[Teaser] Medals of Honor

Debuting next weekend... Medals of Honor, a Live History documentary. Here's a sneak peak of the script. Enjoy!

Intro

After a long career, Roman veterans would have much to show for it. Decades of distinguished service brought with it not just an extensive list of scars but also an impressive array of awards. As with modern militaries, these ran the gauntlet from badges of personal distinction, to unit level accolades, and campaign medals. All would have marked out a man who represented the best of the best the legions had to offer. So today, let’s take a closer look at these Roman Medals of Honor

Origins

Awards for military achievements have long been a part of human history. From the triumphal monuments honoring the high up generals to the myriad of accolades doled out to their lowly soldiers. Combat medals specifically have been found as far back as the Old Kingdom of Egypt, over 4,000 years ago, and similar awards exist across many cultures and eras of the past. Thus it was that as the Roman military developed, it would be in a position to evolve upon this age old practice.

The early Romans took a huge number of their traditions from the surrounding peoples and tribes - namely the Celts, the Greeks, and the Etruscans. For instance, the Celts regularly used ornaments such as Torcs as signs of a warrior’s status, the Greeks meanwhile erected tropaion, or monuments to victory, at their sites of battle, and the Etruscans may have contributed to key aspects of the iconic triumphal parade.

By flipping through the history of Rome’s formative years we see many records of their gradual adoption. The most common examples are in the proudly cataloged deeds of brave soldiers and generals. Often these seem to be lifted right out of some Homeric Epic where heroes duel one another in single combat, issuing challenges before armies, and stripping the gear of vanquished foes. But while we might expect such incidents in the early years when the legions acted as mere warbands, there is ample evidence to suggest they persisted in the years of the Republic when the army became more structured and disciplined. A prime example of this comes with the tale of Titus Manlius, a military tribune who in 363 BC, answered the challenge of a mighty Gaul at the Battle of the Anio River. Here is how Livy puts it: quote

“The young man's friends armed him; he assumed the shield of a foot-soldier, and to his side he buckled a Spanish sword, convenient for close fighting. Armed and armoured, they led him forth to the Gaul, who in his glee thrust his tongue out in derision. They then retired to their station, and the two armed men were left by themselves in the midst, like gladiators more than soldiers, and by no means evenly matched, to judge from outward show. One had a body extraordinary for its size, and resplendent in a coat of shifting hues and armour painted and chased with gold: the other was of a middling stature for a soldier, and his arms were but indifferent to look at, being suitable but not ornate.

When they had taken their ground between the two embattled armies, while the hearts of the surrounding multitude were suspended between hope and fear, the Gaul, whose huge bulk towered above the other, advanced his shield with the left arm, to parry the attack of his oncoming enemy, and delivered a slashing stroke with his sword, that made a mighty clatter but did no harm. The Roman, with the point of his weapon raised, struck up his adversary's shield with a blow from his own against its lower edge; and slipping in between the man's sword and his body, so close that no part of his own person was exposed, he gave one thrust and then immediately another, and gashing the groin and belly of his enemy brought him headlong to the ground, where he lay stretched out over a monstrous space.

To the body of his fallen foe he offered no other indignity than to despoil it of one thing - a chain which, spattered with blood, he cast round his own neck. The Gauls were transfixed with fear and wonder, while the Romans, quitting their station, ran eagerly to meet their champion and brought him with praise to the dictator. Amidst the rude banter thrown out by the soldiers in a kind of verse, was heard the appellation of Torquatus, and thereafter this was given currency as an honored surname, used even by descendants of the family.”

Over time we see how such events gradually developed traditions meant to honor specific achievements in battle. The notable actions of a soldier for instance might earn him a Torque while a general who single-handedly defeated an opposing leader would be granted the Spolia Opima, or noble spoils of this foe. Marks of distinction could even be bestowed upon entire armies as can be seen with the raising of commemorative trophies. As was common across the Mediterranean these were fashioned from the armament of a defeated army and raised upon the site of the battle itself.

By the Imperial Era, Rome had developed a long tradition of recognizing exemplary military service. But as with many things, the transition from Republic to Empire brought with it a chance to officially formalize these concepts. Thus we see how practices that had organically arisen during the Republic were now standardized into a framework upon which even more awards were introduced. Let us now take a closer look at this system by examining what each decoration looked like and what it took to achieve it.