The Roman Legion
Historia Civilis・9 minutes read
The Roman legion's smallest unit was the contubernium, comprising 8 men led by a Decanus, with 2 hidden non-combatant members. Centuries, with 80 men, were crucial in battle, with each led by centurions and a unique first cohort in every legion.
Insights
- The smallest unit in a Roman legion was the contubernium, consisting of 8 men led by a Decanus, with 2 hidden non-combatant members, illustrating the close-knit structure and support system within the legion.
- Command positions in a legion, such as the camp prefect, military tribune, and legate, showcased a hierarchy of power with distinct roles, emphasizing the complexity and organization of Roman military leadership.
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Recent questions
What was the smallest unit in a Roman legion?
Contubernium
How many men were in a century in a Roman legion?
80 men
Who led the centuries in a Roman legion?
Centurions
What was the composition of a cohort in a Roman legion?
6 centuries (480 men)
Who held command positions in a Roman legion?
Camp prefect, military tribune, legate
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Summary
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Roman Legion Structure and Command Hierarchy
- The smallest unit in a Roman legion was the contubernium, consisting of 8 men who ate, marched, and slept together, led by a Decanus.
- Each contubernium had 2 hidden members, possibly servants, who were non-combatants and not counted in military operations.
- A century, comprising 80 men, was the basic tactical unit in battle, with 10 contubernia, totaling 80 soldiers and 20 "helpers."
- Centurions, career officers of the Roman army, led centuries, with 59 per legion, each having an optio as second in command.
- Cohorts, made up of 6 centuries (480 men), had no dedicated commander but were led by the most experienced centurion within.
- The first cohort in every legion was unique, with 5 double-strength centuries and a Primus Pilus as the highest-ranking front-line soldier.
- Command positions in a legion included the camp prefect, a former Primus Pilus, the military tribune, and the legate, representing different sources of power.
