The Roman Legionnaire

Posted by MRL on Oct 9th 2024

Tactics of the Roman Legionnaire

The Roman soldier was unique for the fact that they fought with extreme discipline in close knit ranks, and as simple as this sounds, it went against the thinking of the day. The rest of the world, more often times than not fought in mass too, but the battle was decided by hundreds or thousands of individual duels. Fighting in an organized line with shields held in tightly formed ranks made for a formidable wall that was nearly impossible to breach and changed the way war would be fought to this day.

The ranks could be several men deep, allowing a fresh man to be rotated to the front when needed so as not to break the formation. This tight wall of men was protected by the large scutum and it was common for battle to be engaged by raining pilums down on their foes. This throwing spear purposefully had a very small head on a long iron shaft that would embed itself in its target and then bend, dragging down with it the impaled target, which was often the opponents shield. This thin iron shaft bending held another benefit - your opponent couldn’t throw it back at you!

Weapons of the Romans

As for their sidearm, the Roman soldier was never far from his trusty short sword, the gladius. The gladius was normally worn on a baldric and slung over the shoulder to hang across the body on the opposite hip. History shows us most were worn on the right hip for a “pull” draw as opposed to a “cross” draw as this type of draw was impeded by the scutum. There were several patterns of gladius and it was not unusual for mixed types to be in use within the same legion. The hilts were much alike and the blade profiles varied somewhat. The one thing that was always the same is the fact that the broad blade was approximately 20” long and had a very keen stabbing point. This point figured greatly into the fighting style preferred by the troops for it consisted almost entirely of an under hand stabbing motion that was most effective while in tight ranks.

The pugio, or large dagger, was also carried by the legions from the time from the late Republic onward. An interesting note is that a large variety of fighting spear heads has been unearthed and were no doubt used, but where they fit into the actual legion is not well known.

Roman Armor & Clothing

All troopers wore a helmet of steel and brass plus body armor, either a lorica segmentata, made of steel lames or a lorica hamata, made of steel mail with shoulder doublings.

As for the undergarments, very few articles were worn. There are examples of a loincloth or loose short being worn underneath and of course a long tunic (100042) overtop. During festivals and stately occasions a Roman would not be without his robes or toga which replicated the beautiful free flowing designs of the Greeks. Finally leather sandals (200254) were the common accessory to complete any Roman’s outfit.

Life as a Roman Soldier

To create their highly effective fighting units, training was harsh for the Roman soldier. This helped to instill a group unity, however the military discipline of the legions could be quite brutal. Regulations were strictly enforced, and many punishments could be inflicted upon a legionary who broke them. From being flayed to fewer rations, even threats to the family at home. As a result of this demanding lifestyle many legionaries became devotees in the cult of the goddess Disciplina, whose virtues of frugality, severity and loyalty were the driving force behind their code of conduct and way of life.

Diet in the Roman Army

Generally army rations consisted of little else than wheat. The soldiers themselves would ground the grain they were given and made it into things such as porridge or bread.

Whenever possible this monotonous army diet was supplemented with whatever was locally available like pork, fish, chicken, cheese, fruit and vegetables. But the basic ration of frumentum was never far from the soldier’s stomach and formed the basis of their diet. So much so, that when supply difficulties occurred in the grain supply causing other foodstuffs (even meat) to be handed out, there would be discontent among the ranks.

The officers enjoyed a more versatile diet (naturally). Archaeologists working along Hadrian's Wall in northern Britain discovered records of a commander from around AD 100; the records listed pork, chicken, venison, anchovies, oysters, eggs, radishes, apples, lentils, beans, lard and butter. Anyone else getting hungry? Not bad eating for a field officer!

Roman Army Pay

From about 100 BC onwards, Legionaries received the sum of 225 denarii a year for their service. (The denarius was a silver coin with a weight of approx. 4.5 grams. Its initial value was put at 10 asses, yep asses, giving the denarius its name which translates to "containing ten".) This basic rate remained unchanged for many years until Domitian increased it to 300 denarii. There was no further rise until the time of Septimius Severus, who increased it to 500 denarii a year. This base salary wasn’t an emperors ransom, but wasn’t bad either considering the perk- each soldier would have his pay supplemented by the booty taken in a campaign.

Retirement from Roman Army Service

All legionary soldiers also received a sizeable sum of money on the completion of their term of service: 3000 denarii from the time of Augustus and/or a plot of good farmland (good land was in much demand). Later, under Caracalla, the praemia increased to 5000 denarii.

So this is the army that conquered the “world”- a large force of disciplined men in tight ranks acting as one. Almost nothing of the day could withstand this unrelenting fighting machine.

Ancient Persia & Lydia

Croesus' Wealth Lost By A Helmet

In 547 BC, Cyrus, the Great King of Persia was at war with Croesus, the fabulously rich king of Lydia. Cyrus’s cavalry forces had beaten the Lydians in the field, but Croesus retreated and rallied his troops in a strong defense of Sardis within its stout walls, but at the same time had bottled himself and most of his army up in the capital.

Cyrus sat down to besiege it, but its walls were very high and strong, and the Persian army consisted mostly of cavalry. The cause seemed pretty hopeless, and Cyrus was about to raise the siege when a silly accident gave him the town.

One hot and hazy afternoon a sentry on the walls of Sardis took off his shinning bronze helmet and laid it on the parapet of the wall. He stood there, chatting to a comrade with his back to the parapet, when, lifting his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow, his elbow caught the helmet and knocked it off the wall, and down the rocky slope below. One of Cyrus’s men, idly watching the wall, saw the flash of the falling helmet – and soon saw a Lydian soldier lazily climb over the wall, down the slope below, pick up his helmet and leisurely climb up again. There was obviously a path.

Gold Coin of Croesus

The Persian soldier went to his captain, who then went to the King. That night a picked force of volunteers, guided by the observant soldier, climbed the path, got over the wall, down into the streets and opened one of the gates to let in the strong force which had been positioned outside. And Sardis fell. Croesus was captured, and all his vast wealth as well, and Cyrus the Great then added Lydia to his Empire of Persia. Not through strategy, but bumbling good luck.

Authors note: much of this story is related to you as it was to me by Ewart Oakeshott. His learning’s through decades made pinning down some details hard and specifics sometimes difficult to substantiate. However, I’ve never known him to be wrong either, so at least a shred of truth can be taken, if not all of it at face value.

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