The Roman army was called the Roman army (Latin: exercitus Romanus), which was the military force serving ancient Rome throughout its history from the Roman Kingdom through the Republic and Empire
. The main and most famous military unit within the Roman army was the legion (Latin: legio), a large, well-organized body of infantry composed of Roman citizens known as legionaries. Each legion typically consisted of about 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers
. The legion was subdivided into smaller units:
- The basic unit was the century , consisting of about 80 men.
- Ten centuries formed a cohort.
- Ten cohorts made up a legion, with the first cohort being the most prestigious and larger than the others
The legion was commanded by a legate, usually a senator, and included cavalry and specialized troops for support
. The Roman army was highly disciplined and professional, especially during the Imperial period, with soldiers serving long terms of service
. In summary:
- The entire military force was called the Roman army (exercitus Romanus).
- The primary combat unit was the legion (legio), consisting of thousands of soldiers organized into cohorts and centuries
This structure and terminology were central to Roman military organization for centuries.
