Transcript Roman Military Might and Tactics

Roman Military Strategy
and Tactics
“War can only end in eventual victory”
Terms
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Scutum- large rectangular shield carried by Roman
legionnaires
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Legionnaire- a member of an army (legion), usually used
to describe the standard heavy infantry of the Imperial
Roman Army
Pilum- heavy spear, could be thrown as a javelin with an
effective range of 20 meters
Contubernium- squad of eight men
Maniple- subdivision of a legion consisting of either 60 or
120 men.
Cohort- division of legion made up of 480 men
Century- division of cohort consisting of 80 men
(originally 100)
Rome Under the Etruscan Kings
Prior to the republic the
Roman Army resembled
a Macedonian phalanx.
Cavalry used defensively
Equipment and rank
based on wealth
The Roman Legionnaire
Heavy infantry
Came into being largely due to reforms of Gaius
Marius (c. 100 BCE)
 Any citizen could be a
soldier now, so long as he
was fit and willing to fight
 Soldiers prepared for any
situation
 Given land in return for service
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The Roman Standards
Standards of a Legion and a
Maniple
In Order to Gauge the Enemy’s
Strength…
Skirmishing Formation
Lightly Infantry (Velites)—operated ahead of main forces
Wide spaces=great mobility… quick attacks and quick withdraws
Offensive
The Wedge (Pig’s Head)
Create an opening in enemy’s lines
More troops reinforcing the rear=larger opening
Defensive
Repel Cavalry
As cavalry units turn to retreat, they become easy
targets, especially for archers
Defensive… Last Resort
The Orb
Formed by any number/type of units… not ideal
Siege Tactics
If a place could not be overcome by the initial
assaults or the inhabitants persuaded to surrender,
it was practice of the Roman army to surround the
whole area with a defensive wall and ditch and
spread their units around these fortifications. This
assured no supplies and reinforcements got to the
besieged as well as guarding against any sorts of an
attempt to break out.
Siege Tactics
The Tortoise
Troops become virtually invulnerable to attacks from defensive walls
Siege Weaponry
Ballista
Scorpio-Ballista
Roman Ingenuity
Siege Tower
Colossal tower on wheels—provided height for archers and ballista catapults
Naval Warfare
Trireme
Quinquereme