05-23-2013, 04:46 PM
Quote:.......
But if if you start with the formation described in the third picture and then you close the files, you'll obtain a sort of wedge formation, and with a simple manouvre you can pass from this wedge to the array of the second pictures and then also to the close one. In this manouvre could have had an important role the two centurions, prior and posterior, at the right and at the left of maniple. I don' t think this is a difficult movement to do, even on the battlefield ( expecially if the soldiers are trained ) Speaking about that, I would recommend this video ( just the first minute) by Ars dimicandi:.........
Thank you, the video was rather fun - I would love to get my hands on a similar bunch for a few hours and tidy up the drill. Many of the movements seemed most reasonable, although perhaps not all the permutations would be used to keep things simple.
The one I have particular issue with (considering the need to maintain a formation across a legion frontage), though, is the side-stepping to open and close the maniple. This is simply impractical. For one maniple of 2 centuries in an open field, fine, although I don't see the value - but not when there are 10 maniples over a legion and 40 over an army - the outer ones are not going to be side-stepping nearly 1,000ft!
