Legion Basics
This was the standard number of soldiers in a Roman legion during the early Empire.
About 5000 soldiers
This short sword was the main weapon of a Roman legionary.
Gladius
This officer commanded a century of about 80 men.
A centurion
Roman legions were famous for this tight, disciplined fighting style.
Disciplined close-order combat
This general crossed the Rubicon River, leading his legions into civil war.
Julius Caesar
The Roman term for a citizen-soldier who served in the legions.
Legionary
This large rectangular shield protected Roman soldiers in battle.
Scutum
Six centuries made up this larger unit within a legion.
Cohort
This tactic involved rotating fresh soldiers into battle to maintain strength.
Rotation of troops
Roman legions helped defeat Carthage during these wars.
Punic Wars
This Latin word means “army” and is where the term “legion” comes from.
Legio
Roman soldiers threw this heavy javelin to disrupt enemy formations before charging.
Pilus
This was the highest-ranking officer in a Roman legion.
Legate/Legatus
Roman legions built these fortified structures every night while on campaign.
Marching camps
This empire’s legions famously defeated Roman forces at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest.
Germanic tribes
This oath of loyalty sworn by Roman soldiers bound them to Rome and later to the emperor.
Sacramentum
This type of armor, made of overlapping metal strips, was commonly worn by legionaries.
Segmentata
This position was second-in-command of a legion and often became governor of a province.
Tribune
This strategy involved cutting off enemy supplies and wearing them down over time.
Siege warfare (attrition)
This emperor reformed the legions and established them as a professional standing army.
Augustus
This was the minimum length of service required for a Roman legionary under Augustus.
20 years
This famous Roman formation used shields to protect soldiers from arrows.
Testudo Formation
This elite group of soldiers guarded the Roman emperor.
Praetorian Guard
This Roman battle formation allowed flexibility and independent unit movement.
Manipular formation
This wall, built by Roman legions, marked the northern boundary of Roman Britain.
Hadrian’s Wall