Post on 16-Dec-2015
Roman Military Roman Military Strategy and TacticsStrategy and Tactics
“War can only end in eventual victory”
TermsTerms Hastati- Hastati- younger soldier, early form of younger soldier, early form of
the legionnaire the legionnaire Velites- Velites- light infantry, missile thrower light infantry, missile thrower Triarii- Triarii- Veteran soldier, wealthier andVeteran soldier, wealthier and
more heavily armedmore heavily armed Ferentarii- young, poor soldieryoung, poor soldier Trireme- a ship with rectangular or
triangular sails wide enough for three rowers at each oar, often equipped with a ram and ‘siege’ weapons
Quinquereme- similar to a trireme, but five rowers could be stationed at each oar, making the ship much larger
Phalanx- rectangular military formation consisting almost entirely of heavily armored spearmen (though after Alexander the amount of armor became less important in labeling a division a phalanx)
Scutum- Scutum- large rectangular shield large rectangular shield carried by Roman legionnairescarried by Roman legionnaires
Legionnaire- Legionnaire- a member of an army a member of an army (legion), usually used to describe (legion), usually used to describe the standard heavy infantry of the the standard heavy infantry of the Imperial Roman ArmyImperial Roman Army
Pilum- Pilum- heavy spear, could be heavy spear, could be thrown as a javelin with an thrown as a javelin with an effective range of 20 meterseffective range of 20 meters
Contubernium-Contubernium- squad of eight men squad of eight men Maniple- Maniple- subdivision of a legion subdivision of a legion
consisting of either 60 or 120 men.consisting of either 60 or 120 men. Cohort- Cohort- division of legion made up division of legion made up
of 480 menof 480 men Century-Century- division of cohort division of cohort
consisting of 80 men (originally consisting of 80 men (originally 100)100)
Rome Under the Etruscan KingsRome Under the Etruscan Kings
Prior to the republic the Prior to the republic the Roman Army resembled Roman Army resembled a Macedonian phalanx.a Macedonian phalanx.
Cavalry used defensively
Equipment and rank based on wealth
Rome Adapts…Rome Adapts…
Completely reorganizes Completely reorganizes army.army.
Tactics during battle still Tactics during battle still not seen as important not seen as important part of warfare.part of warfare.
Cavalry still not seen as Cavalry still not seen as an offensive unit… and an offensive unit… and will not be for a while.will not be for a while.
It has come to the triarii!
Rome Still Missing Rome Still Missing Something…Something…
Up until the Second Punic War Rome had no Up until the Second Punic War Rome had no generals that stood out from the crowd…generals that stood out from the crowd…
Until…
The Shield and Sword of The Shield and Sword of RomeRome
Quintus Fabius Maximus
(Cunctator)
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Major Reformations Under Major Reformations Under ScipioScipio
Tactics during battleTactics during battle
Effective use of religion in Effective use of religion in battlebattle
Could attack better than Could attack better than Marcellus, and defend Marcellus, and defend better than Fabiusbetter than Fabius
Changed basics of Roman Changed basics of Roman formationformation
Unknowingly set precedent Unknowingly set precedent by popularizing gladiusby popularizing gladius
Knew that numbers meant Knew that numbers meant nothing without tacticsnothing without tactics
Made Roman Army self-Made Roman Army self-sufficient, distrusted alliessufficient, distrusted allies
Destroyed other Destroyed other Carthaginian forces before Carthaginian forces before engaging Hannibal engaging Hannibal
Took advantage of Took advantage of outdated enemy tacticsoutdated enemy tactics
The ‘Classic’ Roman LegionThe ‘Classic’ Roman Legion Came into being largely dueCame into being largely due
to reforms of Caius Mariusto reforms of Caius Marius
Any citizen could be a Any citizen could be a
soldier now, so long as hesoldier now, so long as he
was fit and willing to fightwas fit and willing to fight
Soldiers prepared for Soldiers prepared for anyany
situationsituation
Pensions! Pensions!
Marius’ Mules
Way the ‘Classic’ Legion Way the ‘Classic’ Legion OperatedOperated
With many wars underWith many wars under
its belt the Roman its belt the Roman
Empire held dominanceEmpire held dominance
on the battlefieldon the battlefield
Rome had tactics thatRome had tactics that
only it had the only it had the
resources to pull offresources to pull off
In Order to Gauge the Enemy’s In Order to Gauge the Enemy’s Strength…Strength…
Skirmishing Formation
The Siege of New CarthageThe Siege of New Carthage Scipio once again takes Scipio once again takes
advantage of tactics of the advantage of tactics of the timetime
Mirage created by Romans Mirage created by Romans crossing the lagooncrossing the lagoon
Combined with naval Combined with naval attackattack
Slow Development of Naval Slow Development of Naval TacticsTactics
Wars with Carthage gaveWars with Carthage gave
Romans a reason to Romans a reason to
develop a navy.develop a navy.
Objectives: Ram or BoardObjectives: Ram or Board
Marcus Vispanius AgrippaMarcus Vispanius Agrippa
showed Antony the showed Antony the
importance of tactics at importance of tactics at
Actium…Actium…
How Could Rome Lose?How Could Rome Lose? Even an army of Even an army of
400,000 could not 400,000 could not keep these keep these borders safe borders safe forever.forever.
Remember Remember cavalry?cavalry?
The last The last competent general competent general was Belsarius was Belsarius under Justinain.under Justinain.
An Empire Split, An Army An Empire Split, An Army ReformedReformed
Diocletian splits the Diocletian splits the empire, reforms defense empire, reforms defense planplan
ComitatensesComitatenses, , limitaneilimitanei
Theodosius and Theodosius and Constantine further reform Constantine further reform army… army…
Magister Peditum, Magister Magister Peditum, Magister Equitum Equitum