When in Rome... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

thejoker130 · 10-30-2003, 08:52 AM

A typical roman legion had 4,200 men in it, but I can't find anywhere how many legions the Roman army had. Anybody know?

amonkie · 10-30-2003, 03:43 PM

http://pub45.ezboard.com/fromanarmyt...picID=52.topic

About halfway down the page, there's a comment about there being 300,000-500,000 men total in the Roman army. So at the highest, 500,000/4200 = approximately 120 or so legions.

Mephisto2 · 11-03-2003, 08:45 PM

The number of legions in the Roman army changed all the time.

At the start of the Second Punic War (218-202BC) for example, there were 6 legions.

After the complete defeat of the Romans at the Battle of Cannae in 216BC, the gates of Rome were open. Hannibal refused to follow up and Rome desperately began a recruitment program. Within a couple of years there were 25 legions.

In 27BC when Octavian took the name Augustus and became the first Roman Emperor he later reduced the number of legions from 50 to 25.

In other words, the number changed depending upon circumstances. Legions were destroyed, like the three under Varro in the Teutoberg Forests, or disbanded like those who fought badly during the Punic Wars and sent to Sicily. Legions were also raised in times of crisis or civil war.

It should also be noted that the actual number of men in a legion also changed overtime. The Marian reforms during the Republican Civil Wars also had an effect.

Let me know if you would like more details or links posted.

Mr Mephisto

thejoker130 · 11-05-2003, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Mephisto

Let me know if you would like more details or links posted.

Mr Mephisto

Yes please. and thanks. Rome has always been an interest to me but i can never find good info.

Mephisto2 · 11-05-2003, 11:50 PM

Try any of the following sites:

Roman Army Page: http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/legio.html
Roman Arms & Armour: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nantiq/arma/
Hannibal & the 2nd Punic War (excellent): http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/home.htm
Roman Army: http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html
Roman Army bulletin board (like TFP): http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk
Roman army details, battles etc (excellent but some dead links): http://webpages.charter.net/brueggeman/

Hope this helps mate. If you want some book titles let me know.

Mr Mephisto

thejoker130 · 11-06-2003, 05:22 AM

Coolness, this stuff is really good. Many thanks.

irateplatypus · 11-13-2003, 10:29 PM

wow mephisto, i'm decent w/history... but that some i've never heard before. impressive. did that come from the top of your head?

10-30-2003, 08:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
thejoker130 Insane Location: slippery rock university AKA: The left ass cheek of the world	When in Rome... A typical roman legion had 4,200 men in it, but I can't find anywhere how many legions the Roman army had. Anybody know? __________________ WHAT MORE CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? ------------------------------------- I like you. When the world is mine your death will be quick and painless.

10-30-2003, 03:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	http://pub45.ezboard.com/fromanarmyt...picID=52.topic About halfway down the page, there's a comment about there being 300,000-500,000 men total in the Roman army. So at the highest, 500,000/4200 = approximately 120 or so legions. __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

11-06-2003, 05:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
thejoker130 Insane Location: slippery rock university AKA: The left ass cheek of the world	Coolness, this stuff is really good. Many thanks. __________________ WHAT MORE CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN? ------------------------------------- I like you. When the world is mine your death will be quick and painless.

11-13-2003, 10:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	wow mephisto, i'm decent w/history... but that some i've never heard before. impressive. did that come from the top of your head? __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

11-03-2003, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	The number of legions in the Roman army changed all the time. At the start of the Second Punic War (218-202BC) for example, there were 6 legions. After the complete defeat of the Romans at the Battle of Cannae in 216BC, the gates of Rome were open. Hannibal refused to follow up and Rome desperately began a recruitment program. Within a couple of years there were 25 legions. In 27BC when Octavian took the name Augustus and became the first Roman Emperor he later reduced the number of legions from 50 to 25. In other words, the number changed depending upon circumstances. Legions were destroyed, like the three under Varro in the Teutoberg Forests, or disbanded like those who fought badly during the Punic Wars and sent to Sicily. Legions were also raised in times of crisis or civil war. It should also be noted that the actual number of men in a legion also changed overtime. The Marian reforms during the Republican Civil Wars also had an effect. Let me know if you would like more details or links posted. Mr Mephisto

11-05-2003, 11:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Try any of the following sites: Roman Army Page: http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/legio.html Roman Arms & Armour: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nantiq/arma/ Hannibal & the 2nd Punic War (excellent): http://www.barca.fsnet.co.uk/home.htm Roman Army: http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html Roman Army bulletin board (like TFP): http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk Roman army details, battles etc (excellent but some dead links): http://webpages.charter.net/brueggeman/ Hope this helps mate. If you want some book titles let me know. Mr Mephisto