Roman military ranks.

**Ciisar** · November 18, 2009, 12:49 PM

I need your help!
I need to know anything about Roman Military Ranks
Starting private, ending with generals,
How they called,what ranks and how many ranks exist?
Be good and help me.
I want to write one AAR!

All help is welcome.

**Fireright** · November 18, 2009, 01:00 PM

http://www.unrv.com/military/legion.php Job Done!!

**Xellos_Moon** · November 19, 2009, 04:19 AM

hmmn, i thought centurions commanded 100 men, since they are named "centurions"...Why 80?

**Ciisar** · November 19, 2009, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by Xellos_Moon

hmmn, i thought centurions commanded 100 men, since they are named "centurions"...Why 80?

Maybe it was simply shared. Even numbers of Centurions maybe. Roman military machine is the one big mystery for us.

**Visiar** · November 21, 2009, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Xellos_Moon

hmmn, i thought centurions commanded 100 men, since they are named "centurions"...Why 80?

I think that in the republic the centurions commanded 100 men, but the empire had the centurions command 80 men. 6 of these centuries made a cohort.http://www.caerleon.net/history/army/page4.html

**Ciisar** · November 22, 2009, 02:46 PM

This is Helpful page.

**HanatielHawk** · November 19, 2009, 01:03 PM

Centurion is hundredmen so indeed yes a centurion has control over 100 men.

**Doctor** · November 19, 2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by HanatielHawk

Centurion is hundredmen so indeed yes a centurion has control over 100 men.

It was 80 because a Centurion was commander of 10 Contuburnium of 8 men, but in most cases the amount of men was between 83 to 85 and had the capacity to go up to 100 men.

Originally Posted by Ciisar

Maybe it was simply shared. Even numbers of Centurions maybe. Roman military machine is the one big mystery for us.

Not really the Romans left extensive documents on how there military was structured.

**Jupiter Optimus Maximus** · November 19, 2009, 08:22 PM

It would seem obvious that a Century would be a hundred men, but every account I have read places it below. There are some great sources of info on this if you check out thread on suggested books.

**CaesarCS** · November 19, 2009, 09:19 PM

I believe that the century has 80 fighting men and 20 non-combatants- cooks, surgeons, etc.

I could be wrong though.

**Fireright** · November 20, 2009, 03:14 AM

There's plenty of information and good reading available on the internet. Been rummaging around Google...I learn something new every day!! Just discovered the origin of the word 'decimation'. Seems Roman military life was harsh and cowardice in battle would not be tolerated and punished severely.

If a legion showed no bottle in battle....10% of the guys were killed by their comrades...hence 'decimation'.

Live and learn eh?!

**Doctor** · November 20, 2009, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by Fireright

There's plenty of information and good reading available on the internet. Been rummaging around Google...I learn something new every day!! Just discovered the origin of the word 'decimation'. Seems Roman military life was harsh and cowardice in battle would not be tolerated and punished severely.

If a legion showed no bottle in battle....10% of the guys were killed by their comrades...hence 'decimation'.

Live and learn eh?!

Yah you now how people torture that word by using it in exchange for annihilation.