12-22-2011, 12:37 AM
I found some information in K. Gilliver, The Roman Art of War, p.49ff.
a) Caesar, BG V.46-47: Caesar force-marched his legionaries 20 miles in a day to rescue Q. Cicero, after awaiting to be relieved by Crassus, who had marched 25 miles between midnight and the third hour (around 9 am).
b) Livy, 27.43-49: C. Claudius Nero marches some 250 miles in seven days to reinforce M. Livius Salinator at Metaurus. This averages at 35,7 miles a day. Livy mentions that "there was no loitering, no straggling, no halt except while taking food; they marched day and night; they gave to rest hardly enough time for the needs of their bodies."
She also notes that the Caesarian army was marching without the baggage train, as Livy also says of Claudius Nero's consular force: "Claudius' army had brought with it on its expedition hardly anything besides its arms". (ibid, 27.47). Gilliver further uses archaeological evidence in Scotland (cf. Nathan's post above) to support the idea that the normal marching distance was rather below 18 miles, although rivers and other terrain would further reduce the possible distances - as Nathan has pointed out above (Gilliver, p.49-50).
a) Caesar, BG V.46-47: Caesar force-marched his legionaries 20 miles in a day to rescue Q. Cicero, after awaiting to be relieved by Crassus, who had marched 25 miles between midnight and the third hour (around 9 am).
b) Livy, 27.43-49: C. Claudius Nero marches some 250 miles in seven days to reinforce M. Livius Salinator at Metaurus. This averages at 35,7 miles a day. Livy mentions that "there was no loitering, no straggling, no halt except while taking food; they marched day and night; they gave to rest hardly enough time for the needs of their bodies."
She also notes that the Caesarian army was marching without the baggage train, as Livy also says of Claudius Nero's consular force: "Claudius' army had brought with it on its expedition hardly anything besides its arms". (ibid, 27.47). Gilliver further uses archaeological evidence in Scotland (cf. Nathan's post above) to support the idea that the normal marching distance was rather below 18 miles, although rivers and other terrain would further reduce the possible distances - as Nathan has pointed out above (Gilliver, p.49-50).
M. Caecilius M.f. Maxentius - Max C.
Qui vincit non est victor nisi victus fatetur
- Q. Ennius, Annales, Frag. XXXI, 493
Secretary of the Ricciacus Frënn (http://www.ricciacus.lu/)
Qui vincit non est victor nisi victus fatetur
- Q. Ennius, Annales, Frag. XXXI, 493
Secretary of the Ricciacus Frënn (http://www.ricciacus.lu/)
