The Effectiveness Of The Roman Army

[roman wargamer]

Polybius quote

 

"The principes and the triarii are armed in the same manner likewise as the hastati; except only

that the triarii carry pikes instead of javelins."

 

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so it is very manifested from this qoute that they have similar weapons,

 

"The principes and the triarii are armed in the same manner likewise as the hastati"

 

" in the same manner "

 

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so the Triarii carry a different kind of " pikes " [ or javelin ]

 

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"except only that the triarii carry pikes instead of javelins."

 

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it is now the question here ? what is the "pikes" being mention here ?

[Furius Venator]

What Polybius means is that all three types carry the scutum and gladius and wear mail. But the Triarii are not equipped with a pilum but with a thrusting spear. That's all there is to it.

[roman wargamer]

Furius Venator question?

 

But the Triarii are not equipped with a pilum but with a thrusting spear...

 

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reply

 

then what kind of spear does the triarii use ?

and what kind of of weapon is "Pilum" to you?

 

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we needed help!!!

 

then , mabe Primus Pilus could shed light on this question.

 

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what is "PILUS" ?

[Furius Venator]

Roman, you're reading too much into the names. Overwhelming evidence exists to support this.

 

The pilum was a heavy throwing javelin carried by all of the hastati and principes. After Marius it was carried by every legionary. Overwhelming evidence exists to support this.

[roman wargamer]

so then what kind of spear does the triarii use ?

[Germanicus]

so then what kind of spear does the triarii use ?

 

A thrusting spear, or Hastae. Do not get hung up on the name - the Hastati may well have used it once, but in the republican army, it was only the Triarii that were so equipped. - As you have seen from Polybius.

 

A Pilus, Pila and Pilum all refer to the throwing Javelin later used by all legionaries after the Marian reforms, and used by the Principes and Hastati before that time.

[Guest Herobane]

Now, Gauls have used trees and bogs to their advantage. Gaul gets into tree, ties rope over his head, swings on rope, knocks Roman officer off horse into bog, drowns him, gets back into tree, repeats process...

 

And the Scottish Gaelic Woads stripped, coated themselves in woad berry juice (hence the name) and struck the Romans at night and made the men unaccustomed to such tactics scream and freak out and swear that they were being attacked by invisible demons. Even though, in reality, they were only being attacked by sweaty, juice-coated naked guys . It's almost funny...

[Furius Venator]

Herobane, could you provide the ancient sources that refer to these two incidents? I must have somehow overlooked them.

[Neos Dionysos]

Herobane, could you provide the ancient sources that refer to these two incidents? I must have somehow overlooked them.

 

Agreed...

 

 

While I can be persuaded to see this as possibly happening...

 

And the Scottish Gaelic Woads stripped, coated themselves in woad berry juice (hence the name) and struck the Romans at night and made the men unaccustomed to such tactics scream and freak out and swear that they were being attacked by invisible demons. Even though, in reality, they were only being attacked by sweaty, juice-coated naked guys . It's almost funny...

 

I have a hard time seeing how this could be repeated... or that Roman Officers just merrily ride through Gallic Forests unescorted.

 

Now, Gauls have used trees and bogs to their advantage. Gaul gets into tree, ties rope over his head, swings on rope, knocks Roman officer off horse into bog, drowns him, gets back into tree, repeats process...

[Rameses the Great]

Roman, you're reading too much into the names. Overwhelming evidence exists to support this.

 

The pilum was a heavy throwing javelin carried by all of the hastati and principes. After Marius it was carried by every legionary. Overwhelming evidence exists to support this.

 

Yes, they definantly existed that is without a doubt. They were strong enough to throw and kill as many soldiers as they can witholding from hand to hand combat. It was made so that the opposition could not throw them back while sustaning heavy casualties. Quite ingenious to say the least.

[Ciro]

question? how can the roman army not be effective? according to many people the roman army under ceasar killed a million men in gaul. comprehend the number 1,000,000 me thats a lot of men back in thier day that was rome several times over even more

[Germanicus]

question? how can the roman army not be effective? according to many people the roman army under ceasar killed a million men in gaul. comprehend the number 1,000,000 me thats a lot of men back in thier day that was rome several times over even more

 

Yes, it was highly effective - but still lost plenty of battles.

 

With regard to Caesar, there's every chance Plutarch inflated the figures, but yes, I'm sure he killed and enslaved plenty.

 

That's kind of the point though - they did it under Caesar, the Roman armys effectiveness was directly linked to the effectiveness of it's leaders.