Page:The history of Rome. Translated with the author's sanction and additions.djvu/119

Rh first ranks of each phalanx were formed by the full-armed hoplites of the first class, the holders of an entire hide; in the fifth and sixth were placed the less completely equipped farmers of the second and third class; the two last classes were annexed as rear ranks to the phalanx, or fought alongside as light-armed troops. Provision was made for readily supplying the accidental gaps, which were so injurious to the phalanx. Thus there served in each legion forty-two centuries or 4200 men, of whom 3000 were hoplites, 2000 from the first class, 500 from each of the two next in order, and 1200 light-armed, of whom 500 belonged to the fourth and 700 to the fifth class; each levy district furnished for every legion 1050, and for every century 25 men. In ordinary cases two legions took the field, while two others did garrison duty at home. The normal amount accordingly of the infantry reached four legions, or 16,800 men, eighty centuries from the first class, twenty from each of the three following, and twenty-eight from the last class; not taking into account the two centuries of substitutes or those of the workmen and the musicians. To all these fell to be added the cavalry, which consisted of 1800 horse, a third of which remained reserved to the old burgesses; on taking the field, however, only three centuries were usually assigned to each legion. The normal amount of the Roman army, of the first and second levy, rose accordingly to close upon 20,000 men; which number must beyond doubt have corresponded to the effective strength of the serviceable population of Rome, as it stood at the time when the new organization was introduced. As the population increased, the number of centuries was not augmented, but the several divisions were strengthened by supernumeraries, without altogether losing sight, however, of the fundamental number. Indeed the Roman corporations in general, strictly closed as to numbers, very frequently evaded the limits imposed upon them by admitting supernumerary members.

This new organization of the army was accompanied by a more careful supervision of landed property on the part of the state. It was now either enacted for the first time, or, if not, at any rate ordained more precisely, that a land-register should be established, in which the several proprietors of land should have their fields with all their appurtenances, servitudes, slaves, beasts of draught and of burden duly recorded. Every act of alienation, which did not take