Vexillatio

• In the Roman Legion, a Vexillatio was a temporary unit taken from the Legion, but consisting of a formally constituted independent force under its own Commander.
• A ‘Vexillatio’ might consist of 100 soldiers or up to 1,000 soldiers, being 2 Cohorts from the Legion.

Description

• The vexillatio could be as large as 1,000 men or 2 cohorts or it could be as small as 80 men or one century.
• It operated under its own Commander, who would be a Military Tribune or Senior Centurion, and it had its own Standard (Vexillum).

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.
• Centuria: (Century)
  • 10 Contubernium of 80-100 men commanded by the Centurion.
• Contubernium: (Tent group)
  • 8 men, the smallest division of the Legion, commanded by the Decanus.