Legion Structure

The Aermite Legion Structure and Such Notes

Since the earliest age of the Kingdom, armies are raised as Legions, and as often as possible associated with the Province they conquered. As Such the 19th Legion (Litore Parvus) is responsible for the capture and addition of the province of Litore Parvus after the Betrayal at Burdigala. Men and officers will be raised as often as possible from the province, and situation permitting, demobilized back to their home province (and usually handed a job in what ever city or regional watch or militia is extant).
It is the kingdoms task to pay for and equip the Legions, but each soldier is able to take their gear with them at the end of their official service. This ensures a well armed reserve in the event of crises, and helps support the Provincial Levy. Auxiliary units can be attached, and are not normally from the Province as they are specialists, such as engineers, cavalry for some Legions, and any magical aid (of which there is a lot, given that Legion Aethyric Auxiliae is the easiest way for casters to gain experience and skill).

The Legion Aermite

The legion is structured of 10 cohorts each of a list strength of 500 men, divided into 5 Centuria, each of 100 men. The 1st Cohort, the strongest and most able, is comprised on 5 double strength Centuria each of 200 men. This Prima Centuria is used to determine the geographic location of the Legion for deployment. Other Cohorts or Centuria can be detached for duty through out a region but do not affect the assigned deployment of the Legion.
1st Cohort - Prima Cohort - The core of the legion, 1000 fighting men and women, able to counter most threats.
2-6: Cohors Peditata - Infantry Cohorts, usually heavy infantry with full body shields, excellent armor ( Breastplate equivalent), and well-made weapons.
7-10: Cohors Novum - Infantry Cohorts, equipped as above, but manned by the newer recruits, with the 10th Cohort being the weakest, and made of the very newest.
Cohors Aethyric Auxiliae - Arcane casters, usually about twenty or so, spread at two per cohort.
Cohors Divinatus - Divine casters of the various gods followed by the emperor, but populated by the servants of the gods favored in the home province.
Cohors Ferentarii - Light infantry and scouts, frequently non-citizens and rangers who are inhabitants of the province. Faithful service here can get your family Imperial Citizenship.
Cohors Eques Legionis - Legion Cavalry on heavy war horses, raised to fight in battle with less though to patrol or skirmish
Cohors Equitata - Light cavalry recruited from the locals and adjacent provinces. They are deployed to flank and harass the enemy in battle. They are the Legion Patrols, and again it is a path to citizenship for many.

Legion Career Path
Unless discharged early, dishonorably or for other reason (acts of great valor can come with early honorable discharge or Promotion), the average legionary serves 10 years, and demobilizes in whatever province he or she is in, if she serves a 25 year term they are demobilized back to their home province at the kingdom expense.
The progression is to be inducted into the 10th Cohors, and once the legionary's personal qualities are known, along with any trade skills needed from civilian life, they move to one of the other three Cohors Novum, in addition to employing their specialist skills. This leads to each Cohors having a certain culture as the experienced Cohors pick their men and women from the three inexperienced Cohors as they mature.
By the end of their first year the Legionary is well into his second Cohors, and if skilled, has become apprenticed to the Legionary specialists.
By the end of their third year the Legionary is into his third, experienced cohors, and if skilled, has become a journeyman in his specialty, eligible for an apprentice of his own.
By his first Ten Year mark, he has become eligible for service in the First Cohort, or to be a veteran in his current cohors, responsible for shaping the newer men and women. A skilled legionary is now nearly equivalent to a master in his art.
Promotion to senior ranks of service infantry occurs as openings arrive, and is awarded to those who skills have earned them the respect of their peers. Leadership is seldom awarded to those who would falter in battle. The fallacies of this plan are widely known in Legion legends, and such is imprinted on new officers. Such instances still occur, usually when an officer makes their first promotion. It is not a thing that oft repeats itself, as such inappropriate choices meet uncomfortable ends - a self-correcting error...

Legion Ranks
Enlisted Men:
Milites - Enlisted men, paid at 1gp, 5sp per day, paid monthly.
Milites Principales - Senior enlisted men, paid at 2gp per day, responsible for general administration of Milites Decurio - Specialists, and enlisted officers. Paid at 3gp per day. Responsible for execution of a trade, or administration of a 10 man decuria inside a Centuria or a senior Decurio will do the same for his Centuria. The latter is certainly a 10 year plus veteran, and frequently the more experienced are assigned to the newer Centurions.
Milites Triplicarii - Specialists and Senior Enlisted officers. Paid at 4gp 5sp per day. Responsible for all of a trade in a Legion or administration of a Cohors at the direction of his
Officers:
Centurion - lowest level officer, given a voice in the command structure. Paid at 5gp per day. Responsible for the execution of the duties and mission of a Centuria (100 men sub division of a Cohors)
Centurion Principales - Officer commanding a Cohors, the senior Centurion present. Paid at 20gp per day. Responsible for the execution of the duties and mission of Cohors.
Centurion Auxiliae (Specific) - Officer commanding an Auxiliae cohors, paid as for a Centurion Principales, and responsible for the execution of the Auxiliae's duties and mission where ever that may be amongst the deployed Cohors. It is usual that the man or woman in the position be of able skill in the associated Auxiliae.
Tribunes Militum:
This is the political/military interface, where the men of power come to gain military experience to progress in status in the kingdom.
The do not come with military experience as a rule, but the better do, and the best come from the Centurion ranks.
Tribunes - A knight in later ages, recognized by the prefix "ser.". Set to command two Cohors. The Senior Tribune, Tribunes Principales, commands both the first and tenth Cohors. A Tribune is exceedingly well paid as they are a member of the kingdom Nobility. If the legion expands a province they will become Barons there after, ensuring their family prestige for generations. By tradition the Principales will be made a junior Earl.
Praefectus Castrorum - The Prefect of the camp, or Executive Officer of the Legion. This is universally reserved for the most senior career officer in the Legion, and he attends the Legion Legatus. Most will be in their late fifties, if human, and certainly older if another race. They have spent a lifetime behind the sword, and have a vast experience in administrating war. If the Legion conquers a province he will become the senior Earl after the province is created. If the Legatus is called away, it is normal for this person to deputize for him.
Tribunus Laticlavius - The legal second in command of the legion, though far the junior of the Praefectus in experience and skill. Typically this is the son of a senior noble sent to gain experience in administration and in war. His social status in the kingdom and amongst the ranks brings him instant authority. His time in the legion either re-enforces this or he moves on when his true nature is revealed. If not of a martial bent, it is likely that the occupant will spend a significant amount of time with the Praefectus to ensure their administration skills are improved before returning to civilian life. If the legion conquers a province, he will be made the Junior Earl in the province.
Legatus - The leader of the legion, equivalent in power and respect to a provincial Duke, and accorded such status. He is appointed to this position by the king personally, and in the height of the kingdom's later power and reach will be one of fifty or so such men.
It is common that such men appointed are the more experienced second or third sons of Dukes of stable and loyal provinces, men whose martial aptitude was proven earlier in life as Tibunus Laticlavius. It is not at all rare for the same to serve these two positions in the same legion a decade or more apart. The intervening years being spent administering their home provinces militia or similar such organizations.
When Duchal conclaves are called, available Legates are included.
If he adds a province he will become its first Duke, and his line will have all the power they could ever need or desire.
Provincial Rewards:
The reward structure ensures that the leadership of the new province has strong bonds of loyalty that, hopefully, will extend down the long generations ahead. It is a system that has worked well for the kingdom for the most part.

Legions of Note:
Legion 1 Ferrata (Aermo Centrada)
The Mare Ionia Campaign
Legion 2 Stout(Aermo Centrada)
The Campo Valley Campaign
The Mons Mura Campaign
Legion 3 Fulminata (Admare)
Legion 6 Triumphalis (Campo Pluria)
Legion 8 Lupi (Mons Mura)
Legion 13 Leones (Coela)
The Betrayal at Burdigala
Legion 14 Fidelis (Thrakkia)
The Pontica Campaign
The Edessa Restoration
Legion 23 Ferro (Pirea)
The Kyria Liberation
Legion 27 Ambulatis (Moetia)
The ExVicta Campaign

Legion Pay:
Legion Infantryman: 1gp,5sp per day, less deductions for living and equipment expenses. The cost of his first suit of armor (Breastplate, under armor (leather or chain), helmet, greaves and vambraces) is not included nor is he charged this expense. Replacement is charged unless it is damage or destroyed in battle. It is said that the Kingdom values the armor more than the man inside.
Ranks above base increase daily pay, and specialist infantry may acquire greater remuneration to aid in keep desertion down - a smith with legion experience will be more skilled, sooner than a village blacksmith. Desertion would make him well off. The same follow for other specialist legionaries
Legion Officer: 5gp, less deductions for living and equipment expenses, including a horse. The cost of leadership is high, and most who chose this come from wealthy and powerful families, who supplement this pay.
Demobilization Payout:
For each 10 years service the legionary earns a 3000gp bonus, payable at demobilization.  Veterans at full 25 years are paid for 30 years service.