Editing Roman legion (section)

=== Roman Kingdom ({{circa|752}} to 509 BC) ===
{{Main|Early Roman army}}
In the period before the raising of the ''legio'' and the early years of the [[Roman Kingdom]] and the [[Roman Republic]], forces are described as being organised into ''[[Centuria|centuriae]]'' of roughly one hundred men. These centuries were grouped together as required and answered to the leader who had hired or raised them. Such independent organisation persisted until the 2nd century BC amongst light infantry and cavalry, but was discarded completely in later periods with the supporting role taken instead by allied troops. The roles of century leader (later formalised as a [[centurion]]), [[Optio|second in command]] and [[Aquilifer|standard bearer]] are referenced in this early period.

Rome's early period is undocumented and shrouded in myths, but those myths tell that during the rule of [[Servius Tullius]], the [[Roman censor#Census|census]] (from [[Latin]]: ''censeō'' – accounting of the people) was introduced. With this all Roman able-bodied, property-owning male citizens were divided into five classes for military service based on their wealth and then organised into centuries as sub-units of the greater Roman army or ''legio'' (multitude). Joining the army was both a duty and a distinguishing mark of Roman citizenship; the wealthiest land owners performed the most years of military service. These individuals would have had the most to lose should the state have fallen.