Roman Military Introduction Infantry Roman Footsoldiers pedites Uniform

Roman Military Introduction

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • issued by a quaestor (elected public office – treasurer, who was assigned to pay soldiers) • cost deducted from salary

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • tunica – woolen with short sleeves and extended to knees

Arma vs. Tela • arma refers to defensive armor: lorica, galea, scutum • tela refers to offensive weapons: gladius, pilum http: //trustonailende. wordpress. com/2013/06/02/my-suit-of-armour/

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • lorica – coat of leather with protective metal strips across chest, back and shoulders

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • caligae – shoes with thick soles, which had nails • tied with leather strips above ankles

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • sagum – like a raincoat but also could serve as blanket at night

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Uniform: • galea – helmet made of leather and covered with metal • crista – plume at top of helmet

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Basic Equipment (offense): • pilum – heavy javelin • wooden, but with pointed iron tip • bent after it hit its mark • weighed about 12 lbs. • could be thrown about 70 ft.

Infantry: Roman Footsoldiers pedites • Basic Equipment: • gladius – 2 -edged sword used for handto-hand combat

Standards • signa – signs for regulating movement of legion • aquila – bronze or silver eagle; carried by aquilifer under supervision of primipilus

Standards • signa – standards of maniples were symbolic figures (e. g. , human hand, animals) • carried by signifer

Standards • vexillum – general’s flag (a cloth banner hung from a staff • white banner with general’s name in red letters • red banner over headquarters was signal to arm for battle

Daily Activities • heavy manual labor when not on the march • regular practice of running in full armor • frequent equipment inspections • (building projects like roads during Trajan’s Column showing soldiers peace time) building a fort (#1) and a road (#2)

Soldiers’ March • • about 20 miles/day sarcina – pack/load of material carried by soldier (on his back) • in sarcina: 15 -day food supply; utensils like ax, saw, basket, hook, pans, 2 stakes • soldier toted about 70 lbs. of supplies and weapons

Roman Camp (castra) • • • rectangular surrounded by trench rampart: 5 – 6 ft. high and 6 – 8 ft. wide • interior had a main street with blocks • 4 main gates

Caesar’s Army • consisted of infantry, cavalry, & auxiliaries • divisions of archers (sagitarii) and slingers (auxilia) slingers represented on Trajan’s column

Roman Army: Legio • • legio – averaged 3, 600 legionaries were Roman citizens (17– 50) Divisions in a Legion cohort (360 men) maniple (120 men) century (60 men) maniple = 2 centuries cohort = 3 maniples or 6 centuries legion = 10 cohorts Roman legion ready for combat

Vindolanda • Vindolanda is the site • link to see artifacts of a well preserved and excavations at Roman camp, located Vindolanda: in northern England. • Although Vindolanda http: //www. vindolanda. com/ was settled much later than Caesar’s day, it still offers insight into a soldier’s life.

Dickinson College to the Rescue! http: //dcc. dickinson. edu/ caesar/caesarintroduction • Find vocabulary, textual notes, and other helpful resources at the link to the left.

Let’s Listen and Watch…. De Bello Gallico 1. 1: http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=Qcz. Sg. NG 9 b Dc De Bello Gallico 1. 2: http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=AW 8 dq. CMj ejo