05-13-2022, 05:21 PM
Another way of reading the passage would be that Tacitus sees "bearers of spear and shield" as the default, unmarked type of troop (to be described as legions or by ethnicity) while troops without spears and large shields, such as bowmen and horsebowmen and "light armed", are described by their way of fighting.
David W. McAllister wrote a MA thesis on imperial Roman horse archers https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0058215
David W. McAllister wrote a MA thesis on imperial Roman horse archers https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0058215
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
