Last Legion Standing

[Spurius Papirius Cursor]

If you're strict, no legion would really deserve the title, ...

Hi Robert

That's actually the thought that's nagging at me and I really need to think about.

My interest in "The Legion" partly relates to how the word itself has shaped our view of Rome. Often one sees references to how Rome's legions did "this" or went "there". To the lay person, it's as if every Roman military unit was "a legion".

So, what about "the scraps" of legions? Those late legions that were vexillations of others carry the "DNA" of their parent legion, if I may speak figuratively. So, when they achieve autonomy, what about them would allow them to be called "legions" also? And the "New Legions" - what do they "carry" that they are called legions?

Somewhere along the line, characteristic expectations of - maybe - organization or performance may have inevitably made some bodies of troops definable as "legions" and others not. Unhappily for me, no ancient writer was considerate enough to spell out what I need to know.

But "never proven"? Hmmmm....Give me a few years and I'll let you know.

Cheers
mile:
Howard/SPC