Vexillum

The vexillum was a special kind of flag used by soldiers in the Roman army. It was an important symbol for groups of soldiers. Each vexillum often showed a picture of the Roman aquila, a sacred symbol, on a reddish background.

This flag helped soldiers stay organized and feel united during battles and marches. It was easy to see from far away, so troops could quickly know where their group was or where to gather. The vexillum represented courage, loyalty, and the strength of the Roman military.

Use in Roman armies

Further information: Roman military standards

The word vexillum comes from the Latin word velum, meaning "a sail." So vexilla were like "little sails"—flags used in battles. Unlike most flags today, the cloth of a vexillum hung from a horizontal crossbar on a staff. The person who carried a vexillum was called a vexillarius or vexillifer.

Like flags of old armies, the vexillum was a special symbol for the soldiers it belonged to and was protected in fights. It was especially important for some groups, like cavalry soldiers, but it was not as important as a legion's aquila (eagle). We do not know exactly if it stood for a smaller part of a bigger army group.

The only known surviving Roman vexillum dates from the early 3rd century AD. It is kept in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. This vexillum is a square piece of rough linen cloth showing the goddess Victoria. It was once attached to a piece of reed wood. We do not know which army group it belonged to, as it was found in Egypt before 1911, and its exact history is still unclear.

Appearance

Some think the vexillum from the Ancient Roman Republic was red with yellow letters. These letters stood for "the Senate and People of Rome" (SPQR). But it is hard to know for sure. The only vexillum found looks like this, but others may have looked different.

General and later use

The word vexillum (plural vexilla) can mean any object, like a relic or icon, used as a symbol in battles. It is like the opposite of a more protective symbol called a palladium.

The study of flags is called vexillology, and a vexilloid is a special kind of symbol that isn’t a regular flag shape. Today, many places in Italy still use vexilla. In Christian ceremonies, these symbols are often called labara, named after the symbol used by the first Christian Roman emperor Constantine I. These symbols sometimes show a special sign called the "Chi-Rho" ☧. For example, the Legion of Mary uses vexilla for its symbols, with a small one on the altar and a larger one for ceremonies. In the Middle Ages, a banner hanging from a horizontal bar was called a gonfalon.