Roman Army

The Roman Army was the land military force of ancient Rome and of the Roman state that followed it, serving through the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, including the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire that lasted until 1453. Over roughly two thousand years it changed greatly in size, organization, equipment and tactics while keeping a core of lasting traditions. In its early centuries it was a levy of citizen soldiers raised for each campaigning season, probably fighting as a hoplite phalanx at first and from about 300 BC in the more flexible manipular battle line of the mid-Republic. Under the Empire it was a standing force of legions and auxiliary regiments that reached a peak of about 450,000 men by 211, and the Late Roman and East Roman armies carried its institutions on until the Byzantine army emerged. Its supreme commanders were first kings, then consuls and finally emperors.