History of the Legions of Rome. Legion (Ancient Rome)

famous roman legions

Date: 12/11/2012

Groups that fought for power in Rome formed a large number of legions and went into battle, with almost the same armies. The famous Roman legions made up the majority of both armies under Philippi. Although they were completed in various parts In the Roman Empire (the troops of the Triumvirate were mainly from the western part of the empire, while the republican army was recruited primarily in the eastern provinces), the high degree of standardization of the Roman army meant that their forces were most likely approximately equal. During the late Republic, each legion was formed, trained, and equipped to a finely tuned standard, tested through decades of constant warfare and conflict. Each legionary was armed with a sword (gladius), a spear (pilum) and a dagger (pugio). His defensive weapons were a shield (scutum), a helmet and armor. Combat training mainly consisted in practicing blows to the head, from the flanks and on the hips of the alleged enemy on a stuffed animal. After the initial training was completed, constant training became a daily feature of a legionnaire's life during active service.

After weapons training, the next most important aspect of preparing a novice was teaching him how to build a camp. The ability to quickly build a fortified camp in hostile territory was one of the most important components of the tactics of the Roman legions. The commander carefully chose the place for the camp, taking into account the possibility of using the terrain, as well as convenient access to wood, fodder and water. Weak point Anthony, as a military commander, was his neglect of precisely such details. He was successful during the Philippian campaign, and the fact that he ignored the basic principle of choosing a place for the camp (troops should be stationed in a convenient area) did not have serious consequences. Although Antony set up his headquarters right next to the swamp, autumn weather dramatically reduced the threat of malaria.

The legion consisted of 60 centuries of 80 legionnaires each. Six centuries made up a cohort; in total, the legion had 10 cohorts with a force of 480 people each. This meant that under optimal conditions the legion consisted of 4800 soldiers. But be that as it may, in reality, its numbers rarely reached such a value. The basis of the Roman army was junior officers- centurions. There were 59 of them per legion: five in the first cohort and six in the 2nd-10th cohorts. In the battle, each century was led by a centurion, which was located on its extreme right flank, a tesse-rariy (sergeant) was located at the opposite end of the centuria formation, and option (deputy commander) in the back row. The centuria also included a signifer (he carried the emblem) and a klor-niker (bugler). The former visually marked the assembly point of the centuria, while the latter gave signals for the execution of basic tactical commands.

The legion had approximately 300 mounted warriors, divided into ten squadrons of 30 men each. In the time of Caesar, Rome met the main need for cavalry through the use of auxiliary foreign troops,
recruited primarily from the Spaniards, Africans, Celts and Germans. The same approach was applied to light infantry and slinger units. Another innovation of the late Republic was the creation by various military leaders who fought among themselves for power, permanent elite cohorts like the Praetorians (from praetorium-um - the headquarters of the commander), which later turned into the Praetorian Guard of the Roman emperors.
The divisional structure of the legion gave it great flexibility in deployment. As a rule, each legion lined up in three lines. The first, closest to the enemy, line consisted of four cohorts, its centuria lined up in 10 lines of 8 people in depth. The second and third lines consisted of three cohorts, their centuries lined up in squares of 12 ranks 6 deep. The Army was much easier to move and maintain order in small coordinated mobile formations than in a huge bulky continuous line.

A key feature of Roman warfare tactics was the balance found between the individualized anarchy of the barbarian horde and the unshakable, inflexible formation of the Greek phalanx. A compact defensive formation, when the legionnaires were covered with shields from all sides - the "turtle" (testudo), could be carried out within a few minutes in an emergency, but in battle conditions it was much more important for the legionnaire to keep his small plot front (defined in Roman instructions for infantry at about 3 m2). One of the main tasks of the commander was to provide this space for the legionnaire. While each legionnaire had it and could move freely in it, he made decisions based on the interests of his entire unit. If there was more space, he would become distracted to control more territory and think of his own interests first, eventually breaking formation and trying to escape. The panic that arose among the legionnaires, who felt that they were too close to each other, led to the disaster at Cannae in 216 BC. and during the Battle of the Bagradas Valley in 49 BC.

During most of the battles in which the Roman army was involved, the lines only occasionally came into contact, when one or the other side, or both at once, rushed forward to engage in a short hand-to-hand fight. Small Roman units were ideal for such local clashes, which were usually led by junior officers and veterans. This dynamic military action could continue for some time, until one of the parties eventually lost the ability to resist, after which the enemy was able to continue the offensive. The stability of the Roman legion was increased by a system in which troops not engaged in battle took their place. Support troops and reserves were deployed where they could quickly move forward to assist the fighting on the front lines, but at the same time were outside the range of the slingers. The role of command and control authorities became insignificant as soon as the armies converged on the battlefield. The noise must have been deafening. Advancing, the legionnaires beat their shields with their saws, loudly shouting calls and mottos. In the midst of a battle, officers were forced to either shout loudly or signal their soldiers with gestures in order to give an order.

Battles were rarely fought during inclement weather, but dry weather presented its own challenges. Armies often kicked up huge clouds of dust. Under Philippi, this led to the first battle ending earlier than expected, when the commanders on both sides were unable to understand the situation that had arisen on the battlefield. Picking and policy.During recent years the existence of the Roman Republic, approximately 216,000-270,000 Italians and 48,000-60,000 provincials were recruited. More than one out of every 12 adult citizens of the Roman Republic thus served in the army. With the outbreak of hostilities, the formation of new legions from retired veterans began. Recruiting evocates—legionaries who had served their standard terms but who chose to re-enlist—was easier because they usually lived in their close-knit and insular communities.

Another consequence of the ever-growing need for manpower during the late Republic was the abandonment of the formation of legions exclusively from Italians and the recruitment of foreigners (pere-greens). We know that in the 40s BC. there were many foreign legions formed in Spain, Macedonia and the East.
But the most significant feature of the legions of that era was their unprecedented political activity. During the brief transition period from republican to imperial forms of government, veterans constantly demanded that their rights be taken into account, additional payments made and benefits provided. Often they succeeded in imposing similar conditions on their military leaders. These manifestations of democracy in the army arose during the civil war. Their apogee was the actions of the legions, demanding negotiations between Antony and Okgavian at Brundisium in 40 BC. The opportunity to receive booty and land plots upon retirement was the most important incentive for entering the service.

A selection of interesting and unexpected facts from the life of the legionnaires of Ancient Rome.

1.Age.
Traditionally, all male Roman citizens between the ages of 17 and 46 were liable for military service. Most soldiers were recruited into the legions between the ages of 17 and 23. The main age for joining the army was 20 years old, but there are cases when they got into the troops at the age of 13-14 or 36 years old.

2. Origin.
Speaking about their origin, most legionnaires named small towns or large cities. In fact, only a few of them came from urban centers. Most cities were shopping malls agricultural district and had attached rural areas. Some parts of the Empire were largely unaffected by urbanization. In many cases, the origins given when joining the army were simply fictitious. It was received upon entry into the army along with Roman citizenship.
Peasant farmers formed the backbone of the civilian militias during the Republic period, and the countryside remained the main recruiting ground until the Late Empire period. Soldiers from the countryside were favored for their endurance and also because they were not spoiled by the amusements of city life.

3.Growth.
The height of six Roman feet (177 cm) was considered ideal for a legionnaire. Soldiers whose height was not less than 172 cm were selected for the first cohort. The I legion of Italic Nero became famous for two reasons. Firstly, because it consisted of Italian recruits, and secondly, because the soldiers included in it were at least six Roman feet tall. Noteworthy are the claims that soldiers who were shorter in stature were accepted into other legions.
The skeleton of a soldier who died in Pompeii in AD 79 showed that he was 170 cm tall, while a soldier from the fort at Velsen in Holland was 190 cm tall. He could be from Frisia. 4th century evidence AD they say that soldiers with a height of 165 cm were accepted into the elite units of the army. Consequently, for the rural population, from which recruits were recruited, this was the highest increase.

4. Military service.
Many legionnaires, if not most of them, were drafted into the army and were not always sufficiently prepared. The Dilectus (conscription) was necessary in connection with the frequent civil wars and conquests carried out under Augustus. The army preferred to accept volunteers, but over time, conscription became a common practice.
It was assumed that the legionnaire recruit was a Roman citizen, however, civil wars and aggressive policies led to the fact that the legions were scattered throughout the empire, which, in turn, forced commanders to recruit recruits locally. The only fundamental requirement for conscripts and volunteers when entry into the legions was their free birth, not Roman citizenship. Citizenship, on the other hand, could be granted either immediately upon entry into the army, or at some point during service.

5. Preparation.
For four grueling months, the legions' recruits were trained daily. Preparation began with the development of a military step.
Recruits were required to be able to walk 29 km at a regular pace and 35 km at an accelerated pace in five hours, moreover, they had to carry equipment weighing 20.5 kg.
If possible, they also tried to teach the recruits to swim, so that during the offensive the rivers would not be an insurmountable obstacle for them. Recruits were also taught archery, sling throwing, and horsemanship so they could handle any weapon.
When the recruit was already able to move on the march at the required speed and disassemble the commands given with the help of horns and banners, endless maneuvers began to develop these skills. Various formations were practiced: square, wedge, circle and "testudo" ("tortoise" - a mobile formation in which a group of soldiers was completely covered from all sides by shields).

6. They were taught to overcome obstacles during the offensive and retreat, change formation and replace certain units during the battle. Recruits were also taught to disperse the battle line, as this skill could come in handy in combat.
Weapons training used swords, darts and shields made of wood and rods, which weighed twice the weight of real weapons. Techniques with weapons were practiced on training poles 180 cm high.
The instructors focused on developing the ability to effectively hide behind a shield and inflict stabbing rather than chopping blows with a sword, since in this way the enemy could be inflicted deeper wounds.
Weapon training could be done twice a day.

7.Training continued after the recruit became a regular soldier. Every month, soldiers could make three forced marches with full gear.
At the end of each march, the soldiers had to build a fortified camp, surrounded by a moat and an earthen rampart. All this, together with the orderly internal structure of units, was the basis of Roman military practice.

8. The preparation of Roman soldiers before a military campaign and the daily practice of weapons skills as they approached the combat zone had crucial. At the same time, it must be taken into account that in peacetime many units were understaffed and their numbers did not meet the standard.
Many soldiers had to perform a variety of duties throughout the province, recruiting garrisons and performing the functions of the police ("stationary"), taking part in the construction of various buildings, collecting taxes or carrying out instructions for the provincial administration.
Only in those cases when the legion was to take part in large-scale hostilities, most of personnel gathered together, and the structural units began to work out the techniques that they had to perform in battle.

9.Service life.
In the 1st century BC, service in the legions lasted 6 years, but Augustus significantly increased this period.
Usually the longest service life in the legions in the II - III centuries. BC. reached the age of 16. In 13 BC this situation
was formalized: now the legionnaires had to serve for 16 years and at the end of this period receive
a large cash prize in order to avoid disputes related to land allotments. However, after serving 16 years, the soldier had to spend another four years in the corps of veterans of the legion - "vexillum veteranorum".

10. By 5-6 years. AD August increased the term of service to 20 years, but at the same time, the “militare premium” (payment upon demobilization) was also increased to 12 thousand sesterces (3 thousand denarii).
Extensive conquests in Central Europe, starting from 16 BC, led to the fact that soldiers were detained in the service much longer than the established periods.
By the middle of the 1st c. AD the legionnaires were set a service life of 25 years, and the military service of veterans began to be gradually reduced. Some legionnaires had to serve 26 years, because demobilization took place every two years and fell on "even" years.

11. Payment.
In 14 AD the annual salary of a legionnaire was 900 sesterces (225 denarii). The demobilization payment was about 12 thousand sesterces (3 thousand denarii).
Officers received one and a half or double pay ("sescuiplicari" and "duplicari"). The cost of equipment, clothing, food, funeral services was withheld from the salary.
In addition, a certain amount went to the "regimental savings bank", which was supervised by the "signifer". Salaries did not rise until the reign of Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), and salaries, even after deductions, were never paid in full.
Demobilization payments were also not always paid, and soldiers could be deceived by giving them plots of land. Bad quality. "[The farms] they were given were often just swamps or rocky mountain slopes."

12. Command.
The Roman legion is often described as a trouble-free war machine. But the legion could only show itself well when the morale of the warriors was at the proper level. Legionnaires could panic and suffer defeat just like the soldiers of any other armies.
Legionnaires achieved great success with the able leadership of their officers. Caesar, Antony, Germanius, Caecina and Vespasian were commanders capable of leading personal example and shared the hardships and deprivations of soldier's service.
The centurions, distinguished by Caesar and mentioned by Josephus, were brave and staunch officers, able to show their authority in crisis situations and to extinguish the panic among the personnel. But not all
the officers had sufficient confidence, courage and talent to skillfully lead the soldiers.
Many of them were cruel and corrupt. In the absence of fair leadership, the legionnaires acted haphazardly in battle, and they often showed a tendency to rebellion and rebellion.

13. A quarter of the soldiers of each centuria could be on vacation or wander around the camp doing nothing, paying the centurion for this.
No one cared how they got the money. In order to buy themselves a temporary exemption from military service, soldiers earned money by robbery on the roads, petty theft, or doing dirty work.
The richest soldiers could be specially given the most tedious work until they buy themselves a breather.
Then, impoverished and demoralized from idleness, the soldier returned to his century, exchanging wealth for poverty, and energy for laziness. So, corrupted one by one from poverty and lack of discipline, they were ready to rebel, show disobedience and, in the end, take part in civil war.
But Otho promised that the payment annual leave will be carried out at the expense of the imperial treasury. This was certainly a useful innovation, which later, under the wise emperors, became binding rule services."

14. Unit identification.
Legions were traditionally designated by numbers and names. From the middle of the 1st century. BC, when the term of the legions in combat readiness was increased, they began to be awarded honorary titles in addition to numbers.
Legionnaires were also identified by the numbers and names of their legions. Along with this, each legion had its own emblem, probably associated with its founder. For the III legion of Gallica, this was the bull of Caesar, for the XIIII legion of Geminus, the ibex of Augustus. Sometimes these emblems were associated with the legion's military merit.
So, the emblem of the V legion of Alaud was an elephant, and the X legion of Fretensis was a dolphin and a warship. The annual feast in honor of the founding of the legion ("natalis aquila" - the birthday of the eagle), parades and demonstration exercises were essential to maintain morale, since in peacetime this could be the only period when the entire unit gathered together.

15.Group identification.
What really made a legionary fight effectively was his sense of belonging to his centuria and, especially, to his "contubernium".
This unit identification and devotion to one's comrades-in-arms was crucial in battle. First of all, the legionnaire fought for his comrades, his centurion and legion, then for booty and glory, and, finally, for the distant emperor and Rome.
The close ties between the eight soldiers from the "contubernium" were all the stronger because they had to live together in the same barracks or in the same tent during the military campaign. Another factor in convergence was a shared meal. In the Roman army there were neither common meals for all the soldiers, nor common canteens located on the territory of the camp. During military campaigns, there was no organization of large food supplies.
Roman soldiers were supposed to cook their own meals and pay for their groceries with deductions from their salaries.

16. The legionnaires of the centuria fought effectively because they knew each other well and were friends. The Centuria was not such a large unit that they felt faceless and alienated.
Moreover, the legionnaires felt a sense of pride, identifying themselves with their centuria. Bound by ties of camaraderie, they tried to keep their friends from dying in battle by shielding them and fighting for them.

17. The terms "manipularis" or "commanipularis" (soldiers of one maniple) expressed the willingness of the centuries and individual legionnaires to rely on each other in order to win and stay alive in battle.
The most expressive term, often found in the inscriptions on gravestones, was the term "frater" (brother). The different names of the dead on such monuments indicate that they were not real brothers, but this term expressively and simply denoted the fundamental bond between comrades.
If a legion can be described as a society, then a "contubernium" was a family of legionnaires.

18. Soldiers preferred to die with their comrades than to surrender to the mercy of the enemy.
In wartime, the sense of brotherhood intensified, and the soldiers supported other units in the same way.
as well as their closest comrades.

19. Military oath.
The military oath - "sacramentum" - was pronounced by all Roman soldiers. This oath had a religious significance and connected the soldier with the emperor and the state. It was repeated every year a day new year holiday. Vegetius presents a Christian version of this oath dating back to the 4th century. AD
“They swore by God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, as well as by the Majesty of the Emperor, who, after God, was to be the most beloved and revered by all people…”
These soldiers swore that they would steadily carry out all the orders of the emperor, never desert and would not refuse to die for the Roman state.
Prior to the introduction of the established official oath in 216 BC. Legionnaires were required to take two voluntary oaths.
The first oath was an obligation to obey the consul. In the second oath, the soldiers of the maniple promised each other not to leave their comrades in a difficult situation for the sake of saving their lives and never leave their place in the ranks during the battle, except when it is necessary to regain their weapons, attack the enemy or save a comrade.

20. Awards.
The highest award available to a legionnaire, regardless of his rank, was a civil wreath of oak leaves - "corona civica", which was awarded for saving a comrade in battle.
The most valuable manifestation of courage and selflessness in battle was to push the enemy back to save a fallen comrade. It was the highest manifestation of camaraderie, when the legionnaires fought for each other. This was the basis of the effectiveness of the Roman army.

21. Polybius notes that the Romans rewarded valiant soldiers with decorations (medals). They made sure that such soldiers were visible to their commanders on the battlefield and wore animal skins or combs and feathers for this.
Among the awards for valor that were awarded to legionnaires of all ranks were “torques” (neck hoops-hryvnias), “falers” (medals) worn on armor, and “armilla” (bracers-bracelets) made of precious metals.
In addition, legionnaires could be encouraged with cash bonuses and promotions. Awards in the form of wreaths, "spears" and "banners" were intended for centurions and officers of the highest rank.

22. Punishments.
Severe discipline was maintained in the legions. Cowardice in combat and disciplinary offenses such as sleeping on duty were punished by fustiarium (when a soldier was beaten to death by his comrades whose lives he endangered), scourging, or demotion.
If the entire unit showed cowardice in battle, then every tenth soldier of this unit was executed by lot. This punishment was used rarely and in the most extreme cases.
Other punishments were more symbolic. Their purpose was to shame the violators of discipline.
The violator could be put on a barley diet or excluded from general military life, placing him outside the military camp.
They could be stripped of their military belts (i.e. military rank) and forced to march in front of headquarters wearing heavy helmets and carrying heavy sticks or pieces of turf in their hands. These punishments could only be lifted when the soldier managed to rehabilitate himself in battle.

23. Courage and initiative.
Despite the emphasis placed on discipline and maintaining a cohesive formation in battle, the Roman army tolerated and sometimes even encouraged desperate courage and the exercise of personal initiative.

24. Probably, the soldiers could act independently or contrary to orders due to poor communication with commanders on the battlefield.
It is clear that such independent actions could greatly influence the outcome of the battle. During the siege of Gamala in 67 AD. three soldiers from the XV legion of Apollinaris, acting at their own peril and risk, managed to break five support stones from
the foundations of the corner tower and destroy it, ensuring the capture of the city by the Romans (Josephus Flavius. "Jewish War", 4, 63-66).
In the second battle of Cremona, two legionnaires of Emperor Flavius, hiding behind the shields of killed soldiers from the Vitellian XV legion of Primigenius, misled the soldiers of Vitellius and, approaching at close range, were able to disable a huge torsion catapult, which prevented the advance of the Flavians.
All these soldiers died while carrying out their operation. The commander Suetonius Paulinus argued that the outcome of a whole battle could sometimes depend on the actions of several legionnaires.

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. According to the surviving written sources, about 50 various legions, 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.

History

Initially, in the era of the Roman kingdom, the legion was called everything 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 universal military duty 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, a helmet, round shield, leggings, the next 6 rows of the phalanx had lighter weapons.

Legion of the period of the Roman Republic

IN early period The Roman Republic, the country was headed 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.

IN 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.

Legions also played 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.

Transition to the era of empire to create more permanent legions was called mainly internal reasons- 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 who held this position in 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 row" . 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. They were professional warriors who lived everyday life their subordinate soldiers, and during the battle they commanded them. 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 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.

Roman legionnaires (reconstruction)

Legionnaires in service (reconstruction)

Later, under this name, formations were created in the armed forces of many states (See section legions in new history).

The legion in Rome consisted of 2 to 10 thousand (in later periods 4,320) foot soldiers and several hundred horsemen. Each legion had its own number and 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.

legion of roman kings[ | ]

Initially legion the whole Roman army was called, which was a militia of about 3 thousand infantry and 300 horsemen from wealthy citizens who gathered only during the war or for military training.

Thereby military power curia and the community as a whole was made dependent on the natural reproduction of the male population. In the early royal period, when the Roman community had not yet reached its demographic limits and was open to the adoption of new genera from neighboring conquered tribes, these negative aspects were still hidden. But in the seventh century BC e., as is clear from the data of the written tradition, the formation of new curia and the relatively easy adoption of new clans into existing ones come to naught, and soon the inhibitory role of the curate principle of army formation was especially clearly manifested during the clash of the Romans at the end of the 7th and 6th centuries. BC e. with such a strong people as the Etruscans.

In the VIII century BC. e. warriors fought on foot, and their weapons were spears, darts, swords, daggers and axes. Only the richest could afford armor, most often limited to a helmet and a small plate that covered only the chest.

In the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. the Roman army, presumably, was a typical Etruscan army (since the Romans were under the rule of the Etruscans and the army included representatives of the Romans, Etruscans (forming a phalanx) and Latins (fighting, out of habit, in free formation). The Etruscan-Roman army consisted of 40 centuries of hoplites (I category), which were armed according to the Greek model, 10 centuries of spearmen with medium weapons (II category), armed according to the Italian model with a spear and sword, and also having a helmet, greaves and an Italian shield (scutum): 10 centuries of lightly armed spearmen (III category), who had a spear, sword, helmet and scutum, 10 centuries of skirmishers (IV category), who owned a spear, dart and scutum, and, finally, 15 centuries of slingers (V category). what size army was required.According to the same scheme, an army was built from veterans who made up the internal garrison.

Reform of Servius Tullius (6th century BC)[ | ]

Organization: property qualification and age division (the older ones were in reserves and garrisons, singled out the so-called "juniors" (from 18 to 46 years old) and "seniors" (over 46 years old)), universal military duty for citizens, high command - two military tribune.

Tactics: basic phalanx formation with cavalry on the flanks and light infantry out of formation

Centuries of different ranks were, of course, of different sizes.

Legion of the Early Republic period[ | ]

Legionnaire on the move. Reconstruction. Legionnaire in full armor; the helmet hangs on a special hook attached to the shell. On a stick (furca), the legionnaire carries luggage, consisting of a chest, a net for provisions, a pot with a spoon and fur for water. In the event of an alarm, the load could be instantly thrown

At a certain period of time (perhaps in the early period of the Roman Republic, which was headed by two consuls), the legion (Roman army) 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, and therefore it is not known whether the full combat power of the legion was involved in the course of hostilities.

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

From 331 BC 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 have 3,000 heavy infantry (English)(principles, hastati, triarii), 1200 light infantry (velites) and 300 cavalry.

Organization: initially 4200 infantry in 30 tactical divisions - maniples (consisting of 2 centuries of 60-120 soldiers), reduced to 10 cohorts, and 300 horsemen in 10 turmas.

Tactics: transition from phalanx to manipulative formation (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.

Legions (now largely Germanic) form columns, switch to the lance and spatha instead of the pilum and gladius, use the oval auxilium shield instead of the scutum, and significantly lighten the armor. At the end of the existence of the Western Roman Empire, they increasingly give way to mercenary barbarian units or themselves mainly consist of the same barbarians, but the last legions were already disbanded in the Byzantine Empire during the transition to the thematic system.

Armament of legionnaires[ | ]

Pilum [ | ]

The pilum was a dart - an infantry throwing spear, somewhat shortened and lighter compared to spears for equestrian or hand-to-hand combat and appropriately balanced for ease of throwing. The Romans had two types of pilums - short (2 m long) and heavy (4-5 kg). The shaft of the pilum ended in a long iron tip with a hook. The pilum was thrown at a distance of 7-10 m into enemy shields. The thrust pilum with its weight pulled back the shield and deprived the enemy of the opportunity to hide from blows.

Gladius [ | ]

The Gladius was the legionnaire's most feared weapon, versatile in purpose: they could stab, chop, cut, and even throw if necessary. This sword had a short double-edged blade about 0.5 m long and 4-7 cm wide, ending in a cruciform handle. It was worn on the right, not on the left, side. Its small size made it very convenient for use in close formation and in hand-to-hand combat in close contact with the enemy. Stabbing wounds from the gladius have always been fatal. It was the gladius that turned the Roman legion in close combat into a devilish meat grinder, mercilessly grinding any enemy.

Scutum [ | ]

Scutum - a huge shield of legionnaires of a rounded shape, unsuitable for individual combat, but very effective in the ranks; he reliably protected the legionary from blows from all sides, except for stabbing blows from above. The dimensions of the scutum were about 75 cm wide and about 1.2 m high. It was made from several wooden plates glued together, which were covered with felt and upholstered with iron strips along the edges and around the perimeter. In the center of the shield was fastened a strongly convex round iron umbon. The handle of the shield was horizontal and held with a full grip. The legionnaires held the shield not in front of the chest, but along the left side, and pressed the enemy, leaning on the shield with their shoulders and helping themselves short sword, which with this use of the shield is more convenient to wear on the right.

Notes [ | ]

In the era of imperial Rome, each warrior acquired weapons at his own expense, so it was diverse. Later, under Servius Tullius, measures were taken to introduce uniform weapons: a single weapon standard was introduced for each property class. Representatives of the 1st class had to have a sword, a spear (hasta), darts, a helmet (galea), a shell (lorica), a bronze shield (clipeus) and leggings (ocrea); 2nd class - the same set, but without the shell and shield-scutum instead of clipeus; 3rd class - the same set, but without leggings; 4th class - spear-gasta and pike (verutum), without armor; 5th grade - only one sling.

In the era of the Republic, as part of the manipulative reorganization of the legion, the process of unifying the weapons of the Roman soldiers entered a new phase. On the eve of the Punic Wars (3rd century BC), the Romans introduced a monotonous staffing and armament of the maniple: if earlier each maniple consisted of hastati, principes and triarii, now it was equipped with only one of these types of infantry.

Legion military camp[ | ]

The legion war camp is a defensive type fortification for rest and sleep. The camp was built like a fortress ( rectangular shape, towers in the corners, four entrances). All fortifications were built of wood. A ditch was dug around the fortress, stakes made of wood were placed and flammable substances were poured over them.

Roman legionnaires (reconstruction)

Legionnaires in service (reconstruction)

Later, under this name, formations were created in the armed forces of many states (See section legions in new history).

The legion in Rome consisted of 2 to 10 thousand (in later periods 4,320) foot soldiers and several hundred horsemen. Each legion had its own number and 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.

legion of roman kings

Initially legion the whole Roman army was called, which was a militia of about 3 thousand infantry and 300 horsemen from wealthy citizens who gathered only during the war or for military training.

Thus, the military power of the curia and the community as a whole was made dependent on the natural reproduction of the male population. In the early royal period, when the Roman community had not yet reached its demographic limits and was open to the adoption of new genera from neighboring conquered tribes, these negative aspects were still hidden. But in the seventh century BC e., as is clear from the data of the written tradition, the formation of new curia and the relatively easy adoption of new clans into existing ones come to naught, and soon the inhibitory role of the curate principle of army formation was especially clearly manifested during the clash of the Romans at the end of the 7th and 6th centuries. BC e. with such a strong people as the Etruscans.

In the VIII century BC. e. warriors fought on foot, and their weapons were spears, darts, swords, daggers and axes. Only the richest could afford armor, most often limited to a helmet and a small plate that covered only the chest.

In the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. the Roman army, presumably, was a typical Etruscan army (since the Romans were under the rule of the Etruscans and the army included representatives of the Romans, Etruscans (forming a phalanx) and Latins (fighting, out of habit, in free formation). The Etruscan-Roman army consisted of 40 centuries of hoplites (I category), which were armed according to the Greek model, 10 centuries of spearmen with medium weapons (II category), armed according to the Italian model with a spear and sword, and also having a helmet, greaves and an Italian shield (scutum): 10 centuries of lightly armed spearmen (III category), who had a spear, sword, helmet and scutum, 10 centuries of skirmishers (IV category), who owned a spear, dart and scutum, and, finally, 15 centuries of slingers (V category). what size army was required.According to the same scheme, an army was built from veterans who made up the internal garrison.

Reform of Servius Tullius (6th century BC)

Organization: property qualification and age division (the older ones were in reserves and garrisons, singled out the so-called "juniors" (from 18 to 46 years old) and "seniors" (over 46 years old)), universal military duty for citizens, high command - two military tribune.

Tactics: basic phalanx formation with cavalry on the flanks and light infantry out of formation

• I category (property of more than 100 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 80 centuries and had to have a shell (lorica), a helmet (galea), leggings (ocrea), a round clipeus-type shield, and from an offensive weapon (tela) - a spear (hasta) and sword (gladius or mucro). Such full armament generally corresponds to the type of so-called hoplite equipment. Warriors of the 1st category stood in the phalanx in the first row.
• II category (property of more than 75 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and had to have a helmet (galea), leggings (ocrea), a shield (scutum), a sword (gladius) and a spear (hasta). Historians give these fighters a place in the second row of the army.
• III category (property of more than 50 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and were supposed to have a helmet, shield, sword and spear. In the ranks, they respectively occupied the 3rd row.
• IV category (property of more than 25 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and had to have a shield (scutum), a sword (gladius or mucro), and two spears (a long hasta and a throwing dart verrutum). Warriors of the 4th category occupied the last line in the battle, and also, according to some sources, covered the legion in case of withdrawal.
• V category (property of more than 11 thousand asses) - The warriors of this category formed 30 centuries and were supposed to have a sling. They were out of order and performed a supporting role.

Centuries of different ranks were, of course, of different sizes.

Legion of the Early Republic period

Tactics: transition from phalanx to manipulative formation (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.

Legions (now largely Germanic) form columns, switch to the lance and spatha instead of the pilum and gladius, use the oval auxilium shield instead of the scutum, and significantly lighten the armor. At the end of the existence of the Western Roman Empire, they increasingly give way to mercenary barbarian units or themselves mainly consist of the same barbarians, but the last legions were already disbanded in the Byzantine Empire during the transition to the thematic system.

Armament of legionnaires

Pilum

The pilum was a dart - an infantry throwing spear, somewhat shortened and lighter compared to spears for equestrian or hand-to-hand combat and appropriately balanced for ease of throwing. The Romans had two types of pilums - short (2 m long) and heavy (4-5 kg). The shaft of the pilum ended in a long iron tip with a hook. The pilum was thrown at a distance of 7-10 m into enemy shields. The thrust pilum with its weight pulled back the shield and deprived the enemy of the opportunity to hide from blows.

Gladius

The Gladius was the legionnaire's most feared weapon, versatile in purpose: they could stab, chop, cut, and even throw if necessary. This sword had a short double-edged blade about 0.5 m long and 4-7 cm wide, ending in a cruciform handle. It was worn on the right, not on the left, side. Its small size made it very convenient for use in close formation and in hand-to-hand combat in close contact with the enemy. Stabbing wounds from the gladius have always been fatal. It was the gladius that turned the Roman legion in close combat into a devilish meat grinder, mercilessly grinding any enemy.

Scutum

Scutum - a huge shield of legionnaires of a rounded shape, unsuitable for individual combat, but very effective in the ranks; he reliably protected the legionary from blows from all sides, except for stabbing blows from above. The dimensions of the scutum were about 75 cm wide and about 1.2 m high. It was made from several wooden plates glued together, which were covered with felt and upholstered with iron strips along the edges and around the perimeter. In the center of the shield was fastened a strongly convex round iron umbon. The handle of the shield was horizontal and held with a full grip. Legionnaires did not hold the shield in front of the chest, but along the left side, and pressed the enemy, leaning on the shield with their shoulders and helping themselves with a short sword, which, with this use of the shield, is more convenient to carry on the right.