Talk:Decurion

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[edit] Infantry rank

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In the infantry, the rank carried less prestige -- a 'decurion' only led a squad called a Contubernium or "Tent Group" of 8 men. But they were still allowed to carry a Pugio or dagger as a sign of their rank.

Is there really any evidence that Decurion was an infantry rank? Or, indeed, that a pugio was anything other than standard issue to all legionaries? I am inclined to delete this statement. 62.239.24.22 12:56, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

• My dictionary says a decurion was in charge of ten men.

• No less a source than the Asterix books uses the term 'Decurion' to denote an infantry (patrol) squad leader.

And if you can't trust Goscinny and Uderzo, who can you trust?

(The above is obviously tongue in cheek, yet the truth is that Goscinny and Uderzo did a lot of research, so I am actually inclined to believe that this is, in fact, a correct use of the term)--Bltpdx 16:56, 22 May 2006 (UTC)