The legionnaire was the elite units in the roman army. In 108 BC, Gaius Marius passed military reforms in Rome, retiring the Hastati, Principes, Triarii, and Velites (wel-li-tays). The roman legionnaire was introduced and played a major role in the Gallic Wars, Caesar's Civil War, and the Post-Caesar Civil Wars. The legions of Rome helped Roman emperors and generals expand the empire stretching from Britainnia to Northern Africa and from Hispania to Babylonia. They were present in many battles such as Alesia, Thapsus, Philippi, Teutoberg, Watling Street, and helped suppress the Great Jewish Revolt at Jerusalem. They also accompanied emperors such as Trajan in his conquests in Syria, Babylonia, and Dacia and also Aurelian and Constantine in their struggles to reunite the empire. The legionanaire equipment consisted of a large shield called a scutum, a short sword (Gladius) and a javvoline (Pilum). Their armor (Lorica segmentata) was made of iron with bronze alloys one the waist. It was easy to put on and take off and easy to put away when not in battle. However as the empire started to crumble, the romans replaced the Lorica Segmentata with chain mail. The empire was ultimately split in two and the legions had one final major battle at Chalons against the invanding Huns. In 476 AD/CE the last roman emperor, Romulus Augustus was forced to abdicate and disolve the Western Roman Empire. The legions were used in the Byzantine Empire until the byzantines retired them.