How many people were in the legion. See what "Legion (number)" is in other dictionaries

The emperor ruled over the lands subject to him, appointing legates who had power. Legatus Augusti pro praetore (Legate of August propraetor) The commander of two or more legions. The imperial legate also served as governor of the province in which the legions he commanded were quartered. From the senatorial estate, the Imperial legate was appointed by the emperor himself and usually held office for 3 or 4 years. Each legate was the highest military and civil authority in his area. He commanded the troops stationed in his province and could not leave it before the expiration of his term of office. The provinces were divided into those where people were appointed before the consulate, and those where former consuls were appointed. The first category included provinces where there were no legions or there was only one legion. They were ruled by men in their forties who had already commanded legions. In the provinces that former consuls received, there were usually two to four legions, and the legates who got there were usually forty or under fifty. In the era of the empire, people received high posts relatively young.

Senior officers:

Legatus Legionis
Legion Commander. The emperor usually appointed the former tribune to this post for three or four years, but the legate could hold his post for much longer. In the provinces where the legion was stationed, the legate was also the governor. Where there were several legions, each of them had his own legate, and they were all under the general command of the governor of the province.

Tribunus Laticlavius ​​(Tribunus Laticlavius)
This tribune to the legion was appointed by the emperor or the senate. He was usually young and less experienced than the five military tribunes (Tribuni Angusticlavii), yet his office was second in seniority in the legion, immediately after the legate. The name of the office comes from the word "laticlava", which means two wide purple stripes on the tunic laid down for officials of senatorial rank.

Praefectus Castrorum (Camp prefect)
Third highest post in the legion. It was usually occupied by a promoted veteran soldier who had previously held the post of one of the centurions.

Tribuni Angusticlavii (Tribunes of Angusticlavia)
Each legion had five military tribunes from the equestrian class. Most often, these were professional soldiers who occupied high administrative posts in the legion, and during the hostilities they could, if necessary, command the legion. They relied on tunics with narrow purple stripes (angusticlava), hence the name of the position.

Middle Officers:

Primus Pilus (Primipil)
The highest-ranking centurion of the legion, heading the first double centuria. In the 1st-2nd centuries A.D. e. upon dismissal from military service, the primipil was enrolled in the estate of horsemen and could reach a high equestrian position in the civil service. The name literally means "first line". Due to the similarity of the words pilus (rank) and pilum (pilum, throwing spear), the term is sometimes incorrectly translated as "centurion of the first spear." Primipil was by position an assistant to the commander of the legion. He was entrusted with the guard of the legionary eagle; he gave the signal for the march of the legion, and ordered the sound signals to be given to all the cohorts; on the march he was at the head of the army, in battle - on the right flank in the front row. His century consisted of 400 selected soldiers, the direct command of which was carried out by several lower-ranking commanders. In order to rise to the rank of primipil, it was necessary (under the usual order of service) to go through all the centurion ranks, and usually this status was reached after 20 or more years of service, by the age of 40-50.

Centurio
Each legion had 59 centurions, centurion commanders. The centurions were the basis and backbone of the professional Roman army. These were professional warriors who lived the daily lives of their subordinate soldiers, and commanded them during the battle. Usually this post was received by veteran soldiers, however, one could also become a centurion by direct decree of the emperor or other high-ranking official. The cohorts were numbered from the first to the tenth, and the centuries within the cohorts - from the first to the sixth (there were only five centuries in the first cohort, but the first century was double) - thus, there were 58 centurions in the legion and primipils. The number of the centurion commanded by each centurion directly reflected his position in the legion, that is, the highest position was occupied by the centurion of the first century of the first cohort, and the lowest - the centurion of the sixth century of the tenth cohort. The five centurions of the first cohort were called "Primi Ordines". In each cohort, the centurion of the first century was called "Pilus Prior".

junior officers:

Option
Assistant to the centurion, replaced the centurion in battle in case of his injury. He was chosen by the centurion himself from among his soldiers.

Tesserarius (Tesserarius)
Assistant option. His duties included the organization of guards and the transfer of passwords to sentries.

Decurio
He commanded a detachment of cavalry from 10 to 30 horsemen in the legion.

Decanus(Dean)
The commander of 10 soldiers with whom he lived in the same tent.

Special Honorary Posts:

Aquilifer
An extremely important and prestigious post (the literal translation of the name is “carrying an eagle.” The loss of a symbol (“eagle”) was considered a terrible dishonor, after which the legion was disbanded. If the eagle could be repulsed or returned in another way, the legion was re-formed with the same name and number.

Signifer
Each centuria had a treasurer who was responsible for paying the salaries of the soldiers and keeping their savings. He also carried the battle badge of the centuria (Signum) - a spear shaft decorated with medallions. At the top of the shaft was a symbol, most often an eagle. Sometimes - an image of an open palm.

Imaginifer(Imaginifer)
In battle, he carried the image of the emperor (lat. imago), which served as a constant reminder of the loyalty of the troops to the head of the Roman Empire.

Vexillarius (Vexillarius)
In battle, he carried the standard (vexillum) of a certain infantry or cavalry unit of the Roman troops.

Immunes
Immuns were legionnaires who possessed special skills that gave them the right to receive higher salaries, and freed them from labor and guard duty. Engineers, gunners, musicians, clerks, commissaries, weapons and drill instructors, carpenters, hunters, medical personnel, and military police were all immune. These men were fully trained legionnaires and were called to serve in the line of battle when needed.

Cornicen
Legion trumpeters who played on a copper horn - corn. They were next to the standard-bearer, giving commands to collect to the combat badge and conveying the orders of the commander to the soldiers with bugle signals.

Tubicen (Tubicen)
Trumpeters who played the "tuba", which was a copper or bronze pipe. The Tubicenes, who were under the legion of the legion, called on the soldiers to attack or trumpeted the retreat.

Bucinator
Trumpeters playing the bucine.

Evocatus
A soldier who served his term and retired, but returned to the service voluntarily at the invitation of the consul or other commander. Such volunteers enjoyed a particularly honorable position in the army, as experienced, seasoned soldiers. They were allocated to special detachments, most often consisting of the commander as his personal guards and especially trusted guards.

Duplicarius(Duplicarius)
A well-served ordinary legionnaire who received a double salary.

The core of the officer staff was the beneficiary, literally “beneficial”, because this position was considered a sinecure. Each officer had a beneficiary, but only senior officers, starting with the prefect of the camp, had a cornicular. The Cornicularius was in charge of the chancellery, which dealt with the endless stream of official documents characteristic of the Roman army. Documents in the army produced countless numbers. Many such documents written on papyrus have been found in the Middle East. From this mass, one can single out those that contain the results of a medical examination of recruits, directing recruits to units, duty schedules, daily password lists, lists of sentries at headquarters, records of departures, arrivals, lists of connections. Annual reports were sent to Rome, which indicated permanent and temporary appointments, losses, as well as the number of soldiers fit to continue service. There was a separate dossier for each soldier, where everything was recorded, from salary and savings to absences from the camp on errands. In the offices, of course, there were scribes and archivists (librarii). It is possible that many legionnaires were sent to the office of the governor of the province, where they acted as executioners (speculatores), interrogators (quaestionaries) and intelligence officers (frumentarii). From the legionnaires, an escort (singulares) was recruited. The hospital (valetudinarium) had its own staff headed by optio valetudinarii. The staff of the hospital included people who did dressings, and orderlies (capsarii and medici). There were specialist officers, doctors (also medici) and architecti. The latter served as surveyors, builders, sappers and commanders of siege weapons. "Architects", like "medics", were of different ranks, although they were all called the same.
In addition, the legion had many merchants and artisans: masons, carpenters, glassblowers and tilers. The legion possessed a large number of siege weapons, but the men assigned to them did not carry special ranks. The manufacture and repair of siege weapons was the work of the architect and his henchmen. And, finally, there were veterinary officers in the legion who took care of the animals.

Legion (lat. legio, genus case legionis, from legio - I collect, I collect) - the main organizational unit in the army of ancient Rome.

The legion consisted of 5-6 thousand, in later periods - up to 8 thousand infantrymen and several hundred horsemen. Every legion had a number and a name. Approximately 50 different legions have been identified from surviving written sources, although it is believed that their number in each historical period did not exceed twenty-eight, but if necessary it could be increased.

At the head of the legion during the period of the Republic was a military tribune, during the period of the Empire - a legate.

Story

Initially, in the era of the Roman kingdom, the legion was the name of the entire Roman army, which was a slave-owning militia numbering about 3 thousand infantry and 300 riders from wealthy citizens, gathered only in time of war or for military training.

It was tribal militia, proportionally formed from the composition main genera (curiae) on a decimal basis - each genus exhibited 100 foot soldiers - a centurion and 10 horsemen - a total of 3300 people , each a militia detachment of 1000 people was commanded by a tribune (from a tribe - a tribe ).

Legion of Servius Tullius (6th century BC)

The organization of the legion was based on general conscription for citizens property qualification and age division - older legionnaires were in reserves and garrisons, high command - two military tribunes.

The main tactical formation of the legin is a phalanx of heavily armed infantry, with cavalry on the flanks and light infantry outside the phalanx formation.

The armament of the 1st and 2nd rows consisted of more wealthy legionnaires, armed with a sword, spear, darts, dressed in a bronze shell, helmet, round shield, leggings, the next 6 rows of the phalanx had lighter weapons.

Legion of the period of the Roman Republic

In the early period of the Roman Republic, the country was led by two consuls, the Roman army - the legion was divided into two separate legions, each of which was subordinate to one of the consuls.

In the early years of the Roman Republic, hostilities were mainly armed raids by force legion.

As the wars waged by the Roman Republic became more frequent and took nature of planned combat operations . In the IV century BC. e. each consul already obeyed two legions, and their total number increased to four. If necessary, conducting a military campaign recruited additional legions.

From 331 B.C. e. At the head of each legion stood a military tribune. The internal structure of the legion became more complex, the battle order was changed from the classical phalanx to manipulative, and at the same time the tactics of the combat use of the legions were improved.

From the beginning of the IV century BC. e. soldiers were given a small salary. The Legion began to number 3,000 heavy infantry (principles, hastati, triarii), 1200 light infantry (velites) and 300 cavalry.

Legion Organization 4th century BC e. — 4200 infantry in 30 maniples - tactical divisions 60-120 warriors , consisting of 2 centuries, grouped into 10 cohorts , and 300 riders in 10 tours.

Legion combat tactics : transition from phalanx to manipulative formation with a clear division into 3 lines and manipular units in a row with gaps. The battle formation of the legion consisted of 3 lines of 10 maniples each.

Hastati - 1200 people \u003d 10 maniples \u003d 20 centuries of 60 people each - 1 row;
Principles - 1200 people \u003d 10 maniples \u003d 20 centuries of 60 people - 2nd row;
triarii - 600 people \u003d 10 maniples \u003d 20 centuries of 30 people each - 3rd row;
Light Infantry - velites, out of order - 1200 people;
Cavalry on the flanks.
By the beginning of the 2nd Punic War (218 BC-201 BC), the number of infantry was increased to 5000-5200 people by increasing the number of individual centuries.

Attached to the legion detachments of allied forces (alas, from allae - wings), located on the flanks of the under the command of prefects - acting as tribunes of the detachments of the allied forces of the legion. Auxiliary units - auxiliaries, later became part of the army.

Universal conscription led to the ruin of the free peasantry and therefore military service was abolished, the soldiers' salaries were increased, and The Roman army became a professional mercenary army.

AT Republic era The legion consisted of the following units:

Cavalry (cavalry) . The heavy cavalry was originally the most prestigious branch of the military, where wealthy Roman youth could demonstrate their valor and skill, thereby laying the foundations for their future political career. The cavalryman himself bought weapons and equipment e - round shield, helmet, armor, sword and spears. The legion numbered approximately 300 cavalry, broken into kourions — subdivisions 30 people each under the command of a decurion . In addition to heavy cavalry, there was also light cavalry , which was recruited from poor citizens and young rich citizens who were not suitable in age for hastati or horsemen.

Light infantry (velites). Velites, armed with darts and swords, did not have a strictly defined place and purpose in battle order. They were used where needed.

Heavy Infantry . The main combat unit of the legion. It was made up of legionnaire citizens who could afford to purchase equipment that included a bronze helmet, shield, armor and a short spear - dart - pilum (pilum), gladius is a short sword. Before the reforms Gaius Marius, who abolished the division of infantry into classes, which turned legions into a professional army, heavy infantry divided , in accordance with the combat experience of legionnaires three lines of battle formation :

Hastati (hastatus) - the youngest - 1 row
Principles - warriors in their prime (25-35 years old) - 2nd row
Triarii (triarius) - veterans - in the last row; in combat they were involved only in the most desperate situations.
Each of the three lines was divided into tactical units - maniples of 60-120 warriors, constituting 2 centuries under the command of the eldest of the two centurions (centurion II rank). Nominally, the centuria consisted of 100 warriors, but in reality it could number up to 60 people, especially in the maniples of the triarii.

In battle, the maniples were usually located in a checkerboard pattern - quincunx. The maniples of the principles covered the gap between the hastati, and those were covered by the maniples of the triarii.

Legion of the Late Republic

Organization of the legion after the reform of Gaius Marius - cohorts replace maniples as the main tactical unit of the legion. The cohort consists of 6 centuries. There were also specialized cohorts, such as firefighters.

The legion consisted of approximately 4800 legionnaires and a significant number of support staff, servants and slaves. The legion could include up to 6000 warriors, although at times their number was reduced to 1000 in order to deprive the willful commanders of support. The legions of Julius Caesar numbered approximately 3300 - 3600 people.

Auxiliary troops of almost the same number were attached to each legion - this included numerous specialists - sappers, scouts, doctors, standard bearers, secretaries, personnel of throwing weapons and siege towers, various service units and units from non-citizens - light cavalry, light infantry, weapons workshop workers. Roman citizenship was granted to them upon dismissal from military service.

The political role of the legions

In the era of the late Roman Republic and Empire, the legions began to play a serious political role. It is no coincidence that Augustus, after the most severe defeat of the Romans in the Teutoburg forest (9 AD), cried out, clutching his head, - "Quintillus Varus, give me back my legions". The legions are a military force that provides the future emperor with the capture and retention of power in Rome. - or, conversely, a force capable of depriving him of power. In an attempt to weaken the possible threat of the use of the military power of the legions by the pretenders to power in Rome, governors of provinces were forbidden to leave their province along with their subordinate troops. Julius Caesar crossed into 42 BC e. border river Rubicon (Latin Rubicō, Italian Rubicone), speaking from the province of Cisalpine Gaul (now - northern Italy) and brought his troops to Italy, this caused a crisis in Rome.

The legions also played a huge role in the Romanization of the "barbarian" (non-Roman) population. The Roman legions were located on the borders of the Empire, and attracted traders from the center and thus there was a cultural exchange between the Roman world and the "barbarians" - neighboring peoples.

Imperial legions

Under the emperor Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD), who served as consul 13 times, the number of legions, which had grown greatly during the civil wars, was reduced and amounted to by the end of his reign 25 legions.

The transition in the era of the empire to the creation of a larger number of permanent legions was caused mainly by internal reasons - the desire to provide the loyalty of the legions to the emperor, not to the generals. The names of the legions came from the names of the provinces in which they were created - Italian, Macedonian.

The legion began to lead the legate (lat. legatus) - usually it was a senator of about thirty years old, who held this position for three years. He was directly subordinated six military stands - five staff officers and the sixth - a candidate for senators.

Legion officers
senior officers

Legate legion (lat. Legatus Legionis) — Commander of the legion. The emperor usually appointed the former podium for three or four years but the legate could hold his post for much longer. In the provinces where one legion was stationed, the legate was simultaneously governor of the province. Where there were several legions, each of them had his own legate, and they were all under the general command of the provincial governor.

Tribunus Laticlavius ​​(Tribunus Laticlavius) - this tribune to the legion was appointed by the emperor or the senate. He was usually young and less experienced than the five military tribunes (lat. Tribuni Angusticlavii), nevertheless, his position was second in seniority in the legion, immediately after the legate. The job title comes from the word laticlava - signifying two wide purple stripes on the tunic assigned to officials of senatorial rank.

Prefect of the camp (lat. Praefectus Castrorum) - the third highest post in the legion. It was usually occupied by a promoted veteran soldier who had previously held the post of one of the centurions.

Tribunes of Angusticlavia (lat. Tribuni Angusticlavii) - in each legion there were five military tribunes from the estate of horsemen. Most often, these were professional soldiers who held high administrative positions in the legion, and during the fighting they could command the legion. They relied tunics with narrow purple stripes (Latin angusticlava).

Primipil (lat. Primus Pilus) - the highest ranking centurion of the legion, standing at the head of the first double centuria. In the first and second centuries AD, upon discharge from military service primipil was a member of the horseman class and could reach a high equestrian position. The name literally means "first line" . Due to the similarity of the words pilus, a line, and pilum, "pilum, throwing spear", the term is sometimes incorrectly translated as "centurion of the first spear."

Middle officers

Centurions . In every the legion had 59 centurions, each of whom commanded a centuria. The centurions were the backbone of the professional Roman army. These were professional warriors who lived the daily lives of their subordinate soldiers, and commanded them during the battle. Usually this post received veteran soldiers , however, one could become a centurion by direct decree of the emperor or other high-ranking official. The cohorts were numbered from one to ten, and the centuries within the cohorts were numbered from one to six. At the same time, there were only five centuries in the first cohort, but the first century was double - thus, there were 58 centurions and primipils in the legion. The number of the centurion commanded by each centurion directly reflected his position in the legion, that is the highest position was occupied by the centurion of the first century of the first cohort, and the lowest is the centurion of the sixth century of the tenth cohort. The five centurions of the first cohort were called "Primi Ordines". In each cohort, the centurion of the first century was called Pilus Prior.

junior officers

Standard-bearer (lat. Aquilifer) . An extremely important and prestigious position ( Aquilifer - "bearing an eagle"). The loss of the banner ("eagle") was considered a terrible dishonor. The next step up the career ladder is the centurion.

Standard-bearer (lat. Signifer). Each centuria had a treasurer who was responsible for paying the salaries of the soldiers and keeping their savings. He also carried centuria combat badge (Signum) - a spear shaft decorated with medallions. At the top of the shaft there was often an image of an open palms - a sign of the oath, given by the soldiers.

Option (lat. Optio) . Assistant to the centurion, replaced the centurion in battle in case of his injury. He was chosen as a centurion from among his soldiers.
Tesserarius (lat. Tesserarius). Assistant option. His duties included the organization of guards and the transmission of passwords.
Hornist (lat. Cornicen). He was next to the standard-bearer, giving commands to collect to the combat badge and conveying the orders of the commander to the soldiers with bugle signals.
Imagineer- carried a standard with the image of the emperor, which served as a constant reminder of the loyalty of the troops to the emperor.
Standard-bearer (lat. Vexillarius). He carried the standard of a certain infantry or cavalry unit of the Roman troops.

Reforms of Octavian Augustus

The Legion Legate is the only commander, the first cohort has twice the number of people, the post of camp prefect is introduced.

Military service is permitted for residents of the provinces, but command posts are only for Roman citizens.

Military service in auxiliary units gives citizenship to settlers, salaries increase.

Leggings are no longer used in the armament of the army! In the 1st century A.D. segmented armor appears in the German legions. During Trajan's Dacian campaign, infantrymen use bracers.

Hadrian's reforms

Organization: increasing the powers of the tribunes, reducing the powers of the centurions.

Formation: Legions are formed in places of permanent deployment.

Armament: cavalry equipment is being improved.

Reforms of Septimius Severus

Organization: The prefect of the camp becomes the prefect of the legion and takes on part of his powers.

Formation: Non-citizens are allowed to hold command positions.

Armament: The spatha long sword replaces the traditional gladius, which indirectly indicates a change in the nature of combat formations, because it is easier to fight with a long sword in a less dense formation than with a gladius, which is frankly adapted for a dense formation.

Reforms of Gallienus

Organization: senators are prohibited from holding military posts (while the prefects from among the equestrians finally replace the legates at the head of the legions), the posts of military tribunes are abolished.

Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine

Legionnaire from the northern provinces of the Roman Empire, III century. (modern reconstruction) Konstantin divided the army into two parts - relatively light border troops and heavy soldiers of the field army (the first had to hold back the enemy, and the second to destroy him)

Organization: transition to recruiting border legions from barbarians, division of legions - a maximum of 1000 people with a tribune at the head, a significant part of the army serves inside the country, cavalry is no longer attached to the legions.

From the 3rd century A.D. e. the fighting qualities of the legions are gradually falling due to the barbarization of the army, in addition, the cavalry begins to play an increasingly important role.

Legions (now largely made up of Germans) are forming into columns, switching to the spear instead of the javelin and sword, and the armor is also significantly lighter. At the end of the existence of the Western Roman Empire, they give way to mercenary barbarian units, but the last legion was disbanded already in the Byzantine Empire.

Legions in modern history

The name "legion" was used in the XVI-XX centuries. for military formations of irregular strength, as a rule, volunteers. The French Foreign Legion is especially famous.

More than once she was perceived as a role model. The elite of many states proclaimed themselves the successors of the Romans, taking upon themselves the divine mission of recreating the world empire. She imitated state institutions, the customs of the Romans, architecture. However, few people managed to bring their army to perfection. The famous Roman legions that created the largest relied on a rare combination of high skill and the impeccable ability of each warrior to fight in any situation, regardless of the number of supporters. This was the secret of the greatest victories of Roman arms.

The Romans knew how to quickly and clearly rebuild during battles. They could break up into small units and come together again, go on the attack and close in a dead defense. At any tactical level, they consistently carried out the orders of the commanders. The amazing discipline and sense of elbow of the Roman legionnaires is the result of a careful selection of physically developed young people into the army, the fruit of a system of training in perfect military art. Vegetius's treatise "On Military Affairs" describes the discipline that prevailed among the Roman legionnaires. He wrote about automatic weapons skills, unquestioning obedience and accuracy in carrying out orders, about the high level of tactical literacy of each of the legionnaires, as well as their interaction with others. It was the greatest army that ever existed.

Initially, the legion was called the whole, which was a militia of free citizens selected according to the property principle. The army was assembled only for military training and during the war. The word legion comes from lat. legio - "military call". But such an army could not provide reliable protection for a state that was constantly waging wars of conquest. Its reorganization was carried out by the commander Gaius Marius. Even poor Roman citizens were now drafted into the professional army for a service life of 25 years. The order of supplying them with weapons was determined. As a reward for their service, veterans received land allotments and a cash pension. Allies were granted Roman citizenship for service.

The Roman legions got the opportunity to train according to the same standards, to have the same equipment. Legionnaires were trained throughout the year. One legion included about 6,000 men, 5,200 of whom were soldiers. It was divided into 10 cohorts of 6 centuries. The latter, in turn, were divided by 10 people into decuria. The cavalry was divided into turmes. The army has become more mobile, disciplined. In the republican period, a military tribune was at the head of the legion, in the imperial period, a legate. Each legion had its own name and number. According to written sources that have survived to this day, there were about 50 of them.

Thanks to the reforms, the Roman legions in a fairly short period of time became a professionally trained unsurpassed army that increased the military power of the empire. The Roman army was excellently armed, distinguished by strict discipline, its commanders were fluent in the art of war. There was a special system of fines and punishments, based on the fear of losing the respect of their colleagues, patron, emperor. The Romans used a long tradition of punishing disobedient warriors: the execution of every tenth of the units into which the soldiers were divided was practiced. For legionnaires who evaded military service in the 3rd century. BC. The death penalty was passed. Warriors who preferred suicide to captivity were glorified.

In the Roman army, the infantry was the main action provided by the fleet. But the main tactical and organizational unit was the legion, which from the 4th century BC. e. consisted of 10 turmes (cavalry) and the same number of maniples (infantry). It also included a convoy, throwing and ramming machines. At some historical moments, the number of the legion increased.

Tactics, combat schedule, armament, rare defeats and the highest victories are described in the book of A. Makhlayuk, A. Negin “Roman legions in battle.” It was not for nothing that the legions were called the backbone of the greatest ancient state. They conquered half the world for the empire and are rightfully considered the most advanced and powerful fighting machine of that time. Surpass the legionnaires before the 18th century AD. e. nobody succeeded.

The history of the Roman legions in all its grandeur is presented in the book of the Austrian writer Stephen Dando-Collins “The Legions of Rome. A complete history of all the legions of the Roman Empire, where he collected and systematized unique information about all these military units of Ancient Rome. Each of them is described from the moment of creation, their combat path, successes and defeats in battles are traced. The Roman legions have been studied from the conditions of selection to the methods of military training of legionnaires. The book presents a description of weapons, equipment, military distinctions, a system of awards and wages, features of discipline and punishments. The structure of the legions, the strategy and tactics of combat are analyzed in sufficient detail. It is an entire history guide including diagrams, maps, battle plans and photographs.

Around 350 BC. The legion consisted of 3 parts:
1. The front line of heavy infantry (young warriors) of 15 maniples of approximately 60 people. One maniple is equal to 2 centuries. In total, it turns out 900 heavy infantrymen + commanders, standard bearers, buglers. In addition, each of the maniples of this front line was given 20 lightly armed warriors. That's another 300 people.
2. The middle line of heavy infantry (the cream of the army - warriors in their prime) of 15 maniples. Similar to the front line, only no light infantry.
3. The back line consists of 15 rows, each of which is divided into 3 parts:
a) ahead of the veterans
b) behind them young warriors
c) the least reliable soldiers
There are 186 people in each of the ranks (60 veterans + 60 young people + 60 others + 6 commanders). In total, there are approximately 2,800 people in the back line.
The total is 900 + 300 + 900 + 2800 + commanders, buglers, standard bearers = 5000 people. There were no cavalry in the legion.

Approximately 150g. BC. The legion consisted of 4200 foot soldiers:
1. 1200 light warriors (the youngest and poorest people)
2. 1200 first line heavy infantrymen (youth) - 10 maniples
3. 1200 heavy infantry of the second line (people in their prime) - 10 maniples
4. 600 heavy infantry of the third line (veterans) - 10 maniples
Light warriors of 40 were distributed among these 30 maniples of heavy infantry.
One maniple of heavy infantry of the first line + second line + third line could form a cohort (300 heavy and 120 light infantrymen). There are 10 cohorts in the legion in total. But the maniple was considered the main unit.
Various historical sources state that:
a) in the event of a dangerous situation, the legion increased to 5000 people.
b) The legion consisted of 4,000 foot and 200 horsemen, and in case of a dangerous situation increased to 5,000 foot and 300 horsemen. 300 riders were divided into 10 tours of 30 people.

In addition, it must be said that it was a legion, consisting entirely of Roman citizens. And Rome fought usually with the support of the allies, who formed detachments of 4000-5000 infantry and 900 horsemen. One such detachment was assigned to each legion, so the word "legion" should also be understood as a combat unit of about 10,000 infantry and 1,200 horsemen.

In the period from 140g. BC. for 50g. AD the following changes took place: Maniples of heavy infantry veterans also increased in number to 120 people (from 60 people). Now in each maniple there are 120 heavy and 40 light infantrymen + commanders, buglers, standard bearers = approximately 500 people in a cohort. There are still 2 centuries in each maniple. In total, there are 30 maniples or 10 cohorts in the legion. But the cohort has already become the basic unit.

In the period from 50g. AD for 200g. AD the legion consisted of 10 cohorts. The first cohort had 5 centuries of approximately 160 people. The remaining 9 cohorts each had 6 centuries of approximately 80 people.
In addition, the legion had a cavalry detachment of 120 horsemen.
The total number of the legion is approximately 5500 people.