Cohort is ... The Roman cohort is an important part of the army of Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome is one of the most powerful and influential empires of the past centuries. One of the decisive factors of her power was the presence of a well-trained disciplined army, which at that time represented a significant military force. The army of Ancient Rome had a clear structural organization. An important place in it was occupied by a cohort. It was one of the main parts of the army.

The history of the Roman army

At first the organization of the military forces was quite simple. At the beginning of its existence, Rome did not have a standing army. If war broke out, all citizens who had reached the age of 18 had to take part in it. Everyone had to arm themselves according to their property qualifications.

Rome actively waged wars, expanding its borders, and this affected the changes in the army. In the year 405 BC. E. In it there were the first volunteers receiving a salary.

The Roman army grew, and by the III century BC. E. Consisted of 20 legions. It was replenished not only at the expense of volunteers. Gradually, legions appear from the allies of Rome and the conquered provinces. Over time, the property qualification associated with the compulsory participation of Roman citizens in the war is also declining.

Military reforms Guy Maria

The frequent and protracted military conflicts in which Rome participated, led to outrage among the peasants. They were permanently cut off from their farms. The reform of the army is over. It was held in 107 BC. E. Roman consul and commander Gaius Marius. His main merit was that now people who do not own land were called to the Roman army. Hoping to obtain a higher social status during the service, a large number of people wishing to become soldiers were found among the poor. They were enlisted in the army for 25 years. Now the legionaries received part of the captured booty and land allotments in the conquered territories in Gaul, Italy or Africa. Educated soldiers, who at least can read, had good chances to move up the career ladder.

Legion, cohort, order and battle formation of the army of Rome

The structure of the army almost did not change for centuries. His center was made up of legions. At different times their number was different - from 20 to 30. They were commanded by tribunes. In the same legion, there were 10 cohorts. The number of each is 480 people. In turn, the cohort consisted of three maniples.

The total number of the legion included from five to six thousand infantrymen and 300 horsemen, and the army could number up to 350,000 men during the war.

By the II century BC. E. The Roman army became a professional, disciplined military force, with a well-trained command structure and headed by talented generals.

What military order was used in the Roman army? A significant role here played a cohort. This is a detachment that was one-tenth of the Roman legion. During the battle legions were built in three or four lines. The first usually consisted of four cohorts, the second, the third and the fourth - out of three. Caesar preferred to build an army in three lines. The soldiers of the cohort stood tightly closed. First, the support of nearby soldiers was felt so. Secondly, such a system was more difficult to break through the enemy's army. In the event of a gap in the first row, it could quickly fill the soldiers of the second line. Thus, the cohort is the main tactical unit of the Roman army. The position of the legion in battle depended on how hard and courageous it would be to fight.

The Roman cohort is the basis of the legion

Commanded this detachment of the Roman army one of the senior or higher centurions. Usually they were descendants of soldiers who distinguished themselves with resourcefulness, ingenuity and courage. If we draw an analogy with the modern army, then by function and position they were approaching the junior command staff.

Cohort is a military unit in the army of Ancient Rome. But there were other kinds of it. There were auxiliary cavalry and reconnaissance units, a cohort consisting of former sailors (something like the modern marines), and also a squad of city guards (cohors urbana), which was created to deal with criminals.