Unbelievably, more questions

[M. Porcius Cato]

How much protection did a rider and more importantly did the horse get, was the saddle similar to todays?

 

Here's a recreation of a Roman saddle.

[ASCLEPIADES]

How much protection did a rider and more importantly did the horse get, was the saddle similar to todays?

Here's a recreation of a Roman saddle.

Gratiam habeo, MPC, for an X-cellent link with quite nice pics.

 

 

This one would be my favorite.

[Pompieus]

In the second century BC legions were raised annually or for specific campaigns. Only the two Spanish provinces had what could be called permanent garrisons. Even these legions were formally reconstituted every winter with new tribunes and a new chief centurion. A new governor would come out every year or two bringing fresh recruits while time-served veterans would go home with him when his term expired. The legions were normally kept concentrated in a single camps during the winter both to preserve discipline and to be ready to take the field in the spring. Some individuals would undoubtedly be detached for guard or police duties, but in the second century BC Spain was a very wild place with undefined frontiers and few towns or other places to guard. Special operations and diplomacy among the tribes was a more likely winter diversion, while summers would be occupied with active campaigning.

 

In the second century BC (and well into the first century AD) a private soldier could rise no higher than first centurion of a legion (primus pilus). The tribunes were all equestrians or senators and the provincial governors were all consulars or praetorians (senators).

 

Of course all this changed greatly over time. By the third century AD legions were being split into detachments to garrison provincial towns and to provide a mobile striking force. These detachments eventually became separate, smaller legions. Also, as has been mentioned, in the third and fourth centuries AD private soldiers could rise to be emperor.

[caldrail]

Provided the centurion has periodic contact with the individual, then no, it wouldn't take long to learn the names of eighty men. In peacetime this is easy. In war, when men are killed or invalided out frequently and replaced by new recruits or those transferred from other units (the romans did do that) then its difficult for a centurion to know everyones name. The centurion would indeed find it easier to learn someones name if he attracts attention to himself as Faustus suggested.

[necromaniac]

How high could a young legionary be promoted? odd question but necessary, lets say he starts right at the bottom.

In theory he could get promoted to emperor. One man did exactly that (Macrinus?)

 

I was under the impression that the jobs of Legati and Tribunes was reserved to men of the Senatorial and Equestrian rank and the simply soldiers could be promoted at best to the rank of Centorian.

 

There was another soldier who literally rose through the ranks to seize the purple, and that was Maximinus Thrax (Emperor from 235 to 238 CE). Though sources are scarce, it is generally agreed upon that he was born in Thrace to a peasant family, joined the Roman army to escape poverty, served in the war against Persia, and finally ended up training troops on the German Frontier. At the time, the troops were very disatisfied with Alexander Severus pursuing an appeasement policy, by buying off various tribes in exchange for peace. They began to mutiny, with Maximinus at their lead. He became Emperor in 235, at the death of Alexander S. and his mother.

 

Very short lived though, as Maximinus was himself murdered in 238 CE.

Edited September 10, 2007 by necromaniac

[Vibius Tiberius Costa]

Provided the centurion has periodic contact with the individual, then no, it wouldn't take long to learn the names of eighty men. In peacetime this is easy. In war, when men are killed or invalided out frequently and replaced by new recruits or those transferred from other units (the romans did do that) then its difficult for a centurion to know everyones name. The centurion would indeed find it easier to learn someones name if he attracts attention to himself as Faustus suggested.

 

Ooops I said sixty men, I though sixty was the correct numeb of men

 

If men can be transferred from other units can they be from other legions?

 

vtc