légion

Légion is a term used in French and many Romance languages to denote a large military unit or a large organized group. It derives from the Latin legio, historically used for the principal units of the Roman army, and it has since entered modern usage to describe large numbers or organized factions, both military and civilian.

In ancient Rome, a legio was the core unit of the army, typically numbering about 4,000 to 6,000 infantry with accompanying cavalry. A legion was subdivided into cohorts and centuries, commanded by a legatus or tribunes, and it served as the backbone of Roman military power from the Republic through the Empire. The composition and organization of legions evolved over time, including equipment, training, and recruitment practices.

In modern times, the term appears in the name of the French Foreign Legion, or Légion étrangère, established in 1831 and integrated into the French Army. It has been notable for recruiting foreign volunteers under French command. The legion uses the motto Legio Patria Nostra, meaning “The Legion is our Fatherland,” reflecting its unique status within the armed forces.

The word also has religious and literary usage. In the Bible, “Legion” refers to a multitude of demons, illustrating the term as a figure for a very large number. More broadly, légion can denote any large, organized group or multitude.