07-29-2010, 08:19 PM
Thanks guys!
I have come to realize that you cannot believe everything you see on the History channel, perhaps they should call it the: History? channel :wink: As I stated in the OP I had not seen this formation portrayed before or since and was not sure whether to believe it or not. It would seem to me that if the sawtooth formation is not mentioned in the literary record then perhaps it should be considered theoretical? As far as a retreating army being hampered by it's own baggage train, this would not be a unique occurance. I believe we get the English word impede from the Roman term for baggage train? That may be out of context but still...
Mathew makes a valid point, the Britons had every reason to believe they would be victorious, they had been successful up to that point and they far out numbered the Romans in this battle. The Roman commander made a balsy move placing a thick forest to his back, it worked though and of course it prevented any flanking maneuvers by the much larger enemy force. I am certainly no expert on Roman military, but it seems that Roman commanders were in the habit of placing their legions in seemingly impossible situations, Julias Caesar comes to mind :wink: .
I understand there is a new film featuring Boudicca in the works? Produced by Mel Gibson, isnt he a little :evil: these days? I guess thats what he gets for marrying someone young enough to be his grand daughter! :lol:
I have come to realize that you cannot believe everything you see on the History channel, perhaps they should call it the: History? channel :wink: As I stated in the OP I had not seen this formation portrayed before or since and was not sure whether to believe it or not. It would seem to me that if the sawtooth formation is not mentioned in the literary record then perhaps it should be considered theoretical? As far as a retreating army being hampered by it's own baggage train, this would not be a unique occurance. I believe we get the English word impede from the Roman term for baggage train? That may be out of context but still...
Mathew makes a valid point, the Britons had every reason to believe they would be victorious, they had been successful up to that point and they far out numbered the Romans in this battle. The Roman commander made a balsy move placing a thick forest to his back, it worked though and of course it prevented any flanking maneuvers by the much larger enemy force. I am certainly no expert on Roman military, but it seems that Roman commanders were in the habit of placing their legions in seemingly impossible situations, Julias Caesar comes to mind :wink: .
I understand there is a new film featuring Boudicca in the works? Produced by Mel Gibson, isnt he a little :evil: these days? I guess thats what he gets for marrying someone young enough to be his grand daughter! :lol:
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Mark Hayes
"The men who once dwelled beneath the crags of Mt Helicon, the broad land of Thespiae now boasts of their courage"
Philiades
"So now I meet my doom. Let me at least sell my life dearly and have a not inglorius end, after some feat of arms that shall come to the ears of generations still unborn"
Hektor, the Iliad
Mark Hayes
"The men who once dwelled beneath the crags of Mt Helicon, the broad land of Thespiae now boasts of their courage"
Philiades
"So now I meet my doom. Let me at least sell my life dearly and have a not inglorius end, after some feat of arms that shall come to the ears of generations still unborn"
Hektor, the Iliad
