05-20-2013, 06:28 PM
I highly recommend anyone interested in the idea of gaps/intervals in the Roman fighting lines to read Michael Taylor's paper Roman Infantry Tactics in the Mid-Republic: A Reassessment. Good luck trying to find an electronic copy, though.
From the excerpt on Acadamia.edu:
This article explores two questions about the tactical mechanics of the Roman manipular legion. Firstly, what frontages did the Roman legion field in set-piece battle? Given that Hellenistic forces deployed in standardized formations, the length of Hellenistic infantry lines can be used to calculate the opposing Roman formation. This in turn permits consideration of the nature and tactical function of the gaps between the maniples. The paper deduces that Roman legions presented fronts between 320 and 570 meters in five set-piece battles. The range of frontages suggests that modest inter-manipular gaps were maintained even when the heavy infantry lines clashed
In summary, Taylor provides some pretty interesting theories about individual spacing between men, depth/ranks of units, total numbers, etc., of both Roman army units (citizen and allied foot), as well as Rome's enemy. The Romans fought with gaps within their units, just as Polybius states.
Francesco wrote:
the problem is : were gaps mantained during the melee ??: according to this account of Polybios they were closed :15. 14.3 ...
Can you provide the text for your Polybius quote about closing the gaps? I read my translated online copy and it only mentions Scipio Africanus' redeployment of the lines during a lull in the Battle of Zama against Hannibal.
The ideas of gaps/intervals is interesting but unfortunately primary sources are never consistent or detailed enough to prove or disprove the theory. It's all conjecture and opinion. But I think they existed...
(see the first thread Macedon posted above but ignore everything I wrote about depth and history/use of cohorts. I've since realized that my earlier theories were wrong)
From the excerpt on Acadamia.edu:
This article explores two questions about the tactical mechanics of the Roman manipular legion. Firstly, what frontages did the Roman legion field in set-piece battle? Given that Hellenistic forces deployed in standardized formations, the length of Hellenistic infantry lines can be used to calculate the opposing Roman formation. This in turn permits consideration of the nature and tactical function of the gaps between the maniples. The paper deduces that Roman legions presented fronts between 320 and 570 meters in five set-piece battles. The range of frontages suggests that modest inter-manipular gaps were maintained even when the heavy infantry lines clashed
In summary, Taylor provides some pretty interesting theories about individual spacing between men, depth/ranks of units, total numbers, etc., of both Roman army units (citizen and allied foot), as well as Rome's enemy. The Romans fought with gaps within their units, just as Polybius states.
Francesco wrote:
the problem is : were gaps mantained during the melee ??: according to this account of Polybios they were closed :15. 14.3 ...
Can you provide the text for your Polybius quote about closing the gaps? I read my translated online copy and it only mentions Scipio Africanus' redeployment of the lines during a lull in the Battle of Zama against Hannibal.
The ideas of gaps/intervals is interesting but unfortunately primary sources are never consistent or detailed enough to prove or disprove the theory. It's all conjecture and opinion. But I think they existed...
(see the first thread Macedon posted above but ignore everything I wrote about depth and history/use of cohorts. I've since realized that my earlier theories were wrong)
