[SoCal Pubbie]

This article I believe, is somewhat simplified and concentrated on the imperial era. The organization, training, and equipment of the Roman army changed greatly from the early Republican times to the end of the empire. Most of what we think of as the Roman army is from about the time of Julius Caesar to the end of the first Century AD. I found this description on the web:

"The strength and organization of the legions varied in time and was probably not completely standardized throughout the army. Generally speaking however the legio was organised in ten cohortes or cohorts. These cohorts consisted each of three manipuli, literally 'handfuls', which were in their turn subdivided in two centuriae or 'hundreds'. These centuriae were composed of a number of contubernia or 'tentparties'. Although the name centuria would seem to indicate a unit of a hundred soldiers, this unit could comprise anything from 30 to over 200 individuals. The usual establishment strength however is thought to have been 80 men. From the second half of the first century AD in at least some of the legions the first cohort was reorganised in five double strength centuriae while the remainder continued to be organised in the old manner. "

Anyone interested in the Roman army needs to get the book The Roman Legions Recreated in colour Photographs by Daniel Peterson. It should be available at most good military hobby shops or from Amazon on the internet.

[tomkow6]

 

Hi, SoCal Pubbie!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

[MoJo2001]

 

SoCal Pubbie!! It's great to have you with us today! Thanks for stopping in and adding your input!!
Have a great day!!

[Jimmy Valentine]

Thanks for the come back. Curious that we use the rough equivalent today with 80 - 100 men to a company, four companies to a batalion, four batalions to a brigade and four brigades to a division (I think that is right, it has been a while).

Regards,