Swagger Stick - Vitis

In the Roman army the swagger stick, then called a vitis, was a distinction of rank worn by a centurion and used to direct military drill and manoeuvres, or to administer physical punishment. It was a short vine wood staff, hence the name, about the size of a cane and is often prominently featured on sepulchral monuments for dead or missing centurions as a sign of their dignity.

Tacitus recounts how one centurio earned the nickname Cedo Alteram ("give me another!") for repeatedly breaking his vitis on the back of a miles gregarius and yelling for a replacement. This policy resulted in mutiny (14 AD) and the troops cite, amongst other complaints, harsh corporal punishments as a reason for their revolt.