As one of the indications of his rank, every centurion carried a vine stick, the forerunner of the swagger stick of some modern armies. Centurions were at liberty to use their sticks to thrash any legionary mercilessly for minor infringements. A centurion named Lucilius, who was killed in the AD 14 Pannonian mutiny, had a habit of brutally breaking a vine stick across the back of a legionary, then calling ‘Bring another!’, a phrase that became his nickname.
Source:
Dando-Collins, Stephen. “Part I: The Men - Discipline and Punishment.” Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion. Thomas Dunne Books, 2012. 23. Print.
Original Source Listed:
Tac., A, I, 23.
Further Reading:
Bellum Batonianum (Latin for "war of the Batos") / Pannonian Revolt
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