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

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 hand- to-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 peace time) Trajan’s Column showing soldiers 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 of a well preserved Roman camp, located in northern England. Although Vindolanda was settled much later than Caesar’s day, it still offers insight into a soldier’s life. link to see artifacts and excavations at Vindolanda:

Dickinson College to the Rescue! caesar/caesar- introduction Find vocabulary, textual notes, and other helpful resources at the link to the left.

Let’s Listen and Watch…. De Bello Gallico 1.1: watch?v=QczSgNG9b Dc De Bello Gallico 1.2: watch?v=AW8dqCMj ejo