Turma

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Turmae (singular, turma) were taken from Latin colonies and Italian allies (Socii) of the Roman Republic. These men served in agreement with the regulations of treaties made with Rome, either upon surrender or submission to alliance. These contingents consisted of about 500 men and cavalry. Polybius describes them as “the legion’s cavalry 300 strong, divided into ten turmae, each under three decurions[1],” which were led by the senior decurion. In the imperial army, the turmae were equitata, and four to eight turmae were either included in a cohort of quingenaria or milliaria, the former consisting of six centuries of 80 men; the latter consisting of 24 troops of 32 men (768 total).

Keppie, Lawrence. The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire.1998. The University of Oklahoma Press: Norman.