| Probably the most well-known and biggest reform | | | | state during the late empire. The command |
| of the army was the total restructuring of the | | | | structure was remodeled significantly also. After |
| soldiers, command structure, battle formations, | | | | the reforms, not only was the roman armor and |
| and equipping of the legionnaire. This only | | | | dress modified, it was even more prevalent how |
| continued to advance the might of the army. By | | | | much the excellent organization and command of |
| the time of Augustus, when the "classical" legion | | | | the army contributed to the success of the |
| most associated with the Roman army came into | | | | Legion. No one man found themselves lost in the |
| full force, the Imperial Army of Rome became | | | | army due to the fact that each soldier personally |
| the most powerful military in the ancient world. | | | | knew an officer and each other. |
| This can be attributed to the numerous upgrades | | | | This also helped contribute to a more loyal and |
| the army underwent during the time of Marius | | | | organized army. The smallest unit of the army |
| into the reign of Augustus and beyond.Previously, | | | | was the tent group, or Contuberniun, which |
| the Velites, Hastati, Principes, and Triarii each | | | | consisted of eight men. They shared and were in |
| served different purposes in battle and had to | | | | charge of their own tent, supplies, and gear. Next |
| provide their own weapons, armor, and roman | | | | came the Century, which was made up of ten |
| helmets which varied in quality and appearance. | | | | groups of Contuberniun making eighty men. A |
| During the first century A.D. they were made into | | | | Centurion was in charge of each Century. A |
| a unified fighting force by Marius and Augustus, | | | | Maniple was made up of two Centuries, and a |
| with uniform weapons and armor equipped with | | | | Cohort was made up of three Maniples, making a |
| the wealth provided by the state. After the | | | | standard 480 men per Cohort. |
| reforms, the pre-Marius soldiers were | | | | As time went on, however, into the age of |
| restructured into two main groups: legionnaires | | | | Augustus, it is believed that the Maniple was |
| and auxilia. Citizens of the Roman Empire were | | | | dropped all together and the Cohort remained the |
| recruited into the legions (backbone heavy | | | | principle standard unit in the army and was |
| infantry), while non-citizens made up the auxilia | | | | subdivided into six Centuries instead of three |
| (support and specialized troops such as archers, | | | | Maniples. Finally, the Legion was made up of ten |
| cavalry, and inferiorly equipped troops). | | | | Cohorts along with 120 horsemen, putting the |
| This had another impact on the Roman society, | | | | strength of a Legion around 5000 men, excluding |
| as all people who lived within the territories of the | | | | non-combatants. A legate was in command of a |
| empire were now able to join the army, citizen | | | | legion, and a Consul or Praetor (as Marius |
| and non-citizen alike. The allowing of a significant | | | | became) was in charge of the whole army or a |
| number of non-citizens to fight in the army would, | | | | given campaign. |
| however, have major implications to the Roman | | | | |