A tactical unit of the Roman legion that became increasingly important in the late Republic.
Overview
The cohort grouped several centuries into a larger battlefield unit. By the late Republic, cohort-based deployment had largely replaced the older manipular arrangement in major Roman armies.
Why It Matters
The cohort gave commanders a practical unit that was easier to manoeuvre independently than an entire legion and more substantial than a maniple.
In Roman Practice
A standard legion was commonly described as containing ten cohorts, although actual strength varied greatly through casualties, recruitment, and campaign conditions.