The Roman Legion

A Roman Legion

1) 1 century=80 men

10 contubernia of 8 men each

2) 1 cohort=6 centuries=480 men

3) 1 legion=10 cohorts

1st cohort had double centuries (960 men)

so 1 legion=(9 x 480) + 960 = 5280 men

4) a body of horsemen was attached to each legion to act as scouts and dispatch riders, usually 120 horsemen to a legion

5) auxilia=non-Roman forces

1 auxilium=1) cavalry alae (500 riders, normally called a turma)

2) infantry cohorts (500-1000)

3) cohortes equitatae (380 inf./120 cavalry)

also: numeri, cunei

1. legatus legionis: usually senator, in 30's

2. senior tribune: senator designate (tribunus laticlavius)

3. praefectus castrorum: 50-60 yrs old, assumed command when 1st two were away

4. primus pilus: chief centurion

5. 6 military tribunes

tribunus laticlavius (senatorial rank)

tribunus angusticlavius (equestrian rank)

6. centurions: 60 per legion, 1 for each century

senior=primus pilus (1 yr. post; highly paid)

princeps=responsible for HQ (principia) and training

of equal rank:

hastatus

princeps posterior

pilus prior

pilus posterior

princeps prior

princeps posterior

hastatus prior

hastatus posterior

vexilla=standards for cavalry, signa=standards for legionarii