Transcript The roman army

The roman army
By: AVREVS
http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army-pictures.html
The infantry
The mainstay of the roman army, they were
the most important fighting unit, upon
which everything else was but a compliment.
The Cohort
The Legion
Imperator
Roman Name for
victorious generals.
Meant commander
in chief of the army.
Emperors were
called imperator.
Wore a light, thin
ceremony armor.
Legatus
Was the commander
of the roman legion.
Was always of the
senatorial class.
(notice the purple
cloth on his tunic.)
Wore a bronze chest
plate type armor.
centurion
Commander of a
unit of men (60~80).
Greaves are a sign of
being a centurion.
Vine rod carried was
used to beat soldiers.
Black horse hair was
a sign of importance.
optio
Was the lieutenant
of the centurion.
Assumed power upon
centurion’s demise.
Was promoted upon
any given vacancy.
Stayed at the rear
of the century.
At roll call,
anyone not there
went into the
optio’s little book…
Cornicen
Blew the horn to
announce an order.
Was paid 50 percent
better than grunts.
Wore a ceremonious
wolf skin on helmet.
Sometimes carried a
small round shield.
Aquilifer
Was covered in the
skin of a lion.
Was in charge of the
legion’s eagle.
Was also in charge
of the pay chest.
eagle was protected
at all costs…(honor)
Signifer
Always Wore a wolf
skin on his helmet.
Carried a ceremony
small round shield.
Carried the signs for
a maniple. (2 centur.)
Name taken from
the standard signum.
Vexillarius
Wore skin of a bear
over his helmet.
Is used as a standard
bearer for cavalry.
He Carried a small
round shield.
Was used to lead a
small detachment.
legionary
He Wore the famous
lorica segmentata.
He carried a large
square shield.
HE Was armed with a
stabbing sword.
He Wore the famous
gallic helmet.
Auxiliary
The cavalry
Used as scouts and as harriers,
but never ever as the main
assault force by the roman army.
The cavalry
As you can see, the roman
cavalry rode ponies.
The cavalry
Sometimes were
used on the two
wings as archers.
Often were
meant to annoy
rather than
truly harm the
enemy.
Aimed at the
enemy horses.
Horses are more
expensive than
men to field in
combat.
The cavalry
Used long lances
to ride down
the enemy
soldiers fleeing
from the field.
Only when the
enemy broke and
ran would the
lancers be
unleashed to
stab them in the
back.
Most enemy
causalities were
from the
lancers running
them through.
The cavalry
The Roman Calvary
never charged the
enemy unless they
were desperate or
the enemy charged
first.
Horses are costly
and hard to train.
Often used to
harass or block
the enemy Cavalry.
Used the Long
Sword Sparta.
Siege weapons
Were much feared contraptions used
widely by the romans. defenders would
often sue for peace when the army
showed up with the siege weaponry.
Siege tower
The tower was used
to assault the walls.
Archers often used
the towers to shoot.
The tower gave a
height advantage.
Catapults were
placed on top of it.
onager
This is the well
known “catapult”.
Was used to knock
down enemy walls.
Could hurl heavy
stones with ease.
Were much feared
by the defenders.
ballista
Was used to pick off
archers on the wall.
Were light enough
to be used anywhere.
Romans actually
made automatics.
Were used to take
out enemy officers.
The automatic ballista
Originally of
Greek design.
Was used on the
battlefield.
Was often burned
rather than left.
was not widely
used by romans.
formations
Helped establish the Romans as
the “unbeatable army” at least
for over half a millennium.
formations
The Orb!
formations
The Tortoise!
formations
The Wedge!
formations
Repel Cavalry!
Reforms
Marcus Aurelius
Julius Caesar