History of the Roman Army
In the early days of the Roman army, the Romans looked allot like the Greek army. During the rule of the Etruskin kings (who were very powerful rulers) the army used the Greek Phalanx as the latest in battle formations. The early Roman solders also looked a lot like the Greek Hoplites (see fig 1 ) who instead of just a random order of fighting were trained to stand and march in formation, next to each other, shoulder to shoulder.
In the early days of the Roman army, the Romans looked allot like the Greek army. During the rule of the Etruskin kings (who were very powerful rulers) the army used the Greek Phalanx as the latest in battle formations. The early Roman solders also looked a lot like the Greek Hoplites (see fig 1 ) who instead of just a random order of fighting were trained to stand and march in formation, next to each other, shoulder to shoulder.
The Romans soon found the Phalanx to be ill suited to the terrain. So they made a new way of fighting, showing they could adapt themselves. There were now three lines of soldiers, the Hastati in the front, the Principes forming the second row, and the Triarii, Rorarii and Accensi in the rear.
This is how they looked in battle:
At the front stood the Hastati, who were the spearmen. The Hastati where young fighters and carried body armor and a rectangular shield called the Scutum, which would remain a piece of equipment of the legionary throughout Roman history. The Principes and the Triarii formed the heavy infantry.
The Rorarii were younger, inexperienced men, and the Accensi were the last resort of experienced fighters.
One man who made a great contribution to the running of the army was Scipio Africanus, the famous Roman general from the second Punic war, who also defeated Hannibal.
Henceforth the Roman soldiers would be led by clever men, seeking to outmaneuver their foe, rather than merely being lined up and marched at the enemy. If Rome had the best soldiers, it would now have the best generals.
fig 1 was found at
Web link"Roman Tactics." www.roman-empire.net/army/tactics. www.roman-empire.net, n.d.
fig 2 was found at
Web link"300 - THE GREEK PHALANX." awesomestories.com. awesomestories.com, n.d. Web. 21
Mar. 2012. <http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/
7b42598429.jpg>.
This is how they looked in battle:
At the front stood the Hastati, who were the spearmen. The Hastati where young fighters and carried body armor and a rectangular shield called the Scutum, which would remain a piece of equipment of the legionary throughout Roman history. The Principes and the Triarii formed the heavy infantry.
The Rorarii were younger, inexperienced men, and the Accensi were the last resort of experienced fighters.
One man who made a great contribution to the running of the army was Scipio Africanus, the famous Roman general from the second Punic war, who also defeated Hannibal.
Henceforth the Roman soldiers would be led by clever men, seeking to outmaneuver their foe, rather than merely being lined up and marched at the enemy. If Rome had the best soldiers, it would now have the best generals.
fig 1 was found at
Web link"Roman Tactics." www.roman-empire.net/army/tactics. www.roman-empire.net, n.d.
fig 2 was found at
Web link"300 - THE GREEK PHALANX." awesomestories.com. awesomestories.com, n.d. Web. 21
Mar. 2012. <http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/
7b42598429.jpg>.