how many legions did the roman republic have

How man soldiers are there in a Roman legion?

The Structure of the Roman Army The Roman army was divided into legions, each comprising about 4,800 infantry and 120 cavalry. A legion was subdivided into 10 cohorts, comprising 480 men apiece, and each cohort was subdivided into six centuries comprising 80 men apiece—not 100 as the name suggests.

What was the normal size for a Roman legion?

• Roman soldiers: 1,50 m
• Roman women: 1,45 m or less
• German warriors: 1,70 m
• German women: 1,60 m

How many men did the Legion have in ancient Rome?

Roman legions formed the largest units in the Roman army. In the early days of the republic, each legion consisted of around 3,000 well-trained men. This number was later expanded to up to 5,200 men in each legion during the imperial era. A typical Roman legion would have 10 cohorts (about 5,000 men).

How many soldiers were there in a Roman cohort?

Until the middle of the first century, 10 cohorts (about 5,000 men) made up a Roman Legion. This was later changed to nine cohorts of standard size (with 6 centuries at 80 men each) and one cohort, the first cohort, of double strength (5 double-strength centuries with 160 men each).

How many legions did Rome have republic?

As the civil wars came to a close, there were a total of 28 Roman legions. Some assigned numbers were repeated since legionary allegiances became scattered among generals when military overcame politics. Thus, repetitions were allocated a name as well, such as Legio III Augusta and Legio III Gallica.

Did the Roman Republic have legions?

Evolution. The legion evolved from 3,000 men in the Roman Republic to over 5,200 men in the Roman Empire, consisting of centuries as the basic units. Until the middle of the first century, ten cohorts (about 500 men) made up a Roman legion.

How many legions did Rome have at its height?

33 legionsThe numbers grew to a peak of about 450,000 by 211, in 33 legions and about 400 auxiliary units.

How many legions of soldiers did Rome have?

The Roman army was made up of groups of soldiers called legions. There were over 5,000 soldiers in a legion. Each legion had its own number, name, badge and fortress. There were about 30 legions around the Roman Empire, three of which were based in Britain at Caerleon, Chester and York.

How many legions did Caesar have?

Caesar had four veteran legions under his direct command initially: Legio VII, Legio VIII, Legio IX Hispana, and Legio X. As he had been governor of Hispania Ulterior in 61 BC and had campaigned successfully with them against the Lusitanians, Caesar knew most, perhaps even all, of the legions personally.

What was the strongest Roman legion?

Legio X EquestrisTenth Legion EquestrisCountryRoman RepublicTypeRoman legion (Marian)RoleInfantry assault (some cavalry support)SizeVaried over unit lifetime. Approx. 6,000 men + support at the time of creation.8 more rows

How many legions did Rome lose?

The annihilation of three veteran legions at the hands of the Germanic tribes shook the Roman Empire to its core. Rome's previously successful wars of conquest had steadily inflated the empire's sense of superiority over neighbouring powers, particularly those in northern and central Europe.

What is smaller than a legion?

After the reforms of Gaius Marius, the organisation of the legions became standardised as follows: Contubernium – The smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army.

How big was the average Roman soldier?

Imperial regulations, though not entirely unambiguous, suggest that the minimum height for new recruits was five Roman feet, seven inches (165 cm., 5'5") ... for the army as a whole a reasonable estimate of a soldier's average height is around 170 cm (5'7").

Why did Rome stop using legions?

tl;dr - The Roman Army had no choice but to change strategy in lieu of the constant civil wars and foreign invasions of the 3rd century, which broke both the supporting economy and the trust in legions not directly controlled by the presence of the Emperor.

Who were the most elite Roman soldiers?

There were two main types of Roman soldiers: legionaries and auxiliaries. The legionaries were the elite (very best) soldiers. A legionary had to be over 17 years old and a Roman citizen. Every new recruit had to be fighting fit - anyone who was weak or too short was rejected.

What really happened to the 9th legion?

The Battle of Camulodunum, also known as the Massacre of the Ninth Legion, was the major military victory of the Iceni and their allies over an organised Roman army during the revolt of Boudica against the Roman occupation of Britain. A large vexillation of the Legio IX Hispana were destroyed by the rebels.

How many legions did Rome lose?

The annihilation of three veteran legions at the hands of the Germanic tribes shook the Roman Empire to its core. Rome's previously successful wars of conquest had steadily inflated the empire's sense of superiority over neighbouring powers, particularly those in northern and central Europe.

Which Roman legion crucified Jesus?

Legio X Fretensis ("Tenth legion of the Strait") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army....Legio X FretensisActive41 BC to after 410CountryRoman EmpireTypeRoman legion (Marian)Garrison/HQJudaea (20s BC) Syria (c. 6-66) Jerusalem (ca. 73-late 3rd century) Aila (late 3rd century-after 410s)6 more rows

What is smaller than a legion?

After the reforms of Gaius Marius, the organisation of the legions became standardised as follows: Contubernium – The smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army.

What was Rome's first legion?

Legio I Italica ("First Italian Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army founded by emperor Nero on September 22, 66 (the date is attested by an inscription). The epithet Italica is a reference to the Italian origin of its first recruits. It was stationed at Novae, near modern-day Svishtov (Bulgaria).

How many men were in the Roman Legion?

The legion evolved from 3,000 men in the Roman Republic to over 5,200 men in the Roman Empire, consisting of centuries as the basic units. Until the middle of the first century, ten cohorts (about 500 men) made up a Roman legion.

How many cohorts did Rome need to support each Legion?

Rome's Italian allies were required to provide approximately ten cohorts (auxilia were not organized into legions) to support each Roman Legion.

How many lines of maniples were there in the republican era?

During much of the republican era, a legion was divided into three lines of ten maniples. In the late republic and much of the imperial period (from about 100 BC), a legion was divided into ten cohorts, each of six (or five) centuries. Legions also included a small ala, or cavalry unit.

What was the military discipline of the Legion?

The military discipline of the legions was quite harsh. Regulations were strictly enforced, and a broad array of punishments could be inflicted upon a legionary who broke them. Many legionaries became devotees in the cult of the minor goddess Disciplina, whose virtues of frugality, severity and loyalty were central to their code of conduct and way of life.

What is the rank of centurion?

The rank of centurion was an officer grade that included many ranks, meaning centurions had very good prospects for promotion. The most senior centurion in a legion was known as the primus pilus (first file or spear), who directly commanded the first century of the first cohort and commanded the whole first cohort when in battle. Within the second to tenth cohorts, the commander of each cohort's first century was known as a pilus prior and was in command of his entire cohort when in battle. The seniority of the pilus prior centurions was followed by the five other century commanders of the first cohort, who were known as primi ordines .

What is a re-enactor in Rome?

A re-enactor as a Roman centurion, c. 70. A re-enactor, showing a Roman miles, (2nd century). After the Marian reforms and throughout the history of Rome's Late Republic, the legions played an important political role. By the 1st century BC, the threat of the legions under a demagogue was recognized.

What was the largest army in Rome?

Limes Mauretaniae. Ancient Rome portal • War portal. v. t. e. The Roman legion ( Latin: legiō, [ˈɫɛɡioː]) was the largest military unit of the Roman army. A legion was roughly of brigade size, composed of 4,200 infantry and 300 cavalry in the republican period, expanded to 5,200 infantry and 120 auxilia in the imperial period .

Late Republican legions

Until the Marian reforms of 107 BC, the Republican legions were formed by compulsory levy of Roman citizens (who met a minimum property qualification) and raised whenever it was necessary. Usually they were authorized by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded.

Early Empire legions

The Roman empire and legions deployed in 125 AD, in the time of emperor Hadrian.

Late Empire legions

Shield pattern of the palatina legion of the Ioviani seniores, according to the Notitia Dignitatum.

How many legions did the Roman Empire have?

When Octavian became the sole ruler of Rome in 30 BCE, following the victorious Battle of Actium, it immediately disbanded about half of the more than 50 legions that existed at the time. The remaining 28 legions became the basis of the Roman army of the principate (years 27 BCE – 284 CE).

How long did the Roman legions last?

Emperor Augustus and his successors converted the legions into permanent units, manned by professional soldiers for 25 years. During the dominate (late period of empire, 284 – 476 CE) legions were still professional in nature, but knowledge of them is much less, compared to the previous period.

What is certain about the legions of the late empire?

What is certain is that the legions of the late empire were completely different in size, structure and tactics from their predecessors. This was due to the military reforms of the emperors Diocletian and Constantine the Great and the evolution of fighting in the 4th century CE.

How were Legions identified?

Legions were identified by Roman numeration, which at times differed from the standard spelling of Roman numerals and numbers known to us. For example, in addition to the spelling “IV”, “IX”, “XIV”, “XVIII” and “XIX”, the designations “IIII”, “VIIII”, “XIIII”, “XIIX” and “XVIIII” were also commonly used.

What army remained after demobilization?

The army that remained after demobilization consisted of legions from each of the triumvirs, hence the often-repeated numbers. During the empire, both during the principate and later after Diocletian, the general numbering was not guarded, but subsequent numbers were assigned within the name – e.g.

What was the reform of the Roman army?

Another reform was the one during the times of Octavian Augustus when the first princeps introduced many improvements and modernizations in the Roman army. The number of cohorts was reduced from 600 to 480 soldiers, which meant more efficient operation and efficiency.

What punishment was used to punish a group of soldiers in the Roman army?

Another severe punishment was decimation (or decimation from decimatio) which was applied to a cowardly or rebellious group of soldiers in the Roman army. The unit condemned to decimation (eg a cohort) was divided into groups of ten soldiers.

Overview

Late Republican legions

Until the Marian reforms of 107 BC, the Republican legions were formed by compulsory levy of Roman citizens (who met a minimum property qualification) and raised whenever it was necessary. Usually they were authorized by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded.
Gaius Marius' reforms transformed legions into standing units, which could remain in being for several years, or even decades. This became necessary to garrison the Republic's now far-flung …

Early Empire legions

Late Empire legions

See also

External links

Overview

History

Size

Function and constitution

Longevity

Overview of typical organization and strength

Evolution

Legionary ranks