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7.0 Units
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Here is the unit information not included in the manual.
[7.1 Roman Units (Julli, Brutii, Scipii, and Senate)]
A. Roman Infantry
Peasants
Peasants are reluctant warriors, but numbers are useful in all armies.
Forcing peasants to fight is one way of getting lots of men in the field
quickly and cheaply. They have little tactical sense, and even less
willingness to fight - they would rather be defending their own homes
than be dragged to a battle they neither care about nor understand. If
nothing else, they are useful when there's digging to be done! They are,
however, experts at reading the land and hiding whenever there is cover.
Town Watch
The town watch are local workers and peasants given enough training to
defend their homes and keep order in the streets. They are no substitute
for fully trained Roman legionaries, but then they are not expected to
be more than a citizen militia with an interest in keeping the peace
(and possibly they might have some fire fighting duties). They do not
have much equipment, as the most they are expected to do is stand behind
their spears and shields, and then hold position when charged. By and
large, this they manage to do.
Archers
Roman archers are supporting troops for heavier infantry, very much a
secondary role in Roman warfare. They are missile troops almost
exclusively, as their lack of armour and poor hand weapons mean that
only a heartless or desperate commander would deliberately order them
to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Archery is not really a significant
part of the Roman way of warfare, but the need for some missile troops
is obvious to Roman commanders, and hence these archers are recruited
from among the peasant classes.
Archer Auxilia
Archer auxilia are supporting troops for the heavier legionary
infantry, an important secondary role in Roman warfare. They are not
expected to fight in hand-to-hand combat and are not given
the war gear to do so for long; their job is to provide supporting
fire and let the legionaries fight the main battle. Because the
Roman army is standardised around its heavy infantry legionaries
other types of troops are recruited as auxiliaries. Their training
is very nearly as vigorous as that of the legionaries and discipline
in auxilia units is certainly as harsh and uncompromising.
Historically, with the changes introduced by Gaius Marius professional
auxiliaries were recruited to serve alongside the now-professional
legionaries; a wholesale shake-up of the Roman military machine saw
the whole army being put on a full time, service-for-life footing,
with auxiliaries being rewarded with Roman citizenship at the end
of their military careers.
Velites
Velites are light skirmishing troops who screen the main battle
line of an early-pattern Legion as it advances. They are armed
with javelins and a stabbing sword, and carry a small round shield
but no other protection. It is their task to harass the enemy before
the main combat begins. Velites are recruited from younger citizens,
who lack the experience (or the money for their own gear) to fight
as hastati or other heavy infantry. Roman velites become obsolescent
after the Marius Reforms. Historically, Marius put the Roman army on
a professional footing, and abandoned all property and age
requirements in the process. Roman citizens would no longer go to
war as-and-when as a civic duty; they would fight in future as
full-time citizen- mercenaries in the Legions.
Hastati
Hastati are among the younger men in an early Republican Legion,
and form the front line in any battle. They are supposed to wear
down an enemy and hold him before the next Roman battle line
attacks and carries on the fight. They are, as a result, capable
troops in their own right. They are armed with two pila that
are thrown at the enemy at close range before they close to fight
hand-to-hand. They are equipped with a sword, a bronze helmet, a
large shield and a breastplate. The pilum (plural, pila) is a cleverly
designed spear with a soft iron shaft behind the point; it bends on
impact so that it can't be thrown back and if it's stuck in someone
or something it is a real hindrance to movement. Historically,
hastati spent their own money on their equipment and often couldn't
afford anything much better. This, along with the age and property
requirements, was why they fought as hastati.
Principes
Principes are older, more reliable soldiers who have seen some
service. It is their task to be the second line of a legion and
carry on the fight once the hastati are spent. They are supposed to
carry on the 'wearing down' fight and exhaust the enemy. They are, as
a result, capable soldiers and unafraid of combat. They are armed
with two pila that are thrown at the enemy at close range before
they close to fight hand-to-hand. They are each equipped with a
sword, a bronze helmet, a large shield and chain armour. Historically,
principes spent their own money on their equipment and, being older,
were in a position to buy better gear than the young hastati. This,
along with the age and property requirements, was why they fought as
principes.
Triarii
Triarii are tough heavy spearmen who make up the third and most
senior part of a Roman Legion before the military Reforms of Gaius
Marius. They carry a long "hoplite-style" spear (the hasta)
that is used to thrust, a long shield and a gladius. They are the
oldest veteran soldiers, and well armoured � hardly surprising,
given that they are also drawn from the richest section of society.
The triarii are the last available line in early-pattern Republican
Legions. "Going to the triarii" is a Roman saying meaning carrying
on to the bitter end, and if they are used it's a sign that the
moment of decision in a battle has arrived. Historically, triarii
spent their own money on their equipment and could afford to buy
the best of everything.
Light Auxilia
Light auxilia are skirmishers who act as a screening force for
heavier troops. They also break up enemy formations with showers
of javelins that have a longer range than the iron-shafted heavy
pila carried by Roman legionaries. These auxilia do not wear armour
and so cannot be expected to last long in hand-to-hand combat but
they can fight if they must. Their training is very nearly as
vigorous as that of the legionaries so they do not tire easily,
and discipline in auxilia units is certainly as harsh and
uncompromising.
Auxilia
Auxilia are highly disciplined and tough spearmen who provide
support to Roman legionaries in battle. They are defensive infantry,
expected to protect the flanks of the heavier legionaries from
cavalry and similar threats; their training is at least as harsh
as that of the legionaries and produces men with a similar level
of discipline and hardiness. These troops need to keep up with
other Roman forces, and so cannot be allowed to tire easily. They
are recruited from among non-Romans within the Empire, and this is
easy because Roman citizenship is far from being universal.
Historically, Roman commanders made sure that auxilia were always
stationed far away from home so that there was no temptation to
acts of rebellion. The changes introduced by Gaius Marius meant
that professional auxiliaries were recruited to serve alongside
the now-professional legionaries; a wholesale shake-up of the
Roman military machine saw the whole army being put on a full
time, service-for-life footing, with auxiliaries being rewarded
with Roman citizenship at the end of their military careers.
Early Legionaries
Roman legionaries are tough, professional troops with good armour
and superb weapons. Their hallmarks are discipline, obedience and
tactical flexibility. When approaching enemy fortifications, for
example, they can use the turtle formation, or testudo, overlapping
their shields for protection. Every legionary's chainmail armour,
the lorica hamata, is of very good quality, as is the rest of his
gear: a metal helmet and a large curved shield. They fight with
two throwing spears (the pilum, plural pila) and a short stabbing
sword, the gladius. Each pilum has a soft iron shaft behind the
piercing head that is designed to bend as soon as it hits a target,
making it impossible to pull out and throw back. Embedded in a
shield a pilum hampers an enemy. Embedded in a man, it usually
kills. Once the pila have been thrown, legionaries close and continue
fighting with the stabbing gladius. Historically, these legionaries
only came to be after the army reforms of Gaius Marius. He abandoned
property and age requirements for the legions, and made the Roman army
into a professional force. No longer would a man have to provide his
own war gear; he would be paid, serve a term of 25 years and then
retire with enough land to give him a pension for the remainder of his
days.
Early First Cohort Legionaries
The Roman first cohort consist of well-armed and armoured infantrymen,
who go into combat carrying the symbol of Roman power, a Legionary
Eagle. This is inspirational for other Roman troops. Legionaries are
tough, professional troops with good armour and superb weapons.
Their hallmarks are discipline, obedience and tactical flexibility.
When approaching enemy fortifications, for example, they can use the
turtle formation, or testudo, overlapping their shields for protection.
Every legionary's chainmail armour, the lorica hamata, is of very good
quality, as is the rest of his gear: a metal helmet and a large curved
shield. They fight with two throwing spears (the pilum, plural pila)
and a short stabbing sword, the gladius. Each pilum has a soft iron
shaft behind the piercing head that is designed to bend as soon as it
hits a target, making it impossible to pull out and throw back.
Embedded in a shield a pilum hampers an enemy. Embedded in a man,
it usually kills. Once the pila have been thrown, the first cohort
close and continue fighting with the stabbing gladius. Historically,
these cohorts came to be after the army reforms of Gaius Marius. He
made the Roman army into a professional force. Men served a term of
25 years and then retired with enough land to give them pensions
for the remainder of their days. The best legionaries in each legion
would naturally gravitate through seniority into the first cohort.
Legionaries
Roman legionaries are tough, professional troops with good armour
and superb weapons. Their hallmarks are discipline, obedience and
tactical flexibility. When approaching enemy fortifications, for
example, they can use the turtle formation, or testudo, overlapping
their shields for protection. Every legionary's flexible banded armour,
the lorica segmenta, is of very good quality, as is the rest of
his gear: a metal helmet and a large curved shield. They fight with
two throwing spears (the pilum, plural pila) and a short stabbing
sword, the gladius. Each pilum has a soft iron shaft behind the
piercing head that is designed to bend as soon as it hits a target,
making it impossible to pull out and throw back. Embedded in a shield
a pilum hampers an enemy. Embedded in a man, it usually kills. Once the
pila have been thrown, legionaries close and continue fighting with the
stabbing gladius. The lorica segmenta armour was adopted because it
was cheaper to make and offered more protection as the earlier chainmail.
First Cohort Legionaries
The Roman first cohort consists of well-armed and armoured infantrymen,
who go into combat carrying the symbol of Roman power, a Legionary
Eagle. This is inspirational for other Roman troops. Legionaries are
tough, professional troops with good armour and superb weapons. Their
hallmarks are discipline, obedience and tactical flexibility. When
approaching enemy fortifications, for example, they can use the turtle
formation, or testudo, overlapping their shields for protection. Every
legionary's banded metal armour, the lorica segmenta, is of very good
quality, as is the rest of his gear: a metal helmet and a large curved
shield. They fight with two throwing spears (the pilum, plural pila)
and a short stabbing sword, the gladius. Each pilum has a soft iron
shaft behind the piercing head that is designed to bend as soon as it
hits a target, making it impossible to pull out and throw back. Embedded
in a shield a pilum hampers an enemy. Embedded in a man, it usually kills.
Once the pila have been thrown, the first cohort close and continue
fighting with the stabbing gladius. Historically, the lorica segmenta
was slightly easier and cheaper to manufacture than chainmail, an
important consideration when Rome had so many troops in the field.
Praetorian Cohort Legionaries
A Praetorian cohort is made up of elite Legionaries, recruited because
of their superb soldiering skills and political loyalties. A general can
rely on this unit. Praetorian training is, as might be expected, both
demanding and incredibly thorough. These men are some of the best,
toughest, most unflinching soldiers in Rome, and they know it! Their
equipment is much the same as other legionaries, but better made. Every
praetorian wears banded armour, the lorica segmenta, a metal helmet
and carries a large curved shield. They fight with two heavy throwing
spears (the pilum, plural pila) and a short stabbing sword, the gladius.
Each pilum has a soft iron shaft behind the piercing head that is
designed to bend as soon as it hits a target, making it impossible to
pull out and throw back. Once the pila have been thrown, praetorians
close and continue fighting with the stabbing gladius. They can also
use the testudo, or tortoise, to protect themselves from missiles.
Historically, the original praetorians were the 'bravest of the brave'
chosen to guard the praetorium - the tent of the legate of the legion
when in the field. These men came to act as bodyguards for all important
generals, before being made into specific formations that were considered
useful in politics as well as war. It was Augustus who established the
Praetorian Guard as both a bodyguard and for useful intimidation in Rome.
It was under the later Emperors that the Praetorians developed a taste
for conspiracy and murder.
Urban Cohort
An urban cohort is made up of elite legionaries, recruited because of
their superb soldiering skills and loyalty. These are heavy infantry
who, when not performing garrison duties in the vital cities of the
empire, fight as heavy infantry - the men who do the real work in a
Roman army! Training for any man in an urban cohort is demanding and
produces incredibly tough men. The results are the best, toughest, most
unflinching soldiers in the Roman world, men who will stop at little to
achieve their goals. The urban cohorts are equipped with the same gear
as legionaries - it is the men inside the uniform that make them
effective - and wear banded armour, the lorica segmenta, metal helmets
and carry large shields. They fight with two pila (singular, pilum),
throwing spears with soft iron shafts that are designed to bend as soon
as they hit making them impossible to fling back. They also carry short
stabbing swords for close work. Historically, the urban cohorts were a
police force for Rome established by Augustus, and were commanded to
keep order. Although outnumbered, they were a counterbalance of sorts
to the power of the Praetorian Guards within the city. Life in
the urban cohorts was better than in the 'line' legions, as pay and
service conditions were better. Other urban cohorts were established
in the larger cities of the Empire in later years, and the prefect in
charge of the cohorts often became an important political figure.
Velite Gladiator
Velite gladiators are more than mere light infantrymen - they are superb
individual fighters, unmatched by any ordinary warriors. They fight
wearing little armour - their lot in life isn't always to live through
a fight, but to die in an entertaining manner. The style of the velite is
one that uses only a spear and shield combination, relying on natural
agility to avoid injury and death. Gladiators are used in battle as a
specialised elite, one that cares little for personal safety - the only
way to attain freedom is through victory! Gladiators, after all, are
part of the damnati: the disgraced, the condemned, and the untouchables
in society. There is nowhere else for them to go.
Samnite Gladiator
Samnite gladiators are more than just soldiers. They are superb individual
fighters, unmatched by any ordinary warriors. They fight wearing little
armour - their lot in life isn't necessarily to live, but to die in an
entertaining manner. Samnites would normally fight as one half of a matched
pair, but on a battlefield they form a unit all of their own. They are a
specialised elite, one that cares little for personal safety as the only
way to attain any reward is through victory! Gladiators, after all, are
part of the damnati: the disgraced, the condemned, the untouchables in
society. There is nowhere else for them to go in the search for freedom.
Mirmillo Gladiator
Mirmillo gladiators are superb individual fighters, unmatched by any
ordinary soldiers. They wear apparently impractical armour, but then
it is designed to stop a quick kill in the arena, not necessarily keep them
alive in a battle. They would normally fight singly as half of a matched
pair, against another style of fighter, but on a battlefield they form a
unit all of their own. They care little for personal safety as they are
part of the damnati: the disgraced, the condemned, the untouchables in
society. They fight; they win; they may gain freedom... eventually.
Roman Arcani
They are a shadowy part of the Roman army organised in small groups and
competent in camouflage and deception. The arcani exist almost as a secret
society whose very name should not be spoken. The armour they wear is
finely crafted so that while it offers great protection, it will not
slow or tire the fantastically fit arcani troops. Their face masks mean
opposing troops may even flee in terror when surprised by a group of these
blood-thirsty killers!
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