The Imperial Roman Army was the most feared and powerful army at its height. It conquered and maintained rule over lands far from the capital of the Empire, Rome.
It was Gaius Marius who organised the Roman Army, instituted the professional soldiers and ensured that veterans were rewarded with land when they retired. The army was staffed by professional soldiers, who served terms of 25 years. Service in the army became a way of earning citizenship of Rome.
The army was highly structured - see picture below.
It was Gaius Marius who organised the Roman Army, instituted the professional soldiers and ensured that veterans were rewarded with land when they retired. The army was staffed by professional soldiers, who served terms of 25 years. Service in the army became a way of earning citizenship of Rome.
The army was highly structured - see picture below.
Key facts about the Roman Army
We know a lot about the tactics of the Roman army from the many accounts and stories which have survived.
The Roman army marched on foot, able to cover many kilometres a day. They lived off the lands they moved through, often making themselves unpopular with the local populations.
They were skilled fighters - being aware of the importance of the choice of ground and position.
The Roman army had rigid rules of the formations In the battle- each man should have a metre of space allowing room to fight, while the distance between the ranks of soldiers was to be 2 metres.
The Roman soldiers fought in tight formations called a Testudo (tortoise shell). They used their shields to create the "shell" and protect the soldiers as they advanced. They used a wedge shape to penetrate the enemy ranks.
The normal arrangement was to place the infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the sides. The function of the cavalry was to prevent the centre from being outflanked and once the battle turned and the enemy started to retreat the cavalry moved forward and cut them down. Horsemen were always a secondary force in ancient warfare, with the main fighting being done by the infantry.
The soldiers fought with a dagger called a Pugio for close fighting, a short sword called a Gladius and a javelin or spear, called a Pilum.
We know a lot about the tactics of the Roman army from the many accounts and stories which have survived.
The Roman army marched on foot, able to cover many kilometres a day. They lived off the lands they moved through, often making themselves unpopular with the local populations.
They were skilled fighters - being aware of the importance of the choice of ground and position.
The Roman army had rigid rules of the formations In the battle- each man should have a metre of space allowing room to fight, while the distance between the ranks of soldiers was to be 2 metres.
The Roman soldiers fought in tight formations called a Testudo (tortoise shell). They used their shields to create the "shell" and protect the soldiers as they advanced. They used a wedge shape to penetrate the enemy ranks.
The normal arrangement was to place the infantry in the centre and the cavalry on the sides. The function of the cavalry was to prevent the centre from being outflanked and once the battle turned and the enemy started to retreat the cavalry moved forward and cut them down. Horsemen were always a secondary force in ancient warfare, with the main fighting being done by the infantry.
The soldiers fought with a dagger called a Pugio for close fighting, a short sword called a Gladius and a javelin or spear, called a Pilum.
This is a late design Roman dagger. Also known as a Pugio
This is the Roman sword, or Gladius.
The Roman Javelin or spear, called a Pilum.