06-16-2014, 01:59 AM
You also have to wonder about the quality of both the troops and their equipment for Crassus's Parthian campaign as both Caesar & Pompey had large armies in Gaul & Spain. In the 50s Caesar would have had between 4 & 11 legions & Pompey had 4 in Spain so the barrel would be scraped bare in regards to manpower, armour & weapons.
Did he have quality officers to ensure that his troops would be disciplined & well maintained re weapons & armour?
Did Crassus devote enough time to training & planning before his invasion as in hindsight he was hopelessly short of quality cavalry?
Dio mentions that Crassus had to recruit new troops from among Lucanians, Marsians & Apulians 'not the choicest of troops' so making sure these troops had the best quality armour, except among the wealthy is doubtful. These were the late Republican times so although the state supplied troops after the reforms of Marius, I think that there wouldn't be much quality equipment available.
Regards
Michael Kerr
Did he have quality officers to ensure that his troops would be disciplined & well maintained re weapons & armour?
Did Crassus devote enough time to training & planning before his invasion as in hindsight he was hopelessly short of quality cavalry?
Dio mentions that Crassus had to recruit new troops from among Lucanians, Marsians & Apulians 'not the choicest of troops' so making sure these troops had the best quality armour, except among the wealthy is doubtful. These were the late Republican times so although the state supplied troops after the reforms of Marius, I think that there wouldn't be much quality equipment available.
Regards
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
