02-20-2014, 12:38 PM
Frank wrote:
Vegetius II, 8 The structure of the 1st cohort according to Vegetius is:
centurio primi pili 400 Men
primus hastatus 200 Men
princeps primae cohortis 150 Men
secundus hastatus 150 Men
triarius prior 100 Men
Thanks Frank, now I see where you are coming from.
Frank wrote:
Nevertheless an interesting read about Vegetius and why we should trust him, that a triarius really existed, whatever his role and rank was. And about the good old roman tradition to reuse old terms and give them a new meaning.
I have to agree about the existence of a triarius. I cannot lightly dismiss the evidence of AE 1981 777. I still believe the term triarius applies to the older troops in the legion and this is why I believe they are at the bottom of Vegetius’ structure. Also the structure presented by Vegetius could apply to the deployment of the first cohort. Notice that all the numbers are divisible by 50.
centurio primi pili 400 Men = 8 men deep
primus hastatus 200 Men = 4 men deep
princeps primae cohortis 150 Men = 3 men deep
secundus hastatus 150 Men = 3 men deep
triarius prior 100 Men = 2 men deep
This gives a total of 20 men deep. Vegetius (3 15) instructs us the lines can be drawn up 10 deep or more. So the 20 men deep from above can be deployed in two lines each of 10 men. Now in relation to Vegetius’ 10 deep or more, in order to increase the depth above 10 men, we need the remaining triarius posterior.
Vegetius II, 8 The structure of the 1st cohort according to Vegetius is:
centurio primi pili 400 Men
primus hastatus 200 Men
princeps primae cohortis 150 Men
secundus hastatus 150 Men
triarius prior 100 Men
Thanks Frank, now I see where you are coming from.
Frank wrote:
Nevertheless an interesting read about Vegetius and why we should trust him, that a triarius really existed, whatever his role and rank was. And about the good old roman tradition to reuse old terms and give them a new meaning.
I have to agree about the existence of a triarius. I cannot lightly dismiss the evidence of AE 1981 777. I still believe the term triarius applies to the older troops in the legion and this is why I believe they are at the bottom of Vegetius’ structure. Also the structure presented by Vegetius could apply to the deployment of the first cohort. Notice that all the numbers are divisible by 50.
centurio primi pili 400 Men = 8 men deep
primus hastatus 200 Men = 4 men deep
princeps primae cohortis 150 Men = 3 men deep
secundus hastatus 150 Men = 3 men deep
triarius prior 100 Men = 2 men deep
This gives a total of 20 men deep. Vegetius (3 15) instructs us the lines can be drawn up 10 deep or more. So the 20 men deep from above can be deployed in two lines each of 10 men. Now in relation to Vegetius’ 10 deep or more, in order to increase the depth above 10 men, we need the remaining triarius posterior.
