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A cohort (from the Latin ''cohors'', plural ''cohortes'') was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion during the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) and following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC. ==Legionary cohort== Immediately after the Marian reforms, a Roman legion comprised ten cohorts, known simply as "the first cohort", "the second cohort" etc. The commanding officer of the First Cohort, the ''Primus Pilus'' or Senior Centurion, was the ranking centurion in a legion. This cohort also carried the legion's standard and the legionary Eagle into battle and, as a result, the cohort was considered to be the most senior and prestigious. A cohort consisted of approximately 480 men under the command of one man. It consisted of six ''centuriae'' of 80 men, each commanded by a centurion assisted by junior officers. At various times prior to the reforms, a century might have meant a unit of 60 to 80. It is almost certain that the most senior centurion of the six would have commanded the entire cohort(needed'' ). In order of seniority, the six centurions were titled ''hastatus posterior'', ''hastatus prior'', ''princeps posterior'', ''princeps prior'', ''pilus posterior'' and ''pilus prior'' (most senior). This followed the order of seniority in the earlier manipular legions, where the youngest and least experienced units were termed ''hastati'', next ''principes'', and the oldest and most experienced ''triarii'' (''pilus'' was an alternative name for ''triarius'', the singular of ''triarii''). During the 1st century AD, the command structure and make-up of the legions was formally laid down, in a form that would endure for centuries. The first cohort was now made up of five double-strength centuries totalling 800 men, the centurion of its 1st century automatically being the most senior in the legion. This century was known as the ''primus pilii'' (first files), and its centurion was known as the ''primus pilus'' (first file) or ''primipilus''. The legion at this time numbered about 5,400 men, including officers, engineers and usually a small unit of cavalry (''equites''; 120 men and horses).〔Goldsworthy, Adrian (2003). ''The Complete Roman Army''. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0-500-05124-0.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cohort (military unit)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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