Centuria

• In the Roman Army the Century consisted of 80-100 men commanded by a Centurion.

The Century

• There were 59 Centuries in each Legion. 6 in each Cohort, but only 5 in the First Cohort.
• It was the next division up from the 8 man Contubernium.
• The Century consisted of 10 Contubernium of 80-100 men, commanded by a Centurion.
• Each Century had one piece of Artillery, the Scorpio, later replaced by the Cheiroballistra.

The Structure of the Legion

• Legio: (Legion)
  • 10 Cohorts of 4,800 men, (excluding officers) plus one Cavalry Unit of 120 men. Commanded by a Legatus Legionis or a Legatus Augusti pro praetor.
• Cohors: (Cohort)
  • 6 Centuries of 480 men (excluding officers) commanded by a senior Centurion.
  • Cohors Prima (First Cohort)
    • 5 double strength Centuria of 800 men, commanded by the Primus Pilus
• Centuria: (Century)
  • 10 Contubernium of 80-100 men commanded by the Centurion.
• Contubernium: (Tent group)
  • 8 men commanded by the Decanus.

• Vexillatio: Varied from 80 to 1,000 men.
  • This was a temporary unit, but consisting of a formally constituted Force, taken from the Legion.
  • it was commanded either by a military Tribune or a senior Centurion.