← Latin for Soldiers, Sailors and Military Strategists
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The Latin adverb tum (or its variant tunc) translates the English word “then,” indicating temporal sequence, consequence, or the next moment in a narrative. For military historians, strategists, and students of Roman warfare, this word proves indispensable—Roman battle accounts, tactical manuals, and campaign narratives rely heavily on tum to structure the flow of events: the enemy advanced, then the legions formed ranks; the siege engines were prepared, then the assault began.
Both tum and tunc function identically in meaning and usage. Classical authors such as Caesar and Livy favor tum in prose, while tunc appears frequently in Silver Latin and later military texts. The choice between them often reflects stylistic preference or metrical necessity in verse.
In military contexts, tum frequently appears in the construction cum...tum (”not only...but also” or “both...and”), emphasizing dual tactical considerations. It also introduces the crucial “what happened next” in battle narratives—the moment when strategy meets execution.
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FAQ: What does tum mean in Latin?
Tum (also spelled tunc) is a Latin adverb meaning “then” or “at that time.” It indicates temporal sequence in narratives, marking what happened next or simultaneously. In military Latin, it structures battle accounts and tactical descriptions.
Key Takeaways
✦ Tum and tunc are interchangeable adverbs meaning “then”
✦ Essential for structuring sequential military narratives
✦ The cum...tum construction means “not only...but also”
✦ Indicates both temporal sequence and logical consequence
✦ Among the most frequent adverbs in Latin military prose
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52.1a Tum mīlitēs gladiōs strīnxērunt. 52.1b Tum (tʊm) then mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers gladiōs (ˈɡla.dɪ.oːs) swords strīnxērunt (striːŋkˈseː.rʊnt) drew
52.2a Hostēs fūgērunt; tum victōria nostra erat. 52.2b Hostēs (ˈhɔs.teːs) enemies fūgērunt (fuːˈɡeː.rʊnt) fled tum (tʊm) then victōria (wɪkˈtoː.rɪ.a) victory nostra (ˈnɔs.tra) our erat (ˈɛ.rat) was
52.3a Imperātor tum signum dedit. 52.3b Imperātor (ɪm.pɛˈraː.tɔr) commander tum (tʊm) then signum (ˈsɪɡ.nʊm) signal dedit (ˈdeː.dɪt) gave
52.4a Tunc legiō tertia in proelium vēnit. 52.4b Tunc (tʊŋk) then legiō (ˈlɛ.ɡɪ.oː) legion tertia (ˈtɛr.tɪ.a) third in (ɪn) into proelium (ˈprɔɪ.lɪ.ʊm) battle vēnit (ˈweː.nɪt) came
52.5a Castra tum mūnīvimus. 52.5b Castra (ˈkas.tra) camp tum (tʊm) then mūnīvimus (muːˈniː.wɪ.mʊs) we-fortified
52.6a Dux hostium cecidit; tum exercitus fugit. 52.6b Dux (dʊks) leader hostium (ˈhɔs.tɪ.ʊm) of-enemies cecidit (ˈkɛ.kɪ.dɪt) fell tum (tʊm) then exercitus (ɛk.sɛrˈkɪ.tʊs) army fugit (ˈfuː.ɡɪt) fled
52.7a Cum terrā, tum marī pugnāvērunt. 52.7b Cum (kʊm) both terrā (ˈtɛr.raː) by-land tum (tʊm) and marī (ˈma.riː) by-sea pugnāvērunt (pʊɡ.naːˈweː.rʊnt) they-fought
52.8a Prīmum tēla mīsērunt, tum gladiīs cōnflīxērunt. 52.8b Prīmum (ˈpriː.mʊm) first tēla (ˈteː.la) missiles mīsērunt (miːˈseː.rʊnt) they-threw tum (tʊm) then gladiīs (ˈɡla.dɪ.iːs) with-swords cōnflīxērunt (koːn.fliːkˈseː.rʊnt) they-clashed
52.9a Tum nāvēs longae in portum intrāvērunt. 52.9b Tum (tʊm) then nāvēs (ˈnaː.weːs) ships longae (ˈlɔŋ.ɡaɪ) long in (ɪn) into portum (ˈpɔr.tʊm) harbor intrāvērunt (ɪn.traːˈweː.rʊnt) entered
52.10a Mīlitēs fortiter pugnābant; tunc mūrus cecidit. 52.10b Mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers fortiter (ˈfɔr.tɪ.tɛr) bravely pugnābant (pʊɡˈnaː.bant) were-fighting tunc (tʊŋk) then mūrus (ˈmuː.rʊs) wall cecidit (ˈkɛ.kɪ.dɪt) fell
52.11a Caesar hostēs vīcit; tum pācem cum Gallīs fēcit. 52.11b Caesar (ˈkaɪ.sar) Caesar hostēs (ˈhɔs.teːs) enemies vīcit (ˈwiː.kɪt) conquered tum (tʊm) then pācem (ˈpaː.kɛm) peace cum (kʊm) with Gallīs (ˈɡal.liːs) Gauls fēcit (ˈfeː.kɪt) made
52.12a Classem parāvērunt, tum mare trānsīvērunt. 52.12b Classem (ˈklas.sɛm) fleet parāvērunt (pa.raːˈweː.rʊnt) they-prepared tum (tʊm) then mare (ˈma.rɛ) sea trānsīvērunt (traːn.siːˈweː.rʊnt) they-crossed
52.13a Cum praesidium relīquērunt, tum oppidum hostibus trādidērunt. 52.13b Cum (kʊm) when praesidium (praɪˈsɪ.dɪ.ʊm) garrison relīquērunt (rɛ.liːˈkweː.rʊnt) they-abandoned tum (tʊm) then oppidum (ɔpˈpɪ.dʊm) town hostibus (ˈhɔs.tɪ.bʊs) to-enemies trādidērunt (traː.dɪˈdeː.rʊnt) they-surrendered
52.14a Tribūnus mīlitum tum cohortēs in aciē cōnstituit. 52.14b Tribūnus (trɪˈbuː.nʊs) tribune mīlitum (ˈmiː.lɪ.tʊm) of-soldiers tum (tʊm) then cohortēs (kɔˈhɔr.teːs) cohorts in (ɪn) in aciē (ˈa.kɪ.eː) battle-line cōnstituit (koːn.stɪˈtʊ.ɪt) stationed
52.15a Tum dēmum imperātor triumphum ēgit. 52.15b Tum (tʊm) then dēmum (ˈdeː.mʊm) at-last imperātor (ɪm.pɛˈraː.tɔr) commander triumphum (trɪˈʊm.fʊm) triumph ēgit (ˈeː.ɡɪt) celebrated
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52.1 Tum mīlitēs gladiōs strīnxērunt. “Then the soldiers drew their swords.”
52.2 Hostēs fūgērunt; tum victōria nostra erat. “The enemies fled; then the victory was ours.”
52.3 Imperātor tum signum dedit. “The commander then gave the signal.”
52.4 Tunc legiō tertia in proelium vēnit. “Then the third legion came into battle.”
52.5 Castra tum mūnīvimus. “We then fortified the camp.”
52.6 Dux hostium cecidit; tum exercitus fugit. “The leader of the enemies fell; then the army fled.”
52.7 Cum terrā, tum marī pugnāvērunt. “They fought both by land and by sea.”
52.8 Prīmum tēla mīsērunt, tum gladiīs cōnflīxērunt. “First they threw missiles, then they clashed with swords.”
52.9 Tum nāvēs longae in portum intrāvērunt. “Then the warships entered the harbor.”
52.10 Mīlitēs fortiter pugnābant; tunc mūrus cecidit. “The soldiers were fighting bravely; then the wall fell.”
52.11 Caesar hostēs vīcit; tum pācem cum Gallīs fēcit. “Caesar conquered the enemies; then he made peace with the Gauls.”
52.12 Classem parāvērunt, tum mare trānsīvērunt. “They prepared the fleet, then they crossed the sea.”
52.13 Cum praesidium relīquērunt, tum oppidum hostibus trādidērunt. “When they abandoned the garrison, then they surrendered the town to the enemies.”
52.14 Tribūnus mīlitum tum cohortēs in aciē cōnstituit. “The military tribune then stationed the cohorts in the battle line.”
52.15 Tum dēmum imperātor triumphum ēgit. “Only then did the commander celebrate his triumph.”
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52.1 Tum mīlitēs gladiōs strīnxērunt.
52.2 Hostēs fūgērunt; tum victōria nostra erat.
52.3 Imperātor tum signum dedit.
52.4 Tunc legiō tertia in proelium vēnit.
52.5 Castra tum mūnīvimus.
52.6 Dux hostium cecidit; tum exercitus fugit.
52.7 Cum terrā, tum marī pugnāvērunt.
52.8 Prīmum tēla mīsērunt, tum gladiīs cōnflīxērunt.
52.9 Tum nāvēs longae in portum intrāvērunt.
52.10 Mīlitēs fortiter pugnābant; tunc mūrus cecidit.
52.11 Caesar hostēs vīcit; tum pācem cum Gallīs fēcit.
52.12 Classem parāvērunt, tum mare trānsīvērunt.
52.13 Cum praesidium relīquērunt, tum oppidum hostibus trādidērunt.
52.14 Tribūnus mīlitum tum cohortēs in aciē cōnstituit.
52.15 Tum dēmum imperātor triumphum ēgit.
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These are the grammar rules for tum and tunc in Latin:
Basic Function
Tum and tunc are indeclinable adverbs—they never change form regardless of the sentence’s grammatical structure. Both words mean “then” and indicate temporal sequence (what happened next) or simultaneity with a referenced time.
Position in the Sentence
Latin word order is flexible, and tum can appear in various positions depending on emphasis. When placed at the beginning of a clause, it strongly marks the transition to a new event. In the middle of a clause, it connects the action more smoothly to what precedes. The examples above demonstrate both placements.
Beginning position (strong emphasis): Tum mīlitēs gladiōs strīnxērunt. — “Then the soldiers drew their swords.”
Middle position (narrative flow): Imperātor tum signum dedit. — “The commander then gave the signal.”
The Cum...Tum Construction
One of the most important uses of tum in Latin prose is the correlative pair cum...tum, which means “not only...but also” or “both...and.” This construction emphasizes that two things are equally true or important.
Cum terrā, tum marī pugnāvērunt. — “They fought both by land and by sea.”
In military contexts, this construction often highlights multiple theaters of operation, combined tactics, or the dual nature of a commander’s virtues.
Tum Dēmum
The phrase tum dēmum means “only then” or “then at last,” emphasizing that something happened precisely at that moment and not before. Military historians use this phrase to mark decisive turning points.
Tum dēmum imperātor triumphum ēgit. — “Only then did the commander celebrate his triumph.”
Tum versus Tunc
Classical authors (Caesar, Cicero, Livy) preferred tum, while tunc became more common in Silver Latin and later periods. For military reading, you will encounter both forms. They are completely interchangeable in meaning.
Sequence Markers in Military Narrative
Roman military prose employs several adverbs to structure temporal sequence. Understanding how tum relates to its companions helps comprehension:
Prīmum (first) → deinde/dein (next, then) → tum/tunc (then) → postrēmō/dēnique (finally)
The combination prīmum...tum (”first...then”) is especially common in battle descriptions.
Common Mistakes
English speakers sometimes confuse tum with cum (with, when). Remember: tum = then (temporal adverb); cum = with (preposition) or when (conjunction). The cum...tum construction uses both words together but with distinct functions.
Another error involves using tum where Latin prefers ibi (there) for spatial reference. Tum is strictly temporal, not spatial.
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Military Historiography and Temporal Narrative
Roman military historians crafted their battle accounts with careful attention to sequence. Tum served as a crucial structural element, moving the reader from one phase of combat to the next. Julius Caesar’s Commentāriī dē Bellō Gallicō (Commentaries on the Gallic War) exemplifies this technique—his spare, direct prose uses temporal adverbs to create vivid, moment-by-moment accounts of tactical developments.
Naval Warfare Terminology
The phrase nāvēs longae (”long ships” or “warships”) in example 52.9 refers to the standard Roman naval combat vessel, as opposed to transport ships (nāvēs onerāriae). Roman naval commanders coordinated fleet movements with precise timing, making temporal markers essential in naval battle accounts.
The Legion in Battle
When reading that legiō tertia in proelium vēnit (”the third legion came into battle”), Roman readers understood the massive scale involved—a full legion comprised approximately 5,000 soldiers organized into 10 cohorts. The phrase tum legiō signals the commitment of this enormous force at a decisive moment.
Triumph Celebrations
The triumphus mentioned in example 52.15 was Rome’s highest military honor—a ceremonial procession through the city granted to victorious commanders. The phrase tum dēmum (”only then”) captures the Roman understanding that triumph could only follow complete victory and senatorial approval.
The Cum...Tum Construction in Strategy
Military theorists valued the cum...tum construction because it expressed combined-arms thinking. “Both by land and by sea” (cum terrā, tum marī) describes the amphibious operations that characterized Roman imperial expansion, particularly in the Mediterranean campaigns.
Regional and Period Variations
Republican military Latin (Caesar, 1st century BCE) tends toward tum, while Imperial military texts (Tacitus, 1st-2nd century CE) use both forms freely. Late Roman military manuals like Vegetius’s Epitoma reī mīlitāris (4th-5th century CE) show increased preference for tunc.
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The following passage comes from Julius Caesar’s Dē Bellō Gallicō (Book VII, Chapter 88), describing the decisive moment in the siege of Alesia (52 BCE) when Vercingetorix’s relief force attacked the Roman lines:
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Tum (tʊm) then dēmum (ˈdeː.mʊm) at-last Vercingetorīx (wɛr.kɪŋ.ɡɛˈtɔ.riːks) Vercingetorix suōs (ˈsʊ.oːs) his-men ex (ɛks) from oppidō (ɔpˈpɪ.doː) town ēdūcit (eːˈduː.kɪt) leads-out. Longius (ˈlɔŋ.ɡɪ.ʊs) further prōgressī (proːˈɡrɛs.siː) having-advanced mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers nostrī (ˈnɔs.triː) our, tum (tʊm) then pīla (ˈpiː.la) javelins mittunt (ˈmɪt.tʊnt) throw, tum (tʊm) then gladiīs (ˈɡla.dɪ.iːs) with-swords rem (rɛm) matter gerunt (ˈɡɛ.rʊnt) conduct.
F-B: Text with Translation
Tum dēmum Vercingetorīx suōs ex oppidō ēdūcit. Longius prōgressī mīlitēs nostrī, tum pīla mittunt, tum gladiīs rem gerunt.
“Only then did Vercingetorix lead his men out from the town. Our soldiers, having advanced further, then threw their javelins, then conducted the fight with swords.”
— Julius Caesar, Dē Bellō Gallicō VII.88 (adapted)
F-C: Latin Text Only
Tum dēmum Vercingetorīx suōs ex oppidō ēdūcit. Longius prōgressī mīlitēs nostrī, tum pīla mittunt, tum gladiīs rem gerunt.
F-D: Vocabulary and Grammar Notes
ēdūcit: third person singular present active indicative of ēdūcō (”lead out”)—a military term for deploying troops from a fortified position.
prōgressī: perfect passive participle of prōgredior (”advance”), here used as an adjective modifying mīlitēs.
pīla: accusative plural of pīlum, the heavy javelin that was the legionary’s primary ranged weapon. Roman tactics called for soldiers to throw pīla before closing with swords.
rem gerunt: the idiom rem gerere means “to conduct an affair” or “to fight,” with gladiīs specifying the means—”with swords.”
F-E: Commentary
This passage demonstrates Caesar’s characteristic use of tum to structure battle narrative. The phrase tum dēmum marks the critical turning point—Vercingetorix’s desperate sortie from Alesia. The subsequent double tum...tum construction (”then...then”) creates rapid pacing, mirroring the speed of Roman tactical transitions from missile to close combat. Caesar’s sparse style lets temporal adverbs do the heavy lifting of narrative structure.
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The following fifteen examples form a continuous narrative describing a Roman night attack on a barbarian encampment, demonstrating how tum/tunc structures sequential military action.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text 52.16a Prīmā vigiliā imperātor cōnsilium cēpit; tum lēgātōs convocāvit. 52.16b Prīmā (ˈpriː.maː) first vigiliā (wɪˈɡɪ.lɪ.aː) watch imperātor (ɪm.pɛˈraː.tɔr) commander cōnsilium (koːnˈsɪ.lɪ.ʊm) plan cēpit (ˈkeː.pɪt) formed tum (tʊm) then lēgātōs (leːˈɡaː.toːs) lieutenants convocāvit (kɔn.wɔˈkaː.wɪt) summoned
52.17a Tum tribūnīs imperāvit ut cohortēs tacitē armārent. 52.17b Tum (tʊm) then tribūnīs (trɪˈbuː.niːs) to-tribunes imperāvit (ɪm.pɛˈraː.wɪt) ordered ut (ʊt) that cohortēs (kɔˈhɔr.teːs) cohorts tacitē (taˈkɪ.teː) silently armārent (arˈmaː.rɛnt) arm
52.18a Mīlitēs sine clāmōre castra relīquērunt; tunc per silvam prōcessērunt. 52.18b Mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers sine (ˈsɪ.nɛ) without clāmōre (klaːˈmoː.rɛ) shouting castra (ˈkas.tra) camp relīquērunt (rɛ.liːˈkweː.rʊnt) left tunc (tʊŋk) then per (pɛr) through silvam (ˈsɪl.wam) forest prōcessērunt (proː.kɛsˈseː.rʊnt) advanced
52.19a Custōdēs hostium dormiēbant; tum Rōmānī mūnītiōnēs appropinquāvērunt. 52.19b Custōdēs (kʊsˈtoː.deːs) guards hostium (ˈhɔs.tɪ.ʊm) of-enemies dormiēbant (dɔr.miːˈeː.bant) were-sleeping tum (tʊm) then Rōmānī (roːˈmaː.niː) Romans mūnītiōnēs (muː.nɪ.tɪˈoː.neːs) fortifications appropinquāvērunt (ap.proː.pɪŋ.kwaːˈweː.rʊnt) approached
52.20a Tum signum tubā datum est; mīlitēs in castra hostium irrūpērunt. 52.20b Tum (tʊm) then signum (ˈsɪɡ.nʊm) signal tubā (ˈtʊ.baː) by-trumpet datum (ˈda.tʊm) given est (ɛst) was mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers in (ɪn) into castra (ˈkas.tra) camp hostium (ˈhɔs.tɪ.ʊm) of-enemies irrūpērunt (ɪr.ruːˈpeː.rʊnt) burst
52.21a Barbarī dē somnō excitātī sunt; tum armīs frūstrā quaesīvērunt. 52.21b Barbarī (ˈbar.ba.riː) barbarians dē (deː) from somnō (ˈsɔm.noː) sleep excitātī (ɛk.skɪˈtaː.tiː) roused sunt (sʊnt) were tum (tʊm) then armīs (ˈar.miːs) weapons frūstrā (ˈfruːs.traː) in-vain quaesīvērunt (kwaɪ.siːˈweː.rʊnt) searched-for
52.22a Cum equitēs ad portam cucurrērunt, tum peditēs tentōria incendērunt. 52.22b Cum (kʊm) while equitēs (ˈɛ.kwɪ.teːs) cavalry ad (ad) to portam (ˈpɔr.tam) gate cucurrērunt (kʊ.kʊrˈreː.rʊnt) ran tum (tʊm) then peditēs (ˈpɛ.dɪ.teːs) infantry tentōria (tɛnˈtoː.rɪ.a) tents incendērunt (ɪn.kɛnˈdeː.rʊnt) set-fire-to
52.23a Rēx hostium tunc cum paucīs effūgit. 52.23b Rēx (reːks) king hostium (ˈhɔs.tɪ.ʊm) of-enemies tunc (tʊŋk) then cum (kʊm) with paucīs (ˈpaʊ.kiːs) few effūgit (ɛfˈfuː.ɡɪt) escaped
52.24a Multī captī sunt; tum praeda ingēns collēcta est. 52.24b Multī (ˈmʊl.tiː) many captī (ˈkap.tiː) captured sunt (sʊnt) were tum (tʊm) then praeda (ˈpraɪ.da) booty ingēns (ˈɪn.ɡeːns) huge collēcta (kɔlˈleːk.ta) collected est (ɛst) was
52.25a Tum dēmum sōl ortus est; victōria plēna erat. 52.25b Tum (tʊm) then dēmum (ˈdeː.mʊm) at-last sōl (soːl) sun ortus (ˈɔr.tʊs) risen est (ɛst) was victōria (wɪkˈtoː.rɪ.a) victory plēna (ˈpleː.na) complete erat (ˈɛ.rat) was
52.26a Imperātor tum mīlitēs laudāvit et praemia distribuit. 52.26b Imperātor (ɪm.pɛˈraː.tɔr) commander tum (tʊm) then mīlitēs (ˈmiː.lɪ.teːs) soldiers laudāvit (laʊˈdaː.wɪt) praised et (ɛt) and praemia (ˈpraɪ.mɪ.a) rewards distribuit (dɪs.trɪˈbʊ.ɪt) distributed
52.27a Vulnerātī in castra nostra portātī sunt; tum medicī eōs cūrāvērunt. 52.27b Vulnerātī (wʊl.nɛˈraː.tiː) wounded in (ɪn) to castra (ˈkas.tra) camp nostra (ˈnɔs.tra) our portātī (pɔrˈtaː.tiː) carried sunt (sʊnt) were tum (tʊm) then medicī (ˈmɛ.dɪ.kiː) doctors eōs (ˈɛ.oːs) them cūrāvērunt (kuː.raːˈweː.rʊnt) treated
52.28a Cum captīvōs interrogāvērunt, tum dē cōnsiliīs hostium cognōvērunt. 52.28b Cum (kʊm) when captīvōs (kapˈtiː.woːs) prisoners interrogāvērunt (ɪn.tɛr.rɔ.ɡaːˈweː.rʊnt) interrogated tum (tʊm) then dē (deː) about cōnsiliīs (koːnˈsɪ.lɪ.iːs) plans hostium (ˈhɔs.tɪ.ʊm) of-enemies cognōvērunt (kɔɡ.noːˈweː.rʊnt) learned
52.29a Tunc imperātor litterās ad senātum mīsit. 52.29b Tunc (tʊŋk) then imperātor (ɪm.pɛˈraː.tɔr) commander litterās (ˈlɪt.tɛ.raːs) letter ad (ad) to senātum (sɛˈnaː.tʊm) senate mīsit (ˈmiː.sɪt) sent
52.30a Exercitus tum in hīberna dēductus est; bellum fīnītum erat. 52.30b Exercitus (ɛk.sɛrˈkɪ.tʊs) army tum (tʊm) then in (ɪn) to hīberna (hiːˈbɛr.na) winter-quarters dēductus (deːˈdʊk.tʊs) led est (ɛst) was bellum (ˈbɛl.lʊm) war fīnītum (fiːˈniː.tʊm) finished erat (ˈɛ.rat) was