04-26-2003, 06:28 PM
unfortunatly, tacitus does not mention how the rest of the 2000 gladiators are dressed (which help Otho). So this is pure speculation. I don't know any other book which mention gladiators in battle, perhaps some of the others here. Interestingly, Tacitus does mention that the gladiators were used in the previous civil wars (Hist, II-11).<br>
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I have read somewhere that the gladiators fought in loose formations on the battlefield (can't remember where).<br>
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If i look at the text of Tacitus, i get the impression that gladiators weren't very usefull on the battlefield. The 2000 gladiators of Otho were rather quickly defeated by the Germans in Vitellius army. Although they were good fighters in the arena, i doubt their effectivness on the battlefield - especially against battlehardened legionairs. I don't know how Roman generals viewed gladiators on the battlefield, perhaps as nothing more then better armed militia, not very dependable.<br>
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I have read somewhere that the gladiators fought in loose formations on the battlefield (can't remember where).<br>
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If i look at the text of Tacitus, i get the impression that gladiators weren't very usefull on the battlefield. The 2000 gladiators of Otho were rather quickly defeated by the Germans in Vitellius army. Although they were good fighters in the arena, i doubt their effectivness on the battlefield - especially against battlehardened legionairs. I don't know how Roman generals viewed gladiators on the battlefield, perhaps as nothing more then better armed militia, not very dependable.<br>
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gr,
Jeroen Pelgrom
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I would rather have fire storms of atmospheres than this cruel descent from a thousand years of dreams.
Jeroen Pelgrom
Rules for Posting
I would rather have fire storms of atmospheres than this cruel descent from a thousand years of dreams.
