Corona

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

In a book i've recently been reading a soldier was given an award for bravery in battle, after a bit of research this is what i came up with.

 

Corona - A crown. The term was generally confined to military decorations for the very highest valour.

 

Corona Graminea - The grass crown, awarded to a man who saved a whole legion, or - upon rare occasions - even a whole army.

 

Corona Civica - The civic crown, made of ordinary oak leaves. It was awarded to a man who had saved the lives of fellow soldiers, and held the ground on which he did this for the rest of the battle.

 

Corona Aurea - The first of the more minor crowns,which interestingly were intrinsically far more valuble than the two above (an indication that they were far newer). This gold crown was awarded to a man who killed an enemy in single combat, and held the ground for the rest of the battle.

 

Corona Muralis - A crenellated gold crown awarded to the first man over the walls of an enemy city when it was stormed.

 

Corona Navalis - A gold crown adorned with ships beaks, awarded for outstanding valour during a sea battle.

 

Corona Vallaris - A gold crown awarded to the first man across the ramparts of an enemy camp.

 

Armillae - Wide bracelets of gold or silver, awarded as prizes for valour to roman legionaries, centurions, cadets, and military tribunes.

 

Has anybody got anything else to add to this list, or any more infomation on theses awards or on anyone who has recieved them?

[Pertinax]

The Phalerae:

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=912

 

small "award discs" usually worn by the Centurion.

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

The Phalerae:

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=912

 

small "award discs" usually worn by the Centurion.

 

Thanks for that Pertinax, what a great picture, i've heard of the Phalerae before, i believe it was originally a piece of a horses harness which used to cover the corner of the horses mouth and was also considered to be highly decorative.

 

Check this website out for a few more pictures of the Phalerae

 

http://www.legionxxiv.org/centurionpage/

[Antiochus of Seleucia]

Which is the one for saving a citizen's life in battle?

[Lost_Warrior]

I believe that is a misconception about the Corona Civica. Or else, perhaps the Corona Civica had two functions.

 

I'm still wondering how they kept the grass or leaves fresh.

[Dominus Rex]

Also, how would they keep a grass crown together? After a while, when the crown dries out, it seems like it would fall apart.

[Pertinax]

The Phalerae:

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=912

 

small "award discs" usually worn by the Centurion.

 

Thanks for that Pertinax, what a great picture, i've heard of the Phalerae before, i believe it was originally a piece of a horses harness which used to cover the corner of the horses mouth and was also considered to be highly decorative.

 

Check this website out for a few more pictures of the Phalerae

 

http://www.legionxxiv.org/centurionpage/

 

Thank you GPM, here is a shot of the "origins": as horse trappings.

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1445

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

Where do you keep pulling these great pictures from Pertinax???

 

 

In 80BC Caesar won the corona civica for saving another roman's life at the storming of Mitylene,

anybody know of any other famous recipiants of these prestigious awards?

[Pertinax]

The pictures? They just happen when you have a personality disorder and are obssesed with Rome , and drag your bemused family around the country looking at re-enactments and ruins. :bag:

 

Thanks for the compliment though!

 

I forgot the other set that I took a shot of:

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?&a...si&img=1446

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

Haha i suppose it's better than being dragged around a supermarket or shopping centre although the domina might not agree!

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

I've found a list of winners of the Corona Graminea (grass crown)

• Lucius Siccius Dentatus
  
• Publius Decius Mus, received two grass crowns, one from his own army, and another from the troops which he had rescued when surrounded.
  
• Fabius Maximus, after Hannibal had been expelled from Italy.
  
• Marcus Calpurnius Flamma
  
• Scipio Aemilianus Africanus
  
• Gneius Petreius Atinas, a primipilus centurion during the Cimbrian War
  
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla during the Social War at Nola
  
• Quintus Sertorius
  

Here's what Pliny had to say about the Grass Crown

 

But as for the crown of grass, it was never conferred except at a crisis of extreme desperation, never voted except by the acclamation of the whole army, and never to any one but to him who had been its preserver. Other crowns were awarded by the generals to the soldiers, this alone by the soldiers, and to the general. This crown is known also as the "obsidional" crown, from the circumstance of a beleaguered army being delivered, and so preserved from fearful disaster. If we are to regard as a glorious and a hallowed reward the civic crown, presented for preserving the life of a single citizen, and him, perhaps, of the very humblest rank, what, pray, ought to be thought of a whole army being saved, and indebted for its preservation to the valour of a single individual?

[Antiochus of Seleucia]

[*]Publius Decius Mus, received two grass crowns, one from his own army, and another from the troops

 

Which one?

[M. Porcius Cato]

I've found a list of winners of the Corona Graminea (grass crown)

Source?

[Divi Filius]

Under the Empire these were given out quite often, and even had certain designations for which level in the military hierarchy could get which award.

 

Officers of praetorian rank, legionary legates, usually received three of each, while the quota for officers of higher grade, those of consular rank, was four coronae, four hasta purae, and four vexilla.

 

G.R. Watson, The Roman soldier, 115

 

Many of these conferments were honorary however.

 

Among the famous was

Edited December 1, 2006 by Divi Filius

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

[*]Publius Decius Mus, received two grass crowns, one from his own army, and another from the troops

 

Which one?

 

The first Publius Decius Mus, consul in 340bc and hero of the Battle of Vesuvius 339bc.

 

MPC, i got the list from good old Wikipedia, although sometimes it can be a bit inaccutate i find it quite useful now and then