07-02-2014, 07:29 PM
Quote:Yes, he does, he actually calls it with its latin name "koortis". In 11.23.2 "τοῦτο δὲ καλεῖται τὸ σύνταγμα τῶν πεζῶν παρὰ Ῥωμαίοις κοόρτις" and in 11.33.1 "ἐπὶ τέτταρας κοόρτις προσέβαλε τοῖς πεζοῖς". In the first instance he wrote that a koortis consists of 3 speirae (what we regularly call maniples) along with the usual grosphomachoi (regularly rendered as javelineers or sometimes velites) and the second instance is in actual battle.
Outstanding find. But I think its telling that Polybius chooses not to describe the cohort as a standardized unit of the Roman legion in Book 6 where he discusses organization, but instead refers specifically to Scipio Africanus and Gaius Laelius using cohorts. Which would lead back to the theory that a cohort was an adhoc unit only used by certain people in certain circumstances, until over time it became more standardized in usage during the time period of the Late Republic.
Here's an Interesting theory:
Using the unit grouping method common among the allied Ala, Scipio Africanus begins dividing the Roman contingent of his army into cohorts to make detaching units easier. Laelius, a novus homo, a close friend of Scipio Africanus since childhood, and is possible client of the Cornelii Scipii, does the same, as he learned of cohorts from his friend who he campaigned with. The family of the Cornelii Scipii and the Aemilii Paullii are inter-related through marriage. The son of L. Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus, no doubt familiar with Gaius Laelius (friend of family) and the history of Scipio Africanus, his uncle by marriage, so the concept of using cohorts would have been quite familiar with him and would have been part of his military education. Later, he is adopted directly by the son of Scipio Africanus the Elder. During war against Numantia, a young Gaius Marius is attached to the staff of Scipio Aemilianus Africanus and is seen as a promising Roman leader, in a war that would required medium sized detachments to be used unconventionally because of the trying nature of the siege/war. So Gaius Marius learns from an early age about the benefits in using cohorts. Later, as a praetor, he serves in Spain chasing "bandits," where the use of cohorts probably helped. Later, he serves under Caecilius Metellus as a legate in the war against the Numidian King Jugurtha, which due to the enemy Rome faces, sees a similar need for units smaller than legions and larger than maniples to be frequently, detached during raiding and foraging missions as an example. He goes on to supersede Metellus, taking over command of that army/campaign. During the last decade of the 2nd Century BC, Marius serves continuously as a senior legate for a consular army for two years and then commands successful armies for another seven years, during the Jugurthine and Cimbric War ( total of 2/3/4 years). There is no way to know how many junior officers, contubernales, tribunes, legates, and such served under him during this time, but there would have been a lot, since the two wars, especially the Cimbric War, were of great importance to Rome's future. That's not even counting those that would serve under him during the Social Wars, or those that would serve under his direct proteges. Up until that period, no one served so long in command non-stop since Hannibal's War against Rome a hundred years before. Some noteable figures that are known to have served under Marius are:
- Sulla, the next great military leader of the time period serves directly underneath Marius during not only the Jugurthine War, but also for most of the Cimbric War as well, before he goes off to assist the Consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus as a legate, no doubt bringing with him a level of military expertise learned directly from Marius. He goes on to have a successful pro-consular command in the Social War, where he is awarded the Grass Crown. Later goes on to command the war against Mithridates of Pontus for many years, as well as commanding armies and the overall campaigns during the Civil Wars.
- Sertorius who was known as a military superstar. He is awarded the Grass Crown in Spain, before the Civil War starts. He beat up on multiple Roman generals, including Metellus Pius and Pompeius Magnus (both proteges of Sulla, the former who served with Marius), in a semi-unconventional civil war in Spain.
- The brothers Sextus and Gaius Julius Caesar, both brother-in-laws with Marius; the former which would hold a senior consular command during the Social War, the latter who was a praetor and the father of C. Julius Caesar Dictator, who directly used a system of military tactics revolving around the use of cohorts.
Coincidence? I think not.
In addition to the use of cohorts, an advanced training method involving marching and sword and javelin drill was also reportedly in use by Scipio Africanus, Scipio Aemilianus, and later by Rutilius Rufus and Marius, both who served under Scipio Aemilianus. Again, Marius had taught so many junior Roman leaders that later commanded armies, the training methods he practiced, learned from others, later became the "standard" for Rome's armies.
