Roman legion

E5868

ancient Roman military formation military unit

A Roman legion was the principal heavy infantry unit of ancient Rome, renowned for its disciplined soldiers, flexible formations, and decisive role in expanding and defending the Roman Empire.

Observed surface forms (4)

Surface form	As subject	As object
Roman legions	0	18
Roman army	0	2
Legio II Augusta	0	1
Roman legions under Titus	0	1

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	ancient Roman military formation → military unit →
commandedBy	legatus →
hasCampType	castra →
hasCoreSubunit	cohort →
hasEarlyRecruitmentBase	property-owning citizens →
hasEngineeringCapability	fortification construction → road building → siege works construction →
hasLaterRecruitmentBase	all male Roman citizens →
hasOfficer	centurion → tribunus militum →
hasPostMarianStructure	10 cohorts per legion →
hasPrimaryType	heavy infantry →
hasRecruitmentBase	Roman citizens →
hasSeniorNCO	primus pilus →
hasServiceTerm	typically 20 to 25 years →
hasStandard	aquila →
hasStandardBearer	aquilifer → signifer →
hasSubunit	century → contubernium → maniple →
hasSymbolicRole	embodiment of Roman military power →
hasTacticalDoctrine	disciplined close-order combat →
hasTacticalFeature	flexible formations → use of reserves →
hasTrainingFeature	intensive drill → strict discipline →
hasTypicalArmor	lorica hamata → lorica segmentata →
hasTypicalDefense	scutum →
hasTypicalFirstCohortSize	larger than other cohorts →
hasTypicalHelmet	galea →
hasTypicalSize	around 4,000 to 6,000 soldiers →
hasTypicalWeapon	gladius → pilum →
historicalPeriod	Roman Empire → Roman Kingdom → Roman Republic →
historicalRole	defense of Roman frontiers → enforcement of imperial authority → expansion of Roman territory →
influenced	later European military organization →
partOf	Roman legion self-linksurface differs → surface form: Roman army
reformDate	late 2nd century BCE →
reorganizedBy	Gaius Marius →
usedBy	Roman Empire → Roman Republic →