubernium acted dishonorably in battle, he would suffer decimation, whereby the group would be required to draw straws, the soldier unlucky enough to draw the short straw then being stoned to death by the others.
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