grossmilitary

military

 The military of ancient Rome relates to the combined military forces of Rome from the founding of the city of Rome  in the 8th century BC to the fall of the  Western Roman Empire  in the 5th century AD.     Originally, the Roman military consisted entirely of the Roman army, but a small navy was first added during the Samnite Wars    Soldiers were grouped into groups called legions. and each group had about 4200 men and each legion had groups of different types of soldiers.  Legions were divided into groups called maniples. Each maniple .had about 120 men.  The maniples fought in special formations called qjuincunx. Made up of three ranks of soldiers.  ten young soldiers from the maniples. fought at the front and they were called hastate, there name came from a spear called the hastate    As the empire got older, the army had to be able to control Rome's distant enemies.  New laws were made and all the citizens, including people who didn't own their property, were allowed to join the legion