The standard was important as a rallying point, a symbol of pride, and, more practically, a means of communication in battle. A trumpet blast would draw the troops’ attention to the standard, which would then direct which action should be taken on the field. The standard bearer would lower, raise, wave, or otherwise motion with the standard to indicate what the next move was for the troops. So important was a standard that battles were fought for their return. In the Roman Republic, standards were imprinted with the letters SPQR, which stood for Senatus Populusque Romanus, meaning the Senate and People of Rome. The standard, then, represented not only the legion or cohort which carried it but the citizens of Rome and the policies the army represented.

World History Encyclopedia