Contubernium (8 men) > Centuria (80 men) > Cohort (480 men) > Legio (5,000 men)
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).
Each legion had 59 centurions, one to command each centuria of the 10 cohorts.
The commanding officer of a Roman legion was called a legate, or Legatus Legionis.
Contubernium (8 men) > Centuria (80 men) > Cohort (480 men) > Legio (5,000 men)
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Each Legion also had a 120 man Alae (cavalry unit) called the Eques Legionis permanently attached to it possibly to be used as scouts and messengers. |
Contubernium (8 men) > Centuria (80 men) > Cohort (480 men) > Legio (5,000 men)
The Roman legion was divided into 10 cohorts:
The First Cohort had more soldiers than the other cohorts. The first cohort was made up of 800 men (5 centuries with 160 men each). The other 9 Cohorts had a total of 4,320 soldiers (6 centuries of 80 men each).
Cohort 1
Cohort 2
Cohort 3
Cohort 4
Cohort 5
Cohort 6
Cohort 7
Cohort 8
Cohort 9
Cohort 10 |
800 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men
480 men |
Cavarly |
120 |
A grand total of 5,240 men not including all the officers.
Interesting Fact |
During the first three centuries of the empire the army contained between 25 and 34 legions.
Can you work out how many soldiers there were? |
Each century, cohort and legion had its own standard (flags and symbols on a long pole).
Find out more here
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