Roman Legion Camp on March

roman wargamer · March 26, 2007

note: all numbers are rounded to the nearest whole for easy understanding for non technical people

writer claim that a legion have 16,000 men of war or 1,600 men per cohors

a cohors have 16 centuria and 5 manipular acies lines.

( manipular acies line means have 3 ceturia, for example the Hastatus Manipular Acies line= have the

Hastatus Prior, Hastatus Posterior, and Anteadstatus )

time element: before and around Julius Caesar era

the camp form will be in perfect square for easy viewing and computation.

although terrain will normally prevent this, but size and distance is almost near the same.

____________________________________________________________________________________

The Camp Size are roughly around 450 meters width and 450 meters depth.

which have 25 square of = 90 meters width X 90 meters depth

._____.______.______.______.______.

. . . . . .

._____.______.______.______.______.

. . . . . .

._____._____._______.______.______.

. . . . . .

._____._____._______.______.______.

. . . . . .

._____._____._______.______.______.

. . . . . .

._____._____._______.______.______.

the inner camp was the 9 square inside the 25 square

___________________________________________________________________________________

i claim copyrighted on this work. Rad Dulay

i will explain other details on my next visit, please bear on my limted time.

Gaius Octavius · March 26, 2007

See:

http://www.unrv.com/military.php

and:

http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/legio.html

and: "The Making of the Roman Army - From Republic to Empire", Lawrence Keppie.

I don't believe that a legion was ever composed of 16,000 men, nor a cohort of 1,600 men. Perhaps the 'writer' is thinking about an army (more than one legion), and a detachment of cohorts (more than one cohort).

Edited March 26, 2007 by Gaius Octavius

caldrail · March 27, 2007

An official strength of 5400 men for legions up to Constantine, and around a 1000 thereafter. Not all legions were at full strength on the march, because of deaths, disease, injury, desertion, men on bodyguard duty, immunes, or even because they got seperated and lost. It does happen. On the other hand, civilian camp followers might account for an increase in numbers of around 20%, plus any slaves of the officers and men. Its entirely possible that a legion might be overstrength for some reason but 16,000? Thats an army of three legions, or two with plenty of auxilliaries by my estimate.

Gaius Paulinus Maximus · March 27, 2007

On my understanding a full strength legion in Republican times consisted of 4,200 men, each legion was split into ten cohorts each containing 420 men, in each cohort there was one maniple of 60 triari, one of 120 princips, one of 120 hastari and one of 120 velites.

In the Imperial era the nuber was raised to 6,000 men with 480 men per cohort, apart from the first cohort which had 960 men.

caldrail · March 28, 2007

Whatever the actual number in the organisation, the point is that no legion had 16000 on strength. Even then, on campaign a legion is likely to be short of the expected total for a number of reasons as I've mentioned.

roman wargamer · March 28, 2007

________________________________________________________________________________

The Camp Size are roughly around 450 meters width and 450 meters depth.

which have 25 square of = 90 meters width X 90 meters depth

the inner camp was the 9 square inside the 25 square

________________________________________________________________________________

Code Number of the Square for easy Location Identification

._________._________._________._________._________.

...........1...............2..............3................4...............5...........of A

._________._________._________._________._________.

...........1...............2..............3................4...............5...........of B

._________._________._________._________._________.

...........1...............2..............3................4...............5...........of C

._________._________._________._________._________.

...........1...............2..............3................4...............5...........of D

._________._________._________._________._________.

...........1...............2..............3................4...............5...........of E

._________._________._________._________._________.

The Intervallum Space

The following Square are an intervallum space from inner camp towards the rampart and ditch.

Square A1, A2, A3, A4, A5

Square B1, B5

Square C1, C5

Square D1, D5

Square E1, E2, E3, E4, E5

The Inner Camp Space

The following Square are the inner camp space inside the intervallum.

Square B2, B3, B4,

Square C2, C3, C4

Square D2, D3, D4

_______________________________________________________________________________

The Code Number Use in the Cohors Coding

1st Cohors was coded into 9

2nd Cohors was coded into 8

3rd Cohors was coded into 7

4th Cohors was coded into 6

5th Cohors was coded into 5

6th Cohors was coded into 4

7th Cohors was coded into 3

8th Cohors was coded into 2

9th Cohors was coded into 1

10th Cohors was coded into 10

________________________________________________________________________________

The Manipular Acies Line number and meaning shall be:

Hastatus Prior...................First Manipular Acies Line

Hastatus Posterior

AnteAdstatus

Princeps Prior...................Second Manipular Acies Line

Princeps Posterior

AntePrinceps

Cohors Equites Turmae

Signiferi Centuria

Triarius Prior....................Third Manipular Acies Line

Triarius Posterior

AnteTriarius

The Cursores Agmen line

First Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

Velitarius Prior..........medium infantry

Velitarius Posterior....medium infantry

AnteVelitarius...........light infantry

Second Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

Velitarius Prior.........medium infantry

Velitarius Posterior...medium infantry

AnteVelitarius...........light infantry

as i have pointed out... clearly there are 16 centuria lines in the cohors.

(i can not just remember in what Greek battle [book] a cohors military tribune

commanded his cohors 16 centuria lines against not yet form enemy phalanx formation )

but i am sure... many of you are aware of this story... unless you never read it yet.

________________________________________________________________________________

The following formation are of Marius time towards Caesar time.

if i will add the innovation done by Julius Caesar the formation and organization number will expand

roman wargamer · March 30, 2007

the inner camp was the 9 square inside the 25 square

The Visual Top View, Position and Formation of Legion inner emcampment

period was use to aide in placing the cohors code number in the right place.

._________._________._________._________._________.

............................................................................................

.............................................................................................

......................................,101010101......................................

......................................,101010101.....................................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.....................,111111111,333333333,222222222,..................

.....................,111...........,333333333,.............222,.................

.....................,111..................................,,........222,................

.....................,111....................................,,......222,................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.....................,777..........,999999999......,,......888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999........,,....888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999..........,,..888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999.........,,...888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999...........,,.888,.................

._________._________._________._________._________.

....................,,444.............................,,............555,.................

....................,,444...............................,,..........555,.................

....................,,444..........,666666666......,,......555,...................

...................,,444444444,666666666.555555555,....................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.............................................................................................

._________._________._________._________._________.

Edited March 30, 2007 by roman wargamer

Gaius Octavius · March 30, 2007

See below for layout of Camp:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/camp2.html

See below for numbers of men per legion at various times:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html

This site will give you a mine of information about the legion.

-------------------------

Not every army camp was for one legion. If two consuls were campaigning together, the camp might be for four legions plus the auxiliaries. Perhaps this is where you get the number '16,000' from.

Edited March 30, 2007 by Gaius Octavius

roman wargamer · March 31, 2007

See below for layout of Camp:
http://www.roman-empire.net/army/camp2.html

could you give to me the measurement of that camp layout... it is very small.

it will not be able to contain even a thousand men.

the inner camp was the 9 square inside the 25 square

Every Square are of = 90 meters width X 90 meters depth

As you all see there was an open field in the center like an 'O' ring or inner camp intervallum.

Each Cohors encampment occupied an area of around 60 meters depth X 90 meters width.

so each cohors still have an open empty space at their back use for forum or military review.

._________._________._________._________._________.

............................................................................................

.............................................................................................

......................................,101010101......................................

......................................,101010101.....................................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.....................,111111111,333333333,222222222,..................

.....................,111...........,333333333,.............222,.................

.....................,111..................................,,........222,................

.....................,111....................................,,......222,................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.....................,777..........,999999999......,,......888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999........,,....888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999..........,,..888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999.........,,...888,.................

.....................,777..........,999999999...........,,.888,.................

._________._________._________._________._________.

....................,,444.............................,,............555,.................

....................,,444...............................,,..........555,.................

....................,,444..........,666666666......,,......555,...................

...................,,444444444,666666666.555555555,....................

._________._________._________._________._________.

.............................................................................................

._________._________._________._________._________.

caldrail · April 2, 2007

Are you sure you have the right size for the tent? An eight man leather tent is a bulky item, none too light, and given how much work was necessary to keep it in good condition the romans wouldn't want it very large at all. These were men on the march and therefore roomy accomodation was not necessary. Bear in mind also that whilst camped not all soldiers slept in the tents due to guard duty amongst other things, so the others weren't always so cramped up together.

roman wargamer · April 3, 2007

explainatory note on coding system use

The Code Number Use in the Cohors Coding

10th Cohors was re-coded into 0 from previous 10

____________________________________________________________________________________

The Centuria Line number coding and meaning shall be:

The Cursores Agmen Column

First Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

a.AnteVelitarius...........light infantry

b.Velitarius Prior..........medium infantry

c.Velitarius Posterior....medium infantry

Second Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

d.AnteVelitarius...........light infantry

e.Velitarius Prior.........medium infantry

f.Velitarius Posterior...medium infantry

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Primary Agmen Colum

1.AnteAdstatus

2.Hastatus Prior...................First Manipular Acies Line

3.Hastatus Posterior

4.AntePrinceps

5.Princeps Prior...................Second Manipular Acies Line

6.Princeps Posterior

E.Cohors Equites Turmae

0.Signiferi Centuria

7.AnteTriarius

8.Triarius Prior....................Third Manipular Acies Line

9.Triarius Posterior

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Contubernia number coding and meaning shall be:

.....1.............3..............2...............7.............9.............8.......

[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/...[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/...[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/...

(for the error in positioning that i can not correct regardless of what i do)

......4..............6.............5.........

.[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/..[]/.[]/.[]/...

( i notice the right place and number is in error in preview post so i add this to highlight things)

The Centuria was divided into 3 section name contutriplia which have 3 contubernia.

Each contubernia is under the direct command of infantry decurion.

contubernia 1, 3, 2 group as 1 contutriplia is under the direct command of triplicarius.

contubernia 4, 6, 5 group as 2 contutriplia is under the direct command of duplicarius.

contubernia 7, 9, 8 group as 3 contutriplia is under the direct command of optio.

the single whole centuria is under the direct command of centurio.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

example of reading a code system:

ex: 321 shall be read as 3rd Cohors of the 2nd Ceturia of the 1st Contubernia

location first agmen, first manipular acies line and the most left end position contubernia.

ex: 765 shall be read as 6th Cohors of the 7th Ceturia of the 5th Contubernia

location third agmen, second manipular acies line and the most right end position contubernia.

ex: 999 shall be read as 9th Cohors of the 0th Ceturia of the 8th Contubernia

location third agmen, third manipular acies line and the most center position contubernia.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

i will try to position the individual encampment of the contubernia, centuria and cohors.

Edited April 4, 2007 by roman wargamer

roman wargamer · April 4, 2007

more explainatory note on:

The Centuria was divided into 3 section name contutriplia [platoon] which have 3 contubernia.

Each contubernia is under the direct command of infantry decurion.

contubernia 1, 3, 2 group as 1 contutriplia is under the direct command of triplicarius.

triplicarius hold the left flank position contutriplia [platoon] of the centuria.

contubernia 4, 6, 5 group as 2 contutriplia is under the direct command of duplicarius.

duplicarius hold the right flank position contutriplia [platoon] of the centuria.

contubernia 7, 9, 8 group as 3 contutriplia is under the direct command of optio.

optio. hold the center main position contutriplia [platoon] of the centuria.

the single whole centuria is under the direct command of centurio.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

typographical error and additional explainatory note on:

example of reading a code system:

ex: 321 shall be read as 3rd Cohors of the 2nd Ceturia of the 1st Contubernia

location first agmen, first manipular acies line and the most left end position contubernia.

2 here means the Hastatus Prior centuria.

ex: 765 shall be read as 6th Cohors of the 7th Ceturia of the 5th Contubernia

location third agmen, second manipular acies line and the most right end position contubernia.

6 here means the Princeps Posterior centuria.

ex: 999 shall be read as 9th Cohors of the 9th Ceturia of the 9th Contubernia

location third agmen, third manipular acies line and the most center position contubernia.

9 here means the Triarius Posterior centuria.

roman wargamer · April 8, 2007

who's who of the cohort that command every centuria line

The Centuria Line was commanded by the following Centurio Officer

The Cursores Agmen Column

First Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

centuria deputatus

a.AnteVelitarius...........light infantry........centuria ordinarius velitarius

b.Velitarius Prior..........medium infantry...centurio ordinarius prior

c.Velitarius Posterior....medium infantry...centurio ordinarius posterior

Second Manipular Acies Line of the Cursores Agmen

centuria deputatus

d.AnteVelitarius...........light infantry........centuria ordinarius velitarius

e.Velitarius Prior.........medium infantry...centurio ordinarius prior

f.Velitarius Posterior...medium infantry...centurio ordinarius posterior

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Primary Agmen Column

First Manipular Acies Line

centurio legionarius alti ordinis hastatus

1.Antepilanus Adstatus........centurio legionarius supernumerarius

3.Hastatus Prior..................centurio legionarius prior

2.Hastatus Posterior............centurio legionarius posterior

Second Manipular Acies Line

centurio legionarius alti ordinis princeps

4.Antepilanus Princeps.........centurio legionarius supernumerarius

6.Princeps Prior...................centurio legionarius prior

5.Princeps Posterior.............centurio legionarius posterior

cohors tribuni angusticlavii commanded the whole cohort

E.Cohors Equites Turmae

0.Signiferi Centuria

Third Manipular Acies Line

centurio legionarius alti ordinis triarius

7.Antepilanus Triarius..........centurio legionarius supernumerarius

9.Triarius Prior....................centurio legionarius prior

8.Triarius Posterior..............centurio legionarius posterior

_______________________________________________________________________________

erratum:

some typographical placement error on centuria code numbering, please take note.

roman wargamer · April 10, 2007

The Camp Size are roughly around 450 meters width and 450 meters depth.

which have 25 square of = 90 meters width X 90 meters depth

the inner camp was the 9 square inside the 25 square

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The encampment of individual contubernia, centuria, manipular acies, and cohors.

team(team)

[]. the figure contain 3 men in a tent. = 3 men

measurement and distance 2 meter depth X 3 meter width

contubernia(squad)

[].[].[]..this figure contain 3 men in each tent of 3 tent.= 9 men

measurement and distance 2 meter depth X( 3 meter X 3 meter width.) 3 X 10 meters

plus i meter side pathway.

contutriplia(platoon)

[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...this figure contain 3 men in each tent of 9 tent.= 27 men

measurement and distance 2 meter depth X( 3 X 10 meter width.) 3 X 30 meters

plus i meter side pathway.

centuria(company)

[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...

this figure contain 3 men in each tent of 27 tent.= 81 men

measurement and distance 2 meter depth X( 3 X 30 meter width.) 3 X 90 meters

plus i meter side pathway.

so, as the figure representation shows that a centuria encampment occupies a 3 X 90 meters

_____________________________________________________________________________________

so each manipular acies line encampment occupies a 12 X 90 meters area.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

w[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...

w--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

w[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...

w--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

w[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]..[].[].[]...

w--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2 meter open space

w

the 2 meter horizontal open space are use as pathway and bonfire area for cooking food

so each cohors encampment occupies roughly around 60 X 90 meters land area.

of the cohors square of = 90 meters width X 90 meters depth.

with still an open vacant space at thier back of around 30 X 90 meters land area.

roman wargamer · April 12, 2007

Visual Top View of the Cohors Encampment

1st Cohors on Square B2

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwgwwwwwwww

w.[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[].......w

w-----------------------------------------------------------------------------w

w.[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[].......w

g===================================g

w.[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[]...[].[].[]..[].[].[].......w

w-----------------------------------------------------------------------------w

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwgwwwwwwww

[] stands for 5 centuria acies line.

g stands for the cohors gate.

w [means cervus] stands for the cohors fence made of wooden fence stakes.

- stands for the cohors open space use as pathway or bonfire area

= stands for the cohors open space use as cohors equites road way

there was a open space use as pathway between contubernia as wide as two meter.

there was a open space use as pathway between contutriplia as wide as three meter.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Intervallum Space

The following Square are an intervallum space from inner camp towards the rampart and ditch.

Square A1, A2, A3, A4, A5

Square B1, B5

Square C1, C5

Square D1, D5

Square E1, E2, E3, E4, E5

The Inner Camp Space

The following Square are the inner camp space inside the intervallum.

Square B2, B3, B4,

Square C2, C3, C4

Square D2, D3, D4

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

please take note that encampment figure do not continues to fully complement actual visual view.

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Roman Legion Camp on March

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