01-15-2005, 05:46 AM
I have heard many different ideas ranging from 800 to 30000. Which one is correct? <p></p><i></i>
What is the real number of men in a legion?
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01-15-2005, 05:46 AM
I have heard many different ideas ranging from 800 to 30000. Which one is correct? <p></p><i></i>
01-15-2005, 09:02 AM
The number does indeed vary for period and the academic you ask the question. For the early empire, you'll usually find the following numbers:<br>
60 centuries of 80 men: 4800<br> (or: 54 centuries of 80 men, 5 centuries of 160 men for a double strength first cohort: 5120)<br> Legionary equites: 120 men<br> Mule-handlers, slaves and other various troops: several hundred.<br> The total would in theory be between 5000 en 5500. However, it is well known that most units were often below (and sometimes above) paper strength. <p>Greets<br> <br> Jasper</p><i></i>
01-15-2005, 07:27 PM
Jasper,<br>
<br> Thank you for submitting your answer. I had no idea the numbers varied from age to age. None of the books I've ever read said that. They all just gave one base number and that was that.<br> <br> Thanks,<br> <br> P.G.<br> <p></p><i></i>
01-18-2005, 12:02 AM
Numbers in Republican times are different again about 120 per manipel and 60 for a triarii manipel up to 160 to 80 while this may vary as well.<br>
<br> In late antiquity the troops which were still called legions had about half the strenght of the numbers Jasper gave.<br> <br> Dunno where you heard 30.000 but that's way too much. <p></p><i></i>
RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS ET ROMANAE RELIGIONIS
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM [Micha F.]
01-18-2005, 08:10 AM
remember that legions in real life often had less troops their theoretical strength. If i remember correctly the famous 10th legion of Caesar for example only had about 1000 men in the end. <p>-------------------------------------------------------<br>
A great flame follows a little spark.<br> Dante Alighieri,The Divine Comedy<br> </p><i></i>
gr,
Jeroen Pelgrom Rules for Posting I would rather have fire storms of atmospheres than this cruel descent from a thousand years of dreams.
01-18-2005, 03:01 PM
yes. The question is when they were refilled. Caesar obviously did not refill his legions all the time. I'm sure that was different during the imperial period: whether refillment or combining legions (gemina) at a time.<br>
<br> I'd say unterstrenght is "standard" and full or overstrenght only for wars and such. <p></p><i></i>
RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS ET ROMANAE RELIGIONIS
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM [Micha F.]
01-19-2005, 12:56 PM
30.000? Wow.<br>
But after Theodosius, a legion varied from 1000 at most to under 500, although there is some speculation involved in these numbers. <p>Valete,<br> Valerius/Robert<br> [url=http://www.fectio.org.uk/" target="top]fectienses seniores[/url]</p><i></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR FECTIO Late Romans THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST (Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12) |
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