...dating from Rome's Etruscan beginnings it meant the command of one hundred men. This number of men was the standard unit size to muster in times of war, however that exact number couldn't be guaranteed and sometimes there were as few as 80. Later, in the early years of Rome's expansion, a century contained 120 men. This was subsequently reduced to 100, and in the time of the Emperors it was reduced again to 80 men. (from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A35977611 - yes, you inspired me to check up on my initial instinctive response of "a hundred of course" by way of "hm. No, that's to easy, there must be a hitch to the question..."! ;)
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...dating from Rome's Etruscan beginnings it meant the command of one hundred men. This number of men was the standard unit size to muster in times of war, however that exact number couldn't be guaranteed and sometimes there were as few as 80. Later, in the early years of Rome's expansion, a century contained 120 men. This was subsequently reduced to 100, and in the time of the Emperors it was reduced again to 80 men.
(from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A35977611 - yes, you inspired me to check up on my initial instinctive response of "a hundred of course" by way of "hm. No, that's to easy, there must be a hitch to the question..."! ;)