Dacian Wars: Strength of Trajan\'s Army

[Paullus Scipio]

D.B. Campbell wrote:-

(btw We did the legions last year!)

...thanks for the link, Duncan, though here the discussion emphasis is on numbers rather than units taking part ( incidental here) - but the two threads do dovetail neatly !

Hmmm, I think I detect a factoid. I doubt if there was any such policy.

....what do you mean by "factoid"? ...and I never said it was 'policy' ! ...Merely a general observation that major expeditionary forces of Legions tended to be accompanied by an equivalent/similar force of auxiliaries/Allies, in the 1-2 C A.D.

Here are some brief examples:-

Germanicus Expeditionary forces;
1. Across the Rhine, A.d. 14; Legio 12,000, Aux 13-16,000, Ala 4-5,000
2.Campaign against the Chatti 15 A.D. ; Legio 12-16,000 Aux 10-15,000(inc Chauci allies) Ala 5-8,000
3. Campaign against Cherusci 16 A.D. ; Legio 25-30,000 Aux 30,000 aprox, Ala 5-6,000, Allies 5,000 aprox

The campaign in Nth Africa against Tacfarinas 17 A.D. ; Legio 4-5,000 Aux 3-5,000 Ala 1,000

Corbulo's second campaign against Parthia 58 A.D.; Legio 11-12,000 Aux 10-12,000 ( uncertain) Ala 3-5,000 ( inc allied Lt cav of Herod Agrippa)

Seutonius' campaign in Britain against Boudicca 60 A.D.; Legio 3-4,000 Aux 2-3,000 Ala 500-1,000 - later joined by Legio 10,000 Aux 5-8,000 Ala 1-2,000 Ala

Corbulo's third campaign in Parthia 59-63 A.D. Legio 10-12,000 Aux 10-15,000 ( uncertain) Ala - unknown

Cestus campaign in Judaea 66 A.D.; Legio 9,000 Aux 5,000 Ala 2,000 Allies 4,700 lt cav, 7,5000 Lt Inf archers 1,000 Lt Inf

Vespasian's campaign in Judaea 68-70 A.D.; Legio 20,000 Aux 13-15,000 Ala 3,000 ( plus equitata 1,500) Allies 4,000 cav, 8,000 archers, 3,000 Lt Inf

Revolt of Batavians 69 A.D.; Lupercus force, Legio 2-3,000
(mainly veterans) Aux 1-2,000
(others are in revolt !! ) Ala 1,000-1,500

Gallus' force, Legio 3,000 Aux 1,000-1,500
plus levy of 1,000 aprox

Vocula's force, Legio 8-10,000 Aux 5- 8,000 plus 1,500-2,000 Basque auxilia,
Ala unknown, possibly 1,000

Cerialis' force ( at battle of Trier),
Legio 8-10,000 Aux 4-7,000 Ala 1,500-2,500

Cerialis' force ( at battle of Vetera)
Legio 15-20,000 Aux 15-20,000
Ala 3-4,5000

Agricola's campaign in Scotland 84 A.D. ; Legio 8-10,000 Aux 10,000 Ala 4-5,000( Britain tended to have a high proportion of cav).........

Now, I realise I have given many 'hostages to fortune' here, and that any of these figures can be 'nit-picked', and a whole thread devoted to each, so I will provide the usual caveats - numbers are approximate, fluctuated from day to day on campaign etc etc - no further correspondence entered into, especially as it is O.T !! wink: D P P P