Princeps prior

{{Short description|One of the ranks of Roman centurions}}

{{RomanMilitary}}

Princeps prior was a high-ranking Roman centurion and a member of the legion. Each of the ten cohorts that made up a legion had at its head the rank of pilus prior followed by the princeps prior.Bohec, Yann Le (2000). The imperial Roman army. Routledge. pp43. {{ISBN|0-415-22295-8}}. There is some controversy as to the precise order of the ranks below the pilus prior but this rank was followed by princeps prior if the order is based on seniority.{{Cite book|title=Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia, Volume I|last1=Phang|first1=Sara E.|last2=Spence|first2=Iain|last3=Kelly|first3=Douglas|last4=Londey|first4=Peter|date=2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-020-1|location=|pages=784}}

The princeps prior – like the princeps posterior – was elevated from the common soldiers based on merit.{{Cite book|title=T. Livii ... Historiæ libri omnes qui extant ... Editio secunda|last=|first=|date=1830|publisher=Dublinii|isbn=|location=|pages=149}} He is chosen by the tribunes of soldiers or the Roman consul or proconsul.