EUREKA - Roman army troops

[Sardaukar]

I'll definitely get your book !

I like your explanation of triarii.

For example J.F.C. Fuller in his book "Julius Caesar: Man, Soldier, and Tyrant" mentions that troops that fought "in front of standards" ("antesigniferi"/"preaquiliferi") were the cutting edge of the legion.

Well..it's Late Republic, but I think custom might be similar. In battle of Ilerda Campaign, there was mention of Caesar sending his first line troops to capture hill from Pompeians and they failed. It can be interpreted either that he sent legion's worst troops (I personally don't think so) to try to capture the hill..or that he sent the best.

While I do not much like that book, since I think JFC Fuller was clearly a victim of his own assumptions (not even trying to find alternative explanations, just dismissing the available evidence), he does have few interesting points in the book..especially considering the character of Caesar.