The Roman Centurion

Tristan Hughes and Dr Ben Kane go deep on the centurionate — selection, discipline, command responsibilities, and why these men were the real backbone of Roman military effectiveness. Kane brings novelist's detail and serious research to the subject, covering everything from the vitis (vine stick) to frontline leadership in battle. An hour on a properly military topic in one of John's favourite eras.

Dr Ben Kane joins Tristan Hughes for a full hour on the centurionate — selection, command authority, discipline, combat leadership, and why centurions were the operational backbone of the Roman military machine. Kane is a novelist but one who does his homework on Roman military organisation, and this goes beyond the popular image into how the rank actually functioned in the field. Exactly the kind of Roman military detail that rewards close listening.