Did a Roman century really consist of 100 men?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ancientrome/comments/stto8y/im_tired_of_hearing_that_the_roman_century/
I would have just asked this original poster for their source, but the post is archived.
From what I understand most of the primary sources only mention the fighting men of the century, and in Adrian Goldsworthy's "The Complete Roman Army" he states that there were 60 men per century in Rome's militia armies and 80 men per century in the post-Marian army. Later on when he discusses the armies of the principate, he sticks to this figure and makes no mention of the camp followers and logistical supporters.
A century actually consisting of 100 men, 80 soldiers and 20 attendants, sounds great, but it seems to be just conjecture.
Posted Jun 3, 2026, 1:22 PM UTC