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!

REALLY AdaptsREALLY Adapts

New Helmets!New Helmets! New Shields!New Shields!

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

More Importantly Though…More Importantly Though…

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus

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

Uh oh… Light CavalryUh oh… Light Cavalry

Repel Cavalry

Standard FormationsStandard Formations

Ace in the HoleAce in the Hole

The Wedge (Pig’s Head)

If Things Take A Turn for the If Things Take A Turn for the Worse…Worse…

The Orb

The Roman StandardsThe Roman Standards

AquiliferStandards of a Legion and a Maniple

To reach the gates…To reach the gates…

The Tortoise

SiegesSieges

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

Roman Ingenuity Roman Ingenuity

Siege TowerBattle of Pydna

Naval WarfareNaval Warfare

QuinqueremeTrireme

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

Roman Tactics Used TodayRoman Tactics Used Today

““My mother bore a general, not a My mother bore a general, not a warrior”warrior”