| General | Organization Legion Auxiliary troops |
Equipment Legion Auxiliary troops |
Garrison Legion Auxiliary troops |
Fort |
Information about the Roman army
(In brackets are listened in some cases numbers, this is the source. A click on this number will show the exact source.)
General [Top]
The roman army was permanent modified. The following organization corresponds therefore only to the most important stages. Furthermore the listing begins approximately in the 4th century BC.
All details are not listened. The arming and organization of special units is not mentioned.
From the late first century BC up to the 3rd century AD was distinguished between legions and auxiliary units. At this time there were approx. 30 legions. Including auxiliary troops the army had approx. 300'000 to 400'000 men (9).
Organization of the legion to the 1st century BC [Top]
| What | Number | Remark |
| Strength | 4200 infantry soldiers 300 rider |
|
| Organization: 3 lines (3) - hastati (youngest soldiers) - principes (soldiers from end twenty up to begin thirty) - triarii (older veterans) Per line 10 manipel (4) 1 manipel = 2 centuries (5) |
120 - 160 men (4) 60 men at the triarii (4) |
|
| Additional: | ||
| Cavalry, subdivided in 10 turmae (6) Light infantry (5) |
300 rider 30 men per turmae 1200 soldiers (Velites) |
|
| Ranks: Centurion Optio Signifer |
Commander of a centuria Deputy commander Carrier of the legion standard |
|
| Further: Signum (5) |
Standard of the centuria |
Organization of the legion from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD [Top]
| What | Number | Remark |
| Strength | 6'400 men (1) | |
| Organization: 10 cohorts 1 cohort = 3 manipel 1 manipel = 2 centuriae Exception: 1st cohort with 5 double centuriae (2) |
600 men = 1 cohort (1) 200 men = 1 manipel (1) 100 men = 1 centuria (1) |
80 men of the centuria where on duty for the battle. The rest of the men had duties in administration and supply. |
| Additional: | ||
| Cavalry subdivided in 4 turmae (8) |
120 men (2) | They served as messengers and scout |
| Vexilia veteranorum (veterans) | 500 men (2) | Reserve for emergency |
| Ranks: - Legatus legionis (Legion commander) (7) - 1 Tribunus laticlavius (9) - 1 fort prefect - 5 Tribuni augusticlavii - 59 Centuriones Rank position of subaltern officers: Primipiles (high ranked centuriones and fort prefect) (9) |
The Tribunus laticlavius was approx. 20 years old and planned as senator. The other Tribuni were knights (9) | |
| Further: Service time: 20 - 25 years (9) Pay: 225 denari (9) Legal position: roman civil rights, not allowed to marry (9) |
The pay was increased later repeatedly (9) |
Organization of the legion from the 3rd century AD [Top]
| What | Number | Remark |
| Subdivided in: (10) | ||
| Limitanei (boundary army) | Unknown | |
| Comitatenses (field
army) Organization: (13) - Palatini (upper level) - Comitatenses (lower level) |
Unknown - At AD 350 3 field armies (Gallia, Illyrian, east) (12) - End of the 4th century supplementary smaller field armies in Africa, Britannia, Spain, upper- und lower course of the Danube (12) |
|
| Ranks: Limitanei: - Duces limites (officers) (11) Comitatenses: - Magister equitum and Magister peditum (supreme commanders) (12) - Comites (commanders of smaller units) (12) |
Equipment of the legionnaire to the 1st century BC [Top]
There are pictures to following pictures (click on the item):
- Centurion
- Legionnaire
| what | Remark |
| -
bronze helmet - half cylindrical plywood shield - prosperous soldiers: armor or scale armor, other: bronze sheet - sword (gladius hispaniensis) - Hastati/Prinicipies: pilum (spear) - Triarii: Hoplite spear (3), (4) Cavalry: (6) - round shield - helmet - armor - sword - one or several spears Light infantry: (5) - small round shield - bundle of light spears |
Every solder had obviously 2 pila (4) |
Equipment of the legionnaire from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD [Top]
| What | Remark |
| Infantry: - Gladius (sword) (14) - Balteus (shoulder strap for the sword) (14) - Pugio (dagger) (15) - Cingulum (hip strap) (14) with genitals protection (19) - several pilum (rod weapon) (16) - Galea or cassis (helmet) (17) - Centurio: crista transversa (helmet crest) (17) - Mail shirt (Lorcia hamata) (18), scale armor (Lorica squamata), stripe armor (lorica segmentata = modern coinage) (19) - Ocreae (splint, normally only for centurions) (19) - Scutum (shield), half cylindrical (20) |
|
| Deviation cavalry: - Hasta (throw- and thrust-weapon) - Spatha (cut sword) (14) - several throw spears (16) - Scutum (shield), oval or obtuse oval (20) |
|
| Uniform: - Subligar (wrapped loin cloth) (20) - Tunika (20) - Paenula (cloak), sagum (coat) (20), Paludamentum (red rectangular officer coat) (21) - Femoralia (calf less trousers), braccae (long pant with feet), just later (21) - Caliga (soldiers' shoes), calceus (compact leather shoes for officers) (21) - Focale (scarf) (21) |
|
| Badge of rank: - Vitis (centurion: stick of the wood of the vine) (22) - Hastile (optio: stick with pommel) (23) |
Equipment of the legionnaire from the 3rd century AD [Top]
| What | Remark |
| Infantry: - Spatha (cut sword) (14) - Rod weapon(15) - Cassis (helmet) (17) - Lorica hamata (mail shirt) (18) - Scutum (shield), medium-sized, oval, later round (20) |
|
| Uniform: - Subligar (wrapped loin cloth) (20) - Tunika (20) - Sagum (coat) (20), Paludamentum (red rectangular officer coat) (21) - braccae (long pant with feet) (21) - Carbatinae? (soldier shoes), Calceus (compact leather shoes for officers) (21) - Focale (scarf) (21) - Pilleus Pannonicus (fur cap) (24) |
Legions and their garrisons [Top]
Although I did not find any direct reference in the literature up to now, it seems like this, as the numbers of the legions were used repeatedly. The epithet was obvious a firm component of the number. The Legio II Italica is mentioned as garrisoned in Lauriacum after the Marcommani wars (presumably around AD 190)(25). Around AD 202 Septimius Severus returned with the Legio II Adiutrix to Aquincum (36). It would be possible indeed that the same legion was two-part at different places. In both sources this is not mentioned however. Furthermore is mentioned, that the Legio II Italica was setup AD 165/166(25). In Aquincum it is mentioned however already 70 years earlier (35).
| Number | Epithet | Levy | Garrison | Remark |
| Legio I | Adiutrix (33) | Brigetio (AD 214) (36) | ||
| Martia (34) | Castrum Rauracense (after 300) | |||
| Legio II | Adiutrix | Acuincum (AD 89) (35) | ||
| Pia Italica Pia (25) |
165/166 n.Chr. (25) | Albing Lauricacum, after the Marcomanni wars (26) |
In the 4th century parts were detached in the mobile army. The rest was moved to forts in bank Noricum. (25) | |
| Legio III | Italica | AD 165/166 (25) | ||
| Legio V | Gemina pia fidelis | Vindobona (AD 114) (30) | ||
| Legio XI | Vindonissa (AD 70
to 101) (32) From 101 on the Danube front (32) |
|||
| Legio VII | Gemina Felix (33) | |||
| Legio XIII | Vindonissa (AD 16/17
to 45) Vindobona (AD 98 to 101) (29) |
|||
| Legio XIV | Gemina Martia Victrix (30) | Vindobona (AD 107
to 114) (30) Carnuntum (begin of the 2nd century AD) (27) |
||
| Legio XV | Apollinaris | Carnuntum (middle 1st century AD to the begin of the 2nd centruy) (27) | ||
| Legio XXI | Vindonissa (AD 45 to 69) (31) |
Organization of the auxiliary troops
Organization of the cohors [Top]
The cohors is a auxiliary unit of infantry
| What | Number | Remark |
| Strength Divided in centuriae (9) |
500 or 1'000 men (39) | |
| Ranks: Praefectus (commander) (37) Centurion (39) |
||
| Service time: 20 years, the last 5 years as veteran with easier jobs (38) | Other sources mention at least 25 years (9) | |
| Further: The soldiers of auxiliary troops had usually none roman civil right (peregrini (released or friendly)). (9) At the end of the service time they received the roman civil right (38) Pay: 75 Denari (9) |
The pay was increased later repeatedly (9) |
Organization of the ala [Top]
The ala is a auxiliary unit of cavalry
| What | Number | Remark |
| Divided in turmae | 1 Turma = 30 men (39) | |
| Ranks: Praefectus (commander) (37) Decurion (commander of a Turma) (39) |
||
| Service time: 20 years, the last 5 years as veteran with easier jobs (38) | Other sources mention at least 25 years (9) | |
| Further: The soldiers of auxiliary troops had usually none roman civil right (peregrini (released or friendly)). (9) At the end of the service time they received the roman civil right (38) Pay: 75 Denari (9) |
The pay was increased later repeatedly (9) |
Organization of the cohors equitata [Top]
The cohors equitata is a auxiliary unit of infantry and cavalry
| What | Number | Remark |
| The ratio from infantry to cavalry was 4 to 1.
(38) Other sourced mention 6 centuria und 4 turmae (600 to 120 men) (39) |
||
| Service time: 20 years, the last 5 years as veteran with easier jobs (38) | Other sources mention at least 25 years (9) | |
| Further: The soldiers of auxiliary troops had usually none roman civil right (peregrini (released or friendly)). (9) At the end of the service time they received the roman civil right (38) Pay: 75 Denari (9) |
The pay was increased later repeatedly (9) |
Equipment of the auxiliary troops [Top]
There are pictures to following pictures (click on the item):
- Auxiliar Soldat
| What | Remark |
| Infantry: - Gladius (shword) (14) - Balteus (shoulder strap for the sword) (14) - Pugio (dagger) (15) - Cingulum (hip strap) (14) with genitals protection (19) - Hasta (lance) or iacula (spear) (16) - Galea (helment) (17) - Centurio: crista transversa (helmet crest) (17) - Mail shirt (lorcia hamata) (18), scale armor (lorica squamata), stripe armor (lorica segmentata = modern coinage) (19) - Ocreae (splint, normally only for centurions) (19) - Scutum (shield), flat rectangular, oval (20) |
|
| Deviation cavalry: - Spatha (cut sword) (14) - Several throw spears (16) |
|
| Uniform: - Subligar (wrapped loin cloth) (20) - Tunika (20) - Paenula (cloak), Sagum (coat) (20), Paludamentum (red rectangular officer coat) (21) - Femoralia (calf less trousers), braccae (long pant with feet), just later (21) - Caliga (soldiers' shoes), calceus (compact leather shoes for officers) (21) - Focale (scarf) (21) |
|
| Badge of rank: - Vitis (centurion: stick of the wood of the vine) (22) - Hastile (optio: stick with pommel) (23) |
Auxiliary troops and their garrisons [Top]
| Name | Levy | Garrison | Remark |
| Ala I Britannica (Also: Ala I Falvia Augusta Britannica milliaria civium Romanorum bis troquata) (29) |
AD 43 to 68 in Britannia circa AD 70 to 98 Vindobona (Vienna) (28) |
Can be proved to the 3rd century in lower Pannonia | |
| Ala I Hispanorum | Aquincum (AD 50 to 69) (35) | ||
| Ala I Hispanorum Auriana | Aquincum (AD 70 to 90) (35) | ||
| Ala I Tongrorum Frontoniana | Aquincum (AD 73 to 80) (35) |
Design of a fort [Top]
If the porta praetoria was always on the side of the enemy, the translation of the the gates is only right if the enemy was in the north.
| What | Remark |
| Porta praetoria (north gate, enemy side) (40) | |
| Porta decumana (south gate) (41) | |
| Porta principalis dextra (east gate) (41) | |
| Porta principalis sinistra (west gate) (41) | |
| Retentura (bigger south part) (42) | |
| Praetentura (smaller north part) (42) | |
| Via preatoria (way from the porta praetoria to the principia) (40) | |
| Via decumana (way from the porta decumana to the principia) (45) | |
| Via principalis (way from the porta principalis sinistra to the porta principalis dextra) (42) | |
| Principia (administration building, staff building) (43) | |
| Praetorium (residence of the camp commander) (44) | |
| Aedes (color sanctuary) (47) | |
| Armamentaria (weapon chamber) (48) | |
| Scamnum tribunorum (residence of the tribunes, tribunes row) (44) | |
| Contubernium (sleep room for 8 to 10 men in the barrack) (45) | Per barrack had 200 men place(45). In that case existed 20 contubernia. 10 on every side. Die centurions had a room on the end of the barrack. The size of a contuberina was circa 10 m2 (45). |
| Valetudinarium (hospital) (45) | |
| Horreum (granary) (46) | |
| Balineum (bath building) (48) | |
| Prata legionis, territorium, legionis, intra leugam (territory around the camp, which belonged to it) (50) | Terrain within 2,22 km (one Gallic leuga) form the survey middle point of the camp. (50) |
| Canabae (settlement around the legion camp) (49) |
Source:
(1) Das römische Wien, page 97
(2) Das römische Wien, page 99
(3) Die Kriege der Römer, page 43
(4) Die Kriege der Römer, page 44
(5) Die Kriege der Römer, page 45
(6) Die Kriege der Römer, page 42
(7) Der Römische Limes in Österreich, page
79
(8) Illustrated chart at the amphitheater I in Carnuntum
(9) Illustrated chart of an exhibition in Aventicum
(10) Die Kriege der Römer, page 169
(11) Die Kriege der Römer, page 171
(12) Die Kriege der Römer, page 174
(13) Die Kriege der Römer, page 176
(14) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 82
(15) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 83
(16) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 84
(17) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 85
(18) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 86
(19) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 87
(20) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 88
(21) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 89
(22) Die Kriege der Römer, page 111
(23) Die Kriege der Römer, page 47
(24) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 90
(25) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 188
(26) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 190
(27) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 258
(28) Das römische Wien, page 41
(29) Das römische Wien, page 42
(30) Das römische Wien, page 43
(31) Die Römer in der Schweiz, page
540
(32) Die Römer in der Schweiz, page
542
(33) Römerstädte in neuen Licht, page 45
(34) Römerstädte in neuem Licht, page 47
(35) Römerstädte in neuem Licht, page 51
(36) Römerstädte in neuem Licht, page 53
(37) Die Kriege der Römer, page 118
(38) Die Kriege der Römer, page 120
(39) Segedunum, page 60
(40) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 47
(41) Das römische Wien, page 46
(42) Das römische Wien, page 47
(43) Das römische Wien, page 48
(44) Das römische Wien, page 49
(45) Das römische Wien, page 51
(46) Das römische Wien, page 53
(47) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 49
(48) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 51
(49) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 60
(50) Der römische Limes in Österreich,
page 61
Details of the books:
- Das römische Wien, ISBN
3-85058-145-4, edition 1997
- Die Kriege der Römer, ISBN 3-89488-136-4, edition 2000
- Der Römische Limes in Österreich, ISBN 3-7001-2618-2,
edition 1997
- Die Römer in der Schweiz, ISBN 3-8062-0420-9, edition
1988
- Römerstädte in neuem Licht - Das Leben in Augusta Raurica
und Aquincum, ISBN 3-7965-1040-X, edition 1997
- Segedunum, Roman Fort, Baths & Museum, ISBN 0 905974
74 3, edition 2000
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