12-05-2007, 04:27 AM
I don't think one should attempt to be too rigid in defining 'maniple' as so may files of so many men, and I readily accept that maniple could refer to a unit or sub-unit.
Consider the likely origin of the word, from 'manus'= hand, hence originally 'maniple' is lit: handful, which might be as few as 10 men, or as many as 120 ( say). It would thus be a generic word (rather than a particular size); as say, we use the word 'unit' which might be small or large depending on context, or task.(e.g."... a unit of ten men...." or "... a task-force sized composite unit was sent...." Later, as the structure became more fomalised 'maniple' would come to mean a particular size of unit.
Secondly, consider contemporary greek usage, where lochos could mean 'a file' ( which in turn would vary, depending on the situation militarily, and how many 'age-classes' had been called out, so that the file might be 8,10, 12 or even 16 men) or 'lochos' could mean a 'company' up to 500 or more strong.
The analogy cannot be taken too far, because there was a fundamental difference between Greek and Roman military organisation.
Greek formations, drill, and tactics were all based on the file
Roman formations, drill and tactics were all based on ranks
( I hasten to add this is an off-the-top-of-the-head comment, hence the lack of sources ,which I usually take care to quote)
Consider the likely origin of the word, from 'manus'= hand, hence originally 'maniple' is lit: handful, which might be as few as 10 men, or as many as 120 ( say). It would thus be a generic word (rather than a particular size); as say, we use the word 'unit' which might be small or large depending on context, or task.(e.g."... a unit of ten men...." or "... a task-force sized composite unit was sent...." Later, as the structure became more fomalised 'maniple' would come to mean a particular size of unit.
Secondly, consider contemporary greek usage, where lochos could mean 'a file' ( which in turn would vary, depending on the situation militarily, and how many 'age-classes' had been called out, so that the file might be 8,10, 12 or even 16 men) or 'lochos' could mean a 'company' up to 500 or more strong.
The analogy cannot be taken too far, because there was a fundamental difference between Greek and Roman military organisation.
Greek formations, drill, and tactics were all based on the file
Roman formations, drill and tactics were all based on ranks
( I hasten to add this is an off-the-top-of-the-head comment, hence the lack of sources ,which I usually take care to quote)
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff