Legion

(Lat. legio ). A corps of soldiers in the Roman armies, first formed by Romulus, about 750 B.C. , when it consisted of 3000 foot and 300 horse. When Hannibal was in Italy, 216 B.C. , the legion consisted of 5200 soldiers; and under Marius, in 88 B.C. , it was 6200 foot besides 700 horse. There were 10, and sometimes as many as 18 legions kept at Rome. August us had a standing army of 45 legions, together with 25,000 horse and 37,000 light-armed troops, about 5 B.C. ; and the peace establishment of Adrian was 30 of these formidable brigades. A legion was divided into 10 cohorts, and every cohort into 6 centuries, with a vexillum, or standard, guarded by 10 men. The peace of Britain was protected by 3 legions. The French army was divided into legions subsequent to the reign of Francis I. See Thundering Legions .