02-14-2016, 01:35 AM
For the year 54 AD, Tacitus (Annals 14 26) mentions that a Roman garrison consisted of 1,000 legionaries, three allied cohorts, and two squadrons of cavalry.
Tacitus (The Annals 15 10) reports that the Roman commander Corbulo ordered 1,000 men from each of his three legions to be in instant readiness.
Suetonius (Life of Vespasian 6 2) writes that 2,000 soldiers were taken from three legions stationed in Moesia and sent to help the Roman commander Otho. In this incident it could be that men were taken from the three legions to form two vexillations each of 1,000 men.
The inscription to Pontius Sabinus (CIL 10, 5829) mentions vexillations sent on an expedition to Britain amounting to three thousand men taken from three legions VII Gemina, VIII Augusta and XXII Primigenia.
A mathematical pattern in divisions of 1,000 men emerges.
Tacitus (The Annals 15 10) reports that the Roman commander Corbulo ordered 1,000 men from each of his three legions to be in instant readiness.
Suetonius (Life of Vespasian 6 2) writes that 2,000 soldiers were taken from three legions stationed in Moesia and sent to help the Roman commander Otho. In this incident it could be that men were taken from the three legions to form two vexillations each of 1,000 men.
The inscription to Pontius Sabinus (CIL 10, 5829) mentions vexillations sent on an expedition to Britain amounting to three thousand men taken from three legions VII Gemina, VIII Augusta and XXII Primigenia.
A mathematical pattern in divisions of 1,000 men emerges.
