legionary

Legionary refers to a professional heavy infantry soldier of the Roman army, especially a member of a legion, the principal unit of Roman military organization in the Republic and Empire. Legionaries formed the core of Roman military power, fighting in battles, sieges, and frontier posts. Service was long and arduous; during the late Republic and early Empire enlistment lasted around 20 to 25 years, with veterans often granted land, money, or Roman citizenship in some periods.

Legions were large units, typically about 4,500 to 6,000 infantry, divided into cohorts and centuries. Standard equipment included the gladius (short sword), pilum (javelin), and a large shield (scutum), along with body armor such as lorica segmentata, lorica hamata, or lorica squamata, and a helmet (galea). Soldiers trained in marching, weapons drills, and formation fighting; famous tactics included the testudo shield formation and the disciplined cohort-based maneuvers.

Legionaries operated from fortified camps (castra) and could be deployed across Gaul, Britain, the Eastern provinces, and the frontiers. They were commanded by a legatus or senior officers, with a chain of command that included tribuni militum and centurions, and were required to display loyalty and discipline. Recruitment drew on Roman citizens, and later periods incorporated provincial subjects through social and political reforms; after service, veterans often settled in colonies or towns established for veterans.