Cohorts sizes

[Mark Hygate]

Well, properly disagreeing with 'Hyginus' (having read 'him' for myself recently) is something I may well do in the end ...

How very dare you! :wink:

Watch this space.....:wink:

... but was 6 x centuria strong in exceptional circumstances (re Polybius).

Polybius?

Yes, the Polybian Legion of 4000 + 'Officers' is equal to, if not divided exactly, 50 x 80 man centuries. On more than one occasion, Polybius refers to the raising of the strength to 5000 (ie adding 800), which implies the adding of the equivalent of 10 more 80-man centuries. This was perhaps also done commonly with the Allies (cf Polybius' comment on the size of a 'standard' consular army). This leads us directly on towards the later Republican legion of 4800 men + 'Officers', which we are more generally content was divided into 10 x 6 x century cohorts.

I have come to believe strongly that the terms 500 and 1000 strong are misnomers ...

I think we're mostly agreed on that!

... where is the primary evidence for identifying units as Quingenary or Milliary is?

Besides Hyginus' explicit use of the terms, they occasionally suffix their own names with D (quingenaria) or M (milliaria) on inscriptions, or are officially designated as such on the diplomas.

Thank you, I assumed that was the case, but in general people 'quote' the information and I haven't been able to see any/many myself. Perhaps one day I'll have the time and resources to do so.