Caesar's Legion, being a military force in and of itself, operates in accordance with a strict hierarchy based on the Legions of ancient Rome.
Overview[]
Caesar's Legion is an army of slaves subordinate to the rule and ideology of Caesar. All members of Caesar's Legion are slaves, but not all of these slaves become legionaries. The legionaries are simply those slaves who are deemed physically fit to serve Caesar in a military capacity, whether they were born into Legion slavery or assimilated from a conquered tribe.[Non-game 1] Only male slaves are allowed to serve as legionaries; women are forbidden from serving, as per Caesar's ideology, their only role in the Legion is for birthing more male slaves.[1] Any male slaves who do not qualify for combat are simply used for slave labor instead. The same is true of all women.[Non-game 2] The Legion's soldiers serve for life, and the only way out of their service is death. This applies to even prominent Legion commanders such as Lucius, head of the Praetorian Guard.[Non-game 3]
Though the bulk of Caesar's soldiers have only improvised or low-tech weapons, their discipline, ferocity, and sheer numbers dampen the impact of the NCR Army's technological advantage. Combined with their skill in infiltration and sabotage, the warriors of Caesar's Legion have managed to score important victories against the NCR and maintain a powerful and feared presence in the Mojave Wasteland.
Organization[]
Caesar is the supreme leader of the Legion, and his orders are law; as a slave army, all members of the Legion are subordinate to Caesar's rule. Directly below Caesar is a legate, ensuring that Caesar's orders are followed faithfully. The centurions are responsible for directing the legionaries and coordinating their attacks. A contubernium consists of eight legionaries.[2]
In additional to a standard hierarchy of common legionaries, the Legion also includes some special functional units. The Praetorian Guard are an elite group of soldiers who operate as Caesar's personal bodyguards.[3] Though they are not part of the main fighting force, they will accompany their legate in crucial battles and occasionally serve as Caesar's executioners. The frumentarii are legionaries trained in the arts of espionage and sabotage. Due to the clandestine nature of their work, they operate as independent units. Thus, only trusted individuals become frumentarii.
Legionaries[]
Once enslaved men or boys are deemed fit to serve as legionaries, their training begins. The training is harsh, and underperforming recruits are threatened with injury or death, even if they are children.[4] If the trainees survive the instructors' trials, they are given the right to join the Legion's ranks. As a result, the Legion's fighters are skilled, tenacious, fearless, and completely disciplined. In comparison to the NCR's recruits, who are sometimes given as little as two weeks of combat training,[5] legionaries are consummate soldiers whose training conditions them almost to the same level as the most elite troops of the NCR.[6][7]
Recruits face the most dangerous combat within the Legion. The most inexperienced warriors in the Legion are given only sparse equipment, such as crude machetes, improvised throwing spears, and antiquated firearms. As part of the Legion's tactics, they are marched to the front to act as human shields for the more experienced prime and veteran legionaries, intended to wear out the enemy for the back waves to deal with.[8][Non-game 4]
Should the recruits survive and even excel through multiple battles, they are granted the right to be promoted to prime legionaries, who are given better equipment and situated in the second wave in combat, behind the recruits. If they continue to demonstrate aptitude in battle, they gain the status of veterans. The veterans are given the best equipment of the common legionaries and are kept even further away from the front lines, in a third wave only deployed if the ranks before them should fail their mission. This method of organization is not out of kindness to the Legion's seasoned warriors; it allows the Legion to hold its best soldiers in reserve so they may be unleashed if the lesser legionaries fail to defeat their foes. Even if this happens, the logic is that any enemies will have been worn out by the previous two waves and the veterans will be well-positioned to mop them up.[8][Non-game 4]
If legionaries demonstrate aptitude in essential crafts, they will be assigned to such duties. These jobs can range from training the Legion's hounds to repairing and expanding the Legion's arsenal.
Discipline and advancement[]
Caesar's army is highly stratified in terms of rank. A low-ranking soldier must defer to the wishes of his superiors, even if that means facing death. The Legion's success comes from the legionaries' fearlessness, cooperation, and loyalty to Caesar. Thus, cowardice and disobedience will earn the wrath of Caesar and his officers.
Advancement is primarily achieved through valorous or ingenious acts on the battlefield. If a legionary can earn a decisive victory for the Legion, he will be recognized for his efforts even if it involves disobeying orders. Vulpes Inculta is a notable example, as he managed to defeat a tribe by breaking ranks and exploiting a weakness in their formation. The centurion wished to execute Vulpes for his disobedience, but Caesar elevated Vulpes to the position of frumentarii.[9] Especially well-performing legionaries can be invited to positions of leadership, such as that of a centurion.[3]
However, recognition does not come with any military honors, wealth or class incentives, safety, or comfort. Promoted legionaries are simply to continue fighting for Caesar, with their experience being rewarded only with better equipment to match greater danger.[Non-game 5] Higher-ranked legionaries also receive increased scrutiny, especially those who have been given leadership responsibilities.[Non-game 3]
Incompetence brings the threat of serious injury or death. The first legate, Joshua Graham, failed to seize Hoover Dam and his forces were routed by the NCR. Though he was the second most powerful man in the Legion and Caesar's life-long friend, Caesar nonetheless ordered his Praetorians to immolate Graham and toss him into the Grand Canyon.[10] Other punishments that may be applied for failure range from crucifixion[11] to decimation.[12] Consequently, legionaries will frequently commit suicide when defeated to avoid suffering at the hands of Caesar's executioners.[13]
Equipment[]
Caesar is determined to maintain a Roman theme for his army due to his belief that technology makes men complacent and weak, and his army is equipped as such. The most common armaments in the Legion are crude machetes and improvised throwing spears, but the legionaries are relatively free to use whatever weapon is available, so long as they can wield them well. As rank improves, the quality of a legionary's armament also increases. In fact, the centurions can be seen wielding weapons that are technologically advanced, ranging from thermic lances to anti-materiel rifles.
Standard legionary armor is composed of pre-War athletic gear (football equipment salvaged from places like the University of Arizona) reinforced with metal and leather and worn over makeshift imitations of traditional Roman body armor. Again, rank dictates the quality of armor. A recruit will be given armor that is ineffective against even crude bludgeons while centurions are equipped with armor that can resist knives and SMG bullets.
Due to a ban on modern medicine, alcohol, and synthetic chems, the legionaries are provided with medicines derived from the local flora and fauna. Healing powder and bitter drinks are the most common remedies used to heal wounds. In order to restore crippled limbs, the Legion uses a chem called hydra, a potent brew derived from the Mojave Wasteland's wildlife and cave fungus. Legionaries also carry antivenom as a precaution against poisoning from encounters with the venomous creatures of the desert. In addition, many legionaries carry purified water and food gathered from the wasteland for rations.
Variants[]
The legionaries can be divided according to experience as such:
Recruit legionary[]
Recruit legionaries are the lowest-ranked members of Caesar's Legion. Freshly trained, these legionaries are given only basic equipment, mostly rudimentary melee weapons, although rarely, they also have access to firearms.[Non-game 6] Recruits who show results will be "awarded" with a promotion to the class of prime legionary. Recruits are the most common type of the legionaries, and they emulate the ancient Roman hastati.[Non-game 5][Non-game 7]
In combat, legionaries are most commonly organized into three waves based on their experience, with recruits occupying the first wave. As the least experienced and least equipped, the role of the recruit legionaries is simply to act as meat shields for the more experienced legionaries. Even if they are wiped out, the intent is that they will have wore out the enemy so that the back waves have a better chance of defeating their opponents.[8][Non-game 4]
Prime legionary[]
Prime legionaries are the second lowest-ranked soldier class of Caesar's Legion. These legionaries have been promoted from recruit legionaries due to showing results in combat, and their relatively higher experience is "rewarded" with better equipment, including regular access to powerful firearms.[Non-game 6]
The prime legionaries emulate the principes of the ancient Roman military.[Non-game 5] In combat, legionaries are most commonly organized into three waves based on their experience, and the primes are organized in the second, middle wave. They are deployed only if the first wave of recruits is defeated, with the intent of mopping up opponents worn out by the first wave of combat. Even if their wave is defeated, the third wave of veteran legionaries is intended to step in and wipe out any remaining enemies.[8][Non-game 4] Prime legionaries who show results are "promoted" to join the ranks of the veterans.
Veteran legionary[]
Veteran legionaries are the best equipped and most experienced among the standard legionaries, given regular access to powerful, high-tier firearms.[Non-game 6] In battle, they are typically held in reserve until the earlier two waves of recruit and prime legionaries are defeated, emulating the triarii of the ancient Roman military.[Non-game 5] The intention of this tactic is that even if the first two waves have been wiped out, any remaining enemies would have been worn out and made easier to defeat for the veterans.[8][Non-game 4]
Legionary decanus[]
Legionaries are given the position of decanus when they consistently display leadership potential in battle. A decanus has the authority to run small camps as well as act as a deputy for the local centurion. Like standard legionaries, the decani have their own hierarchy. Seniority determines the quality of the decanus' armor; a standard decanus will only have the recruit's armor whereas a seasoned decanus will be given a veteran legionary's armor. They are easily distinguished by their helmets, which are adorned with feathers. The decani ranks are similar to the standard legionary ranks, that being:
Centurion[]
Centurions serve as field commanders during major operations. They are often appointed to their position through years of dedicated service in combat and conquest, and their martial prowess reflects the rigors they have endured; they are considered strong enough by Caesar to be considered for his personal Praetorian Guard.[3] Outside of battle, centurions act as administrators of Legion camps with the assistance of the decanus.
They are clad in heavy armor cobbled together from their fallen foes and use various weapons to great effect. Their armor frequently includes pieces scavenged from power armor, which suggests that they have killed opponents wearing power armor in the past.[Non-game 8]
Legate[]
A position above the rank of Centurion that acts as a general or field marshal. A legate, or legatus, is shown to be appointed directly by Caesar, opposed to solely through career advancement. The two explicitly referenced legati have also acted as the second in command to Caesar, that being the Malpais Legate (Joshua Graham) and Legatus Lanius. While Lanius is the only legate in the Mojave, Caesar's Legion has several other Legati in the command structure elsewhere.[14]
Legion explorer[]
A veteran scout legionary. They are not intended for combat and will thus only carry basic weaponry. They serve as scouts, messengers, and sentries in various Legion camps.
Legionary assassin[]
A specially trained legionary, sent after Caesar's most hated enemies. They are extremely dangerous due to the fact that they travel in packs and utilize powerful firearms and melee weapons. Legionary assassins are typically led into battle by a vexillarius[15]
Other positions[]
- Frumentarii - The eyes and ears of Caesar, the frumentarii serve as spies, saboteurs, and assassins. They operate separately from the main Legion forces and are hand-picked by Caesar himself. In 2281, the leader of this unit is Vulpes Inculta.
- Houndmasters - The remnants of the Hangdogs tribes, a tribe assimilated by the Legion. After they were integrated into the Legion, Caesar, seeing how useful the Hangdogs' talent was in taming dogs, made the male members of the tribe into hound masters of the Legion. Caesar also made the hound masters begin training and taming the Legion mongrels.
- Vexillarius - A soldier chosen as a vexillarius is a standard-bearer that carries the vexillum, a military standard (flag or banner) displaying the emblem of the Legion. The vexillarius provide troops with a rallying point and morale during heated exchanges. These soldiers are given luxuries including firearms, superior armor and distinctive helmets in comparison to the standard legionary.
- Praetorian - They are soldiers or officers with the potential to become centurions but operate as members of Caesar's security detail. Prospective Praetorians must challenge the Praetorian they think is the weakest. The two men will then fight to the death in hand-to-hand combat for the title of Praetorian. They are proficient in unarmed combat and augment their innate fighting abilities with lethal ballistic fists. In 2281, the leader of this section is Lucius.
- Blacksmith - The blacksmiths are responsible for the maintenance, repair, and creation of the Legion's weapons and armor. These men are generally found in Legion camps.
- Instructor - The legionary instructor is responsible for the training of future legionaries. They are trusted with turning boys into potent warriors and thus are encouraged to subject their charges to rigorous training. They frequently threaten to kill their students should they not give full attention to improving their skills.
- Speculatores - While little is known about this rank within the Legion, they are featured in the Vault playing cards that came with the Fallout: New Vegas collector's edition. Speculatores are on the 8 of clubs, with the card featuring a blood stained sword stuck into the ground and a quote about Mars. They are also mentioned in the quest Oh My Papa by Melissa. She is told she could become one by a frumentarii agent named Karl. However, it is apparent that Karl is lying to Melissa given the fact that the Legion does not allow women to serve.[16] Ancient Roman speculatores filled scouting roles. It is possible the Legion's speculatores handle mapping and battlefield reconnaissance, as opposed to the covert spy work of the frumentarii, or it may be the official title for another rank.
Behind the scenes[]
The hierarchy of Caesar's Legion resembles the army of the early Roman Republic, predating the Marian reforms. Joshua Sawyer has alluded to this, comparing the Legion's recruits, primes, and veterans to the hastati, principes, and triarii, soldier classes from the military of the early Roman Republic.[Non-game 5][Non-game 7]
Gallery[]
Units[]
Notable members[]
References[]
|
Non-game
- ↑ Question: "Reducing women to breeding material is, uh, still misogyny? Not really "another" reason, that. "Women can't go to war; they need to make babies" is something women hear today, and it's plain old sexism. No need for new words. Caesar's still gross/inept"
Joshua Sawyer: "All members of Caesar's society are forced into specific roles. It's kind of bizarre to say that reducing women to breeders (which select legionaries are also forced to participate in, by arrangement) is misogynistic but forcing all able-bodied men to fight or die is... apparently not misandric? It's not like Caesar is giving men (who, again, with the exception of the Blackfoots, were either directly enslaved as children or born to enslaved women, never knowing their fathers) the option to fight or raise ponies."
(Formspring reply on October 26, 2011) - ↑ Question: "I think the point is that when you've defended the Legion's moral complexity by saying it's just the grunts who are misogynists, then turn and say Caesar wants women for breeding, you're not convincing anyone who doesn't see "breeding" humans as positive."
Joshua Sawyer: "I've gone over this before ad nauseum. Everyone is treated terribly in the Legion. Men who are able to fight are slave soldiers who serve until they die. Men who aren't able to fight are slave laborers who work until they die. Women who are able to give birth are forced into breeding until they are unable to give birth. Then they're slave laborers until they die. Caesar doesn't do this because he hates women or views them as inferior to men; he does it because all he is concerned with is the end goal: more legionaries. The legionaries are also a means to an end: conquering NCR. Conquering NCR is also a means to an end: reforming it and producing a new quasi-Roman empire. If it doesn't convince you, that's fine, but I've already made this argument and don't see the point in continuing it."
(Formspring reply on June 2, 2012) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Question: "One token Nazi medal for pure aryan mothers hardly balances the the vast, VAST majority of male-dominated civilizations throughout history that have treated women as sub-human or property. Men in the Legion have power, women don't have any."
Joshua Sawyer: "Why are people so obsessed with the "balance" between the different gendered roles under the Legion? I've never said it's balanced. But there is very clearly a trend among people questioning the Legion to project the concept of military service as a noble endeavor (for which one is rewarded, no less) onto legionnaires when it's never presented in that way. They are slave soldiers. Service is not voluntary, they can't retire, there are no parades and pats on the back for them. They aren't Roman patrician officers who are going to retire to a Tuscan estate when they turn 50. The only power that male legionaries have is to serve Caesar well enough to be promoted to a position of more responsibility. Nothing really comes with that additional responsibility other than increased scrutiny and better equipment (to match the increased danger). Most of my commentary on this topic has been to highlight the following:
Caesar's Legion is subdivided (by Caesar) based on gendered/sexed roles. These subdivisions are sexist (inherently), but they are neither misogynistic nor misandric.
Legionaries under Caesar are not like Roman patrician officers. They are not part of a larger society that celebrates and rewards military service with things like conference of honorific titles, triumphs, etc. All legionaries are slave soldiers, period.
The opinions of individual legionaries are not the opinions of Caesar. These individuals may make misogynistic comments, but those comments did not originate with Caesar, nor is there any reason to believe that he shares them, given his willingness to employ a female courier.
If you want to weigh the individual horror of rape and forced child-bearing against forced military service for life, knock yourself out. It's two terrible ways to go through life."
(Formspring reply on October 28, 2011) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Question: "Just how expendable are troops to the Legion? Roman tactics involved 2 lines of fresh meat, then a third line (Triarii) that would devastate the opponents that have tired themselfs killing the first 2. Does NV's Legion do similar?"
Joshua Sawyer: "That's exactly what the Recruits, Primes, and Veterans are."
(Formspring post on October 25, 2011) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Question: "Would Caesars Legion ever have Triarii? Or is it based on Marian Reforms era military?"
Joshua Sawyer: "Veterans are the equivalent of triarii, Primes as principes, Recruits as hastati. Wealth and class are not parts of Caesar's Legion's structure, but experience and access to equipment are."
(Formspring post on July 4, 2012) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Question: "Could Caesar really win a war of attrition with the NCR, or is he just deluded by an environment of yes-men into believing they have the numbers for ancient tactics to still work when the enemy is just cutting down your front lines with gunfire?"
Joshua Sawyer: "Primes, Veterans, and even some Recruits use powerful firearms. Most of the legionaries who use melee weapons are early/weak scrubs. It's true that some Centurions and most Praetorian Guards also use melee/unarmed weapons, but as people who assault those characters in close quarters (where they are often encountered) can probably attest, it's not much of an impediment for them. As to whether or not Caesar has the numbers to ultimately win (and hold power) in the long run, that's unknown."
(Formspring reply from October 26, 2011) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Question: "Maybe not "bows" per se - It does seem plausible, though, that in a post-apoc. wasteland there would be a (relative) scarcity of ammunition leading to the use of more primitive projectiles. Dirty tribals could more readily improvise "arrows" than bullets."
Joshua Sawyer: "They could more easily improvise spears than either! That's what they had in Fallout 2 and one of the reasons we brought them into F:NV. Also, they fit the style of Caesar's Legion's 'recruits' better. Though the primes and veterans use much better equipment, the recruits are the equivalent of pre-Marian reform hastati: multitudes of scrubs with the most basic gear they can find."
(Formspring reply from September 4, 2011) - ↑ Question: "The Legion centurions have power armor pieces so does this mean the Legion and the Brotherhood fought at some point?"
Joshua Sawyer: "It means that Centurions killed someone wearing power armor at some point."
(Formspring post on February 13, 2012)
