The roman army

By: AVREVShttp://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.

centurionCommander 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.

optioWas 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 cavalrySometimes 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 cavalryUsed 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 cavalryThe 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 towerThe 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.

onagerThis is the well known “catapult”.

Was used to knock down enemy walls.

Could hurl heavy stones with ease.

Were much feared by the defenders.

ballistaWas 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 ballistaOriginally 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