centuriae

In ancient Rome, a centuria was a military unit, roughly equivalent to a company in the U.S. Army. The leader of a centuria was a centurion, comparable to a captain. Centurions were selected for their physical prowess, combat skills, and ability to maintain discipline among their soldiers.1

The comitia centuriata, or centuriate assembly, was a military-based voting body in the Roman Republic. It met outside the city walls and was organized into centuries based on wealth. This assembly elected high-ranking magistrates and had the power to declare war and peace. Wealthier citizens, organized into centuries of knights and the first economic class, held dominant voting power, ensuring the political supremacy of the nobility.2