04-01-2004, 08:18 PM
Adrian Goldsworthy (I recommend everyone pickup his Roman Army at War: 100BC to 200AD) theorizes a combat model where the wedge is not a formation rather an effect of troop movement on the battlefield.<br>
<br>
In his model, two sides don't just run directly into contact but stop some distance away while they build up the courage to take the final steps. During this time, they'd hurl insults, trade missile fire, etc...<br>
Then a few men (usually Centurions) would advance to kill/maim the enemy. The men beside them would advance to protect their flanks. This would create a wedge like effect as each man gets dragged along by the spontaneous advance of one or a few men. The key men would then fight until he got tired and then back off to their start lines to rest/recover. This would continue until one side eventually broke. He also theorizes the wedge, to the unlucky individual(s) in the path of the advance think the entire roman army is bearing down on them and is quite unsettling, possibly better chance of breaking the enemy before contact.<br>
<br>
It's a good model (IMHO) as so far it's the only thing that could explain how ancients could fight for hours without massive casualties and their sword arms falling off.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Leon <p></p><i></i>
<br>
In his model, two sides don't just run directly into contact but stop some distance away while they build up the courage to take the final steps. During this time, they'd hurl insults, trade missile fire, etc...<br>
Then a few men (usually Centurions) would advance to kill/maim the enemy. The men beside them would advance to protect their flanks. This would create a wedge like effect as each man gets dragged along by the spontaneous advance of one or a few men. The key men would then fight until he got tired and then back off to their start lines to rest/recover. This would continue until one side eventually broke. He also theorizes the wedge, to the unlucky individual(s) in the path of the advance think the entire roman army is bearing down on them and is quite unsettling, possibly better chance of breaking the enemy before contact.<br>
<br>
It's a good model (IMHO) as so far it's the only thing that could explain how ancients could fight for hours without massive casualties and their sword arms falling off.<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Leon <p></p><i></i>
