Individual fortifications had been constructed by the Roman military from as early as the building of Rome's first city walls in the 6th or 7th century BC. However, systematic construction of fortifications around the periphery of the empire on a strategic scale began around 40 AD under Emperor Caligula. [citation needed] .

Romans used the term castrum for different sizes of camps – including large legionary fortresses, smaller forts for cohorts or for auxiliary forces, temporary encampments, and "marching" forts. The diminutive form castellum was used for fortlets, [4] typically occupied by a detachment of a cohort or a centuria.

Aug 22, 2023 · The Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and martial prowess, were not only formidable warriors but also adept builders. During the Imperial Period (27 BC – 476 AD), the expanding boundaries of the Roman Empire necessitated the establishment of fortified bases across diverse terrains.

The Roman legion (Latin: legiō, Latin: [ˈɫɛɡioː]), the largest military unit of the Roman army, was composed of Roman citizens serving as legionaries. During the Roman Republic the manipular legion comprised 4,200 infantry and 300 cavalry.

Jun 15, 2024 · The Roman fort of Petavonium was a legionary fortress (Zamora, Spain), founded to monitor the movements of the Astures peoples. It was located between Astorga (Astúrica Augusta) and Braga (Bracara Augusta). The military compound had an extended 17 hectares and a detachment of 5,000 legionaries from the Legio X Gemina.

The Roman Empire’s longevity and vast territorial expanse were due in no small part to its sophisticated network of Roman fortifications. These structures ranged from frontier fortresses designed to repel invaders to urban walls that safeguarded Rome’s teeming cities.

There are traditionally three main types of Roman fortification; the Marching Camp, the Auxiliary Fort and the Legionary fortress. To these three basic types there has been recently added a fourth classification, that of Vexillation Fortress. There are also smaller fortifications such as Fortlets, Signal Stations, Light Houses and Watch Towers.

The Roman fortification, whether it was a temporary overnight camp in enemy territory, an auxiliary outpost fort set to guard a strategic location, or a large fortress to garrison the might of the Roman legions, was almost invariably built to the same basic formula.

Roman Legionary Fortresses 27 BC–AD 378 by Duncan Campbell (2006), which provide a more analytical ap-proach to the subject of ancient militarism. Brief but fundamental observations on methodology and existing documentation are also provided in the preface. The introduction defines terminology used throughout the book.

Dec 23, 2016 · Forts, Castra and military camps stretched across the vast empire, in concentration on the borders and in some of the most remote of locations to enforce Roman authority and control. Roman military borders and fortifications were part of a grand strategy of territorial defence in the Roman Empire.