Chapter 3 the Roman Army

8/2/2019 Chapter 3 the Roman Army

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The Roman Army


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SPQR=

Senatus Populusque Romanus

(the Senate and the people of Rome)


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Rome conquered with its army. And it conquered a lot ofarea.


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The Romans fielded an amazing military that changedover time.

It had several strengths

1.Had a strong hierarchy / chain of command thatallowed subordinates to take initiative

2.Had solid and effective weaponry

3.Had flexible and maneuverable battle formationscalled legions

4.Were very good engineers


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The armor

In the early republican days, soldiers wore bronzecuirasses, much like the Greek hoplites.

These are later worn by just higher ranking officersand were usually nicely decorated.


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They also used chain mail (Lorica Hamata)

This was a long chain mail shirt that went down toaround mid-thigh to the knees.

It would weigh around 15 pounds and a belt wouldbe worn to take some of the weight off theshoulders and to keep it from flapping around asmuch.


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Some used Lorica Squamata, or scale armor.

This was cheaper and easier to produce than chainmail but was less flexible and more vulnerable to

attack, especially by upward thrusts that justbypassed the scales.


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The classic Roman armor, though, is the LoricaSegmentata (this is what we call it we actually dontknow what the Romans called it).


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The lorica segmentata were layered bands of ironriveted to strips of leather.

It allowed for good degree of movement (which the

solid cuirasses lacked) while still offering a solidamount of protection (which the chain mail and scalearmor lacked)


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The helmet

The main one is the imperial Gallic helmet.

It had hinged cheek

guards. Also had a front visor

and a very wide rearvisor for the purpose

of deflecting blows(they werent forshade).

Just looking at this

helmet andcomparing it to theGreek helmet, whatdoes it tell you about

how the Romansfought?


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The helmet of a Roman

centurion (kinda like amodern day armycaptain).


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The centurion was incharge of the basicbattle units.

Because he was themobile fieldcommander, he hadto be identifiableand so wore thetransverse crest onhis helmet (no, itwasnt Mohawk orMandinka style).


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Actual Romanhelmets


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Top down view

Back view


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One more


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The scutum

The shield. It was a about 3 to 4 feet in length andwas curved in a semicircle.

It would be held by a handleright about where that pommelis. The pommel protected yourhand and could also be used to

whack an enemy in the face.

The top and bottom would alsobe lined with metal. Thisenabled both the ends to be

used offensively. Why botherusing your sword to dispatchan enemy when a shield blowto the throat will work just as

well?


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It was made ofstrips of wood,so it was

lightweight, butstrong.

The shieldswould overlap

each other inbattle, butwould partenough for

sword thrusts.

Th


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The weapons

The Gladius

This was a short thrusting sword about 22 inches long

and weighed about 3 pounds.

Th l di th i ht id d d t


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The gladius was worn on the right side and drawn outwith one hand (you didnt want to risk cutting the guysto your side by bringing it across your body).


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Th il


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The pilum

A throwing spear (javelin) about 6 feet long.

It had a pyramidal iron tip and a narrow iron

shaft that attached to the main, heavy woodenshaft.

A legionary carried two into battle. Shortlybefore engaging the enemy, he would throw

both.

Th i ht f th d bi d ith th th


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The weight of the wood combined with the throw onthat narrow point would drive it through most shields,armor, and flesh.

The narrow iron shaft would almost immediately bendand deform, no matter what it hit.

This made it a non-

returnable weapon.If it hit the ground,the enemy couldntpick it up and

throw it back. Itwas useless afterone use.

The tips shape also


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The tips shape alsomeant that it couldnt beremoved. If it hit yourshield, you had a heavy

bent spear hanging offof it. You either had toleave it, thus makingyour shield extremely

unwieldy or you had tothrow away your shield,leaving you defenseless.

Brilliant!

So one guy throwing a pilum not too intimidating


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So one guy throwing a pilum, not too intimidating.What if it was 10 guys like below. Now imagine 100pila coming your way followed quickly by a secondvolley. I wouldnt like it one bit.

So you put it together and


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So you put it together and


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Artillery


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Artillery

Ballista

A bit like a giant crossbow that used torsion springs

to propel the arrow or stone.


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Whats R. Lee Ermey doing there?

Organization


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Organization

Legions

Each legion consisted of 6,000 men. They were

divided into 10 cohorts.

Cohort

Each cohort had 480 men (although the first cohort,

with the most experienced soldiers, had 960). Was divided into six centuries.

Century

Each century had 80 men (except in the first cohort,which had 160).

Each century was commanded by a centurion.

Each century was divided into 10 contubernium, agroup of 8 men who shared a tent.

So


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So1 Legio = 10 cohortes1 Cohors = 6 centuriae1 Centuria = 10 contubernia

1 Contubernia = 8 men

Why is this important? Theres suddenly a verystrict division of men with an established hierarchy

of command. Its orderly. Its the basis of modern military organization in thesame way that Athens is the basis of democracy.

Hierarchy of command


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Hierarchy of command

Dont want to get into it, but well talk about thecenturions and the average enlisted man.

Centurions


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Centurions

Called centurions because they commanded acentury (which was originally 100 men, but was

later reduced to 80). Mobile field commanders. About equivalent to a

modern day army captain.

Wore chain mail instead of the lorica segmentata,

wore military decorations over the mail, woregreaves, a helmet with a crest, and had his swordon his left side.

Got to ride on horseback during marches.

Carried a staff with which he administered discipline.

Backbone of the Roman army. Took care of day today duties. Led from the front and had a high

casualty rate.

Skilled centurions were also highly sought after.


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Skilled centurions were also highly sought after.

Legionary


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Legionary

The average soldier

Would enlist for 25 years of service

Frequently drilled and trained

Discipline was strictly enforced

Couldnt marry


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Formations


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Roman Encampment


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Summary


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THE ROMAN ARMY

Why was it so important?

By Mr Bargery downloaded from www.SchoolHistory.co.uk

H h R A


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How was the Roman Armyorganised?

Main part of the armywas the LEGION

This was made up of

5000 men under thecommand of theLEGATE

H th R A


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How the Roman Army wasorganised

The legion was dividedinto ten cohorts

Each cohort was madeup of six centuries

The centuries werecommanded by acenturion

Centuries originally had

100 men

H th R A


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How the Roman Army wasorganised

The centurions were veryimportant men

They were responsiblefor training the soldiers

under their command andmaking sure everyoneobeyed orders.

Some were very cruel


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Standard Bearers

Each century had its ownemblem or standard.

This was carried by thestandard bearer, a very

experienced and trustedsoldier

To lose your standard

was a great disgrace


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How to become a Legionary!

You had to be aRoman citizen

You had to be

physically fit and 1.6mtall

You were expected tostay in the army for

25 years


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Training

Most soldiers joinedbetween 18-20 years old

There were three 30kmmarches each month

On each march thelegionary would carry 25kilos of equipment


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Training

Legionaries would alsolearn drill, or marching

This was important forlearning manoeuvres in

battle

New recruits were givenshields and swords twiceas heavy as the real

thing!


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Who else was in the Army?

Auxiliaries- Thesewere soldiers fromlands conquered bythe Romans who

volunteered to fight forthe Romans

many ofthese hadspecial skills- like

cavalry soldiers


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Auxiliaries

Archers

Most fought with a sword and short spear

Thought of by Romans as second classsoldiers , paid less and not trained asrigorously

After 25 years- they became Citizens (andtheir children too!)

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Chapter 3 the Roman Army