10-13-2011, 06:29 AM
So, if the 8th was placed to the left of the 9th there would normally be a narrow interval between them. The very fact that we are told of such a gap between two legions infers that there would be even smaller ones between cohorts, if any.
Come on, you are making some major assumptions here. Where did you come up with the idea that there would have been a narrow interval or smaller ones between cohorts?
The line from De Bello Civili straight out implies that there were gaps between the legions, that in the case of Pharsalus the 8th and 9th would be stationed so close together as to almost make one super large legion, but not quite, meaning there was still a gap between them. Then Caesar wrote that the legions are supposed to support each other, which generally implies that usually they didn't, meaning that each legion controlled its own battle space and fought its own fight.
As stands it seems to imply that there were entire legions forming the third line, but that creates problems... Later Caesar informs us that the fourth line was comprised of six cohorts, which would mean that there were six legions in the third line... Too many by any standards! The original reads
Caesar makes it clear a few times how legions formed up for battle. here is one example where he tells you straight out how he formed his five legions of infantry into the traditional triplix acies.
"Caesar had three lines, four cohorts out of each of the five legions formed the first line. Three more from each legion followed them, as reserves: and three others were behind these." De Bello Civili, 1: 83
Its the old 4/3/3 formation of cohorts in battle formation.
Caesar later implies that gaps existed between the legions. He writes repeatedly about battlefields where units are pushed back while others hold. Whole legions run but the Roman line isn't lost. How does this happen when they fight in a continuous battle line? It doesn't. Gaps would have been necessary in battle as well as deploying for battle. Units would separate from each other. Unit integrity is a major psychological factor in battle and it doesn't work if everyone is joined at the hip to the units next to them.
I am officially through with the gap debate. This is entirely too tiring to have to debate the same things over and over again. You win! They fought in a nonstop line.
Come on, you are making some major assumptions here. Where did you come up with the idea that there would have been a narrow interval or smaller ones between cohorts?
The line from De Bello Civili straight out implies that there were gaps between the legions, that in the case of Pharsalus the 8th and 9th would be stationed so close together as to almost make one super large legion, but not quite, meaning there was still a gap between them. Then Caesar wrote that the legions are supposed to support each other, which generally implies that usually they didn't, meaning that each legion controlled its own battle space and fought its own fight.
As stands it seems to imply that there were entire legions forming the third line, but that creates problems... Later Caesar informs us that the fourth line was comprised of six cohorts, which would mean that there were six legions in the third line... Too many by any standards! The original reads
Caesar makes it clear a few times how legions formed up for battle. here is one example where he tells you straight out how he formed his five legions of infantry into the traditional triplix acies.
"Caesar had three lines, four cohorts out of each of the five legions formed the first line. Three more from each legion followed them, as reserves: and three others were behind these." De Bello Civili, 1: 83
Its the old 4/3/3 formation of cohorts in battle formation.
Caesar later implies that gaps existed between the legions. He writes repeatedly about battlefields where units are pushed back while others hold. Whole legions run but the Roman line isn't lost. How does this happen when they fight in a continuous battle line? It doesn't. Gaps would have been necessary in battle as well as deploying for battle. Units would separate from each other. Unit integrity is a major psychological factor in battle and it doesn't work if everyone is joined at the hip to the units next to them.
I am officially through with the gap debate. This is entirely too tiring to have to debate the same things over and over again. You win! They fought in a nonstop line.
