In addition to carrying the "signum", the "signifer" also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' banker.
It was named from the standard carried by legionary detachments, the "vexillum" (plural "vexilla"), which bore the emblem and name of the parent legion.
An extended set-piece slogging match between the lightly armed tribesmen and the well organized heavy legionaries usually spelled doom for the tribal fighters.
