What\'s the strength of Roman Army?

[JRSCline]

Interesting question, this.<br>
<br>
Yes, I agree with Tenchi that discipline was the bedrock of Roman military success. However, it didn't save them at Cannae. Neither did their rather conventional, frontal-meatgrinder tactics. Roman generals are often lampooned for a lack of imagination! In some cases this was not fair, but I think in the main the charge stands.<br>
<br>
Romans focused on a few core concepts that worked, then perfected those methods through iron discipline, endless drill, and lots of practical experience.<br>
<br>
One victim of the Roman war machine was Josephus, a Jewish statesman who was held under house arrest in Rome for some time following the Roman conquest of Judaea. He drew on his own bitter experiences with the Roman legions to write:<br>
<br>
"Indeed one would not be wrong to say that their drills are bloodless battles, and their battles, bloody drills." (Jewish War, 3.76)<br>
<p></p><i></i>