legion

Legion is a term with multiple meanings in history and culture. In ancient Rome, a legion was a principal military unit of the army. The word derives from Latin legio, meaning a levy or draft. A typical legion comprised about 4,000 to 6,000 infantry supported by cavalry, engineers, and other specialists. It was organized into ten cohorts, each made up of six centuries commanded by a centurion, and it was led by a legatus. Legions formed the core of Roman military power and also contributed to frontier administration and infrastructure.

Through time, the term broadened to describe any large, organized group or vast multitude. In religious texts, the name Legion appears in the New Testament as the identifier of a collective of demons that possessed a man, illustrating the use of the term to signify multiplicity or a great number.

In the modern era, Legion is used as a generic label for prominent organizations and military forces. The American Legion is a U.S. veterans organization founded after World War I. The French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a renowned unit within the French Army that accepts volunteers from outside France. The concept of a legion also appears in popular culture and media, where it is used for fictional groups or characters.

In comics and television, Legion refers to David Haller, a Marvel Comics character with dissociative identity disorder and extraordinary psionic powers. A related television series, Legion (2017–2019), centers on his story. The term also appears in other media and titles, including films that use the name to convey themes of vast numbers, conflict, or otherworldly forces.