A centuria means, in ancient Rome, both a division of the civic body practiced at the time of the census, by the censor, a military unit of the Roman army and a plot of Roman territory (from 706 to 710 m side) . The military unit called "centuria" was composed of ten minimum units, the Contubernium and two centuries forming a maniple. In the navy, it corresponded to a galley
It was also used in elections when, on certain occasions, the civic body met in centuriate comitia on the Champ de Mars.
Finally, one drew from the centuries, class censitaire, the centuries, units of the Roman legion under the Republic.
Under the Empire, it was the last meaning that prevailed over the following ones.