Roman Republican Army

                                                        

 Land army

Polybius described in detail the organization of the Roman army in mid-second century BC, although his work accompanies this narrative description of the Second Punic War. The Greek historian seems to have believed and is almost certain that he was right, the structure of the army had suffered few significant changes since the beginning of the third century BC

Roman Army militia remained a temporal and the census were registered citizens wealthy enough to be recruited. To share the burden of military service, no one was forced to fight in more than 16 campaigns or longer period of 16 years.

Roman army base was Legion (Legio in Latin), which was composed of 5 elements: cavalry, light infantry and three types of heavy infantry.

This number is determined from a legion 4200 times five thousand footmen, when there is a greater danger, joining and 300 horsemen.

Legionnaires were chosen from among citizens aged between 17 and 46 years, and who had a property worth at least 400 dinars. Of these the youngest and poorest were selected as velites, armed with light equipment, had weapons but no armor. Next wealthier were bastari follow the Principles and triarii.

Legion of 4,200 men was divided into 30 manipulation, ten and ten princeps bastari each with 120 heavy infantry, and 40 of velites. Other ten triarii manipulation consisted of each handle heavy infantry with 60 and 40 velites. Thus a legion in its composition have velites 1200, 1200 bastari, 1200 and 1200 triarii Principles.

Soldiers were used in campaigns short weeks, then returned to their farms. With increasing number of new provinces, more men were needed for a longer period of time in the campaign season stretching from March to October. Conquered regions should retain a military garrison and thus temporal character turns into a full-time professional army.

                                                      Military equipment.

 Pilum. Romans used spears in battle, probably introduced in the fourth century BC, Celtic attacks to make do. It was a very effective weapon because she could not hold any military band in a confrontation. Polybius tells us that each and every princeps hastatus had two spears., One heavier and one lighter.

Pilumurile novels were made of wood and iron. It may be a connection between the gun and placing manipulations in the component cohort, which provided the necessary space marines Roman throwing spear into the enemy. Pilumul was designed to penetrate enemy armor. Even if the soldier avoid serious injury, pilum was difficult to remove, so the shield became more difficult.

Being a short spear had a short-range about 30 meters with an efficiency of 15 meters. its dimensions are of 2.1 meters. Wooden rod was 1.2 meters long which was mounted on a thin iron rod about 60 inches and ends with a pyramidal top. A pilum by modern experiments can penetrate the shield of 30 millimeters and 20 millimeters lemnl in pine plywood. If he was dropped from 5 feet touch it and the man behind the shield.

 Gladius. Date of entry of this type of sword is uncertain but may be copied from the Spanish auxiliary troops of Hannibal's army, but the result of Roman campaigns in Spain. Hispaniensis Gladius as it was called was shorter than the sword than Celtic. Being short I was allowed a soldier to stay connected to the waist belt or a belt on right side. Stegarii and centurionii which lacked the sword bear weight on your left.

Being a quality iron blade balanced, with more than 60 inches, was used mainly to make serious cuts but for penetration.

Pugio. Legionnaires immortalized in sculpture, opposite gate wearing sword, a dagger. Although Polybius does not mention daggers, some specimens were found in Spain dating to the second century BC Dagger and scabbard was decorated were usually only type gladius sword. Shape of leaf blade was shaped with a length of 35 centimeters.

Lance. Although Polybius as the first two lines troopers were equipped with the pilum, the third line, triarii, still using the old Hoplite spear. This was a heavy weapon, used to pierced at close range, not discarded. In a battle of 223 BC have been taken and their spears triarii-you-were given their haste, they remained in close formation in strength to withstand the attack of the Gauls. Dyonisis of Halicarnassus says that the war against Pyrrhus principes also used his lance wielding it with both hands. It's weird, because it is hard to imagine how a soldier equipped with such armaputea to use a Roman shield normal, but some experts have concluded that adoption pilum's happened gradually and that troopers from all three lines to fusesesera started spearmen. Too little evidence to settle this issue.

Defense equipment

Scutum. Because Roman historian Diodorus of Sicily of Greek origin, we find that the main change in Roman military equipment was adopted oval shield. In the fourth century model of a metal shield with central iron (spina) - used against stones and spears of any weapons thrown down, was popular among the Gauls in northern Italy. Shield paintings were found on vessels in tombs in southern Italy where they appear as a simple alternative to circular shield, representations that might be considered typical hoplite scenes. Another information provided by Diodorus is that the replacement model with circular shield the oval and changed the type of military formation, phalanx was replaced with a new system, the handle. Changes were made gradually, even in a second century of the Roman army elemeant, triarii acted in a similar fashion hoplite phalanx. Although the changes were slow and partial, they reflenca general trends in the war in this period. Hoplitii late fourth century began to lose their primacy in the Mediterranean world.

The shield consists of two boards joined together with glue made of ox strain and face outside was covered with cloth and then with calf leather. At the top and bottom to be insured against swords, iron reinforcement was used.

Helmets. From this period were kept several types of helmets, but in most cases can not be sure that belonged to Roman soldiers. Dan is that each soldier bought their own equipment, it was inevitable that not a single model of helmet use. most common model is the model Montefortino helmet of Gallic origin, with high cap and top round, a short shields for neck and face shields attached with hinges. Other was the Etrusco-Corinthian helmet, which seems to have had the model Corinthian helmet worn by hopliti. It covered her face and ears, diminishing hearing, and had two small holes for eyes, but could be inpins back and carried on top of the head, more comfortable, when the soldier was not involved in the fight. Italic version of this model was always worn in this way, although still have holes for eyes, but only for decorative purposes. In southern Italy were used some types of helmets attics, probably by the Romans and their allies. All were of bronze beaten Doric form.