08-08-2012, 07:43 PM
Quote:...... But as already stated here, the decurion did not command 10 men...
Actually, in it's original Polybian context, and indeed there is no reason to reject the idea that it continued in the turmae-based cavalry and other equites for a long time after (until maybe even ~500AD'ish) - I would actually argue that a decurion was indeed responsible for 10 men, including himself.
A 10-man cavalry scouting patrol I would consider to be a very regular occurrence and even splitting them in two for 2x5-man sections (using his deputy - probably a duplicarius of one form or another.
On the field of battle, however, the senior decurion of the Turmae would be in charge (cf Polybius) and the unit would fight in the classic 3 lines split into their 10-man sections, as is described in the cavalry training manuals.
