03-04-2012, 05:09 PM
As everyone knows, the Roman army on campaign constructed a fortified camp at the end of every day's march, destroying it again when they moved on. This would be fine for armies, single legions with auxiliaries, even larger vexillations. But what about smaller units - cohort size or less? Would they also construct a camp, on a reduced scale? What is the smallest known Roman 'marching camp'?
There are potentially two easy answers to this, I know - the first being that the Roman army did not commonly move around in hostile areas in anything less than cohort strength; the second would be that forts and fortified positions were established along roads that could offer temporary accomodation to smaller units in transit. Later, they could be billeted on locals.
However, there surely must have been situations where smaller military groups would need to camp in the open - parties of new recruits or reinforcements in frontier areas, conveyed by a centurion or optio, or bodyguard groups for travelling officials or envoys to foreign powers. Some of these groups could feasibly consist of a centuria, a single turma, or less. Would they too build a camp?
I doubt there's any actual evidence, archaeological or literary, for this, so my question is perhaps rather speculative. I recall, in Shipway's novel Imperial Governor, some mention of rough zareba-style fortifications using spiky bushes, but I suspect this detail comes more from Mr Shipway's experiences in the army in India than anything Roman! But what do others think?
:?:
There are potentially two easy answers to this, I know - the first being that the Roman army did not commonly move around in hostile areas in anything less than cohort strength; the second would be that forts and fortified positions were established along roads that could offer temporary accomodation to smaller units in transit. Later, they could be billeted on locals.
However, there surely must have been situations where smaller military groups would need to camp in the open - parties of new recruits or reinforcements in frontier areas, conveyed by a centurion or optio, or bodyguard groups for travelling officials or envoys to foreign powers. Some of these groups could feasibly consist of a centuria, a single turma, or less. Would they too build a camp?
I doubt there's any actual evidence, archaeological or literary, for this, so my question is perhaps rather speculative. I recall, in Shipway's novel Imperial Governor, some mention of rough zareba-style fortifications using spiky bushes, but I suspect this detail comes more from Mr Shipway's experiences in the army in India than anything Roman! But what do others think?
:?:
Nathan Ross
