08-24-2014, 09:17 AM
Brian wrote:
I think looking at the gate I have shown I would go with what we have from Arrian but then that is only to go through a gate but out on a substantial road it could well be 6, in having said that I have found that most Roman roads throughout my area in north Britain might only have been able to take 4 abreast.
You’re a man after my own heart Brian. Josephus’ mention of six abreast being commanded by one centurion does not work, and I have never been able to get it to work. Four abreast works perfectly. However, the answer to Josephus’s six abreast could be found in Arrian, when he writes
“the cavalrymen organic to the units should guard both flanks of the formation.”
So four legionaries abreast flank by a single line of cavalry on either flank works for me as the cavalry belong to the cohort, the numbers match.
I think looking at the gate I have shown I would go with what we have from Arrian but then that is only to go through a gate but out on a substantial road it could well be 6, in having said that I have found that most Roman roads throughout my area in north Britain might only have been able to take 4 abreast.
You’re a man after my own heart Brian. Josephus’ mention of six abreast being commanded by one centurion does not work, and I have never been able to get it to work. Four abreast works perfectly. However, the answer to Josephus’s six abreast could be found in Arrian, when he writes
“the cavalrymen organic to the units should guard both flanks of the formation.”
So four legionaries abreast flank by a single line of cavalry on either flank works for me as the cavalry belong to the cohort, the numbers match.
