08-07-2007, 01:32 PM
Well the legions just formed the basic body of an army and (like in many of the examples from the Judean war and others) didn't do most of thefighting or devastation during a campaign but most of the engineering and such things, as well as forming the centre of the line in battle.
One of the most important things is the attachment of different auxiliary units which carry out the actions the legions can't (archers, cavalry, light infantry and other things).
Think of the legion as the equivalent of the basic modern infantry bataillon and according to circumstances they are supported by tanks, transports, artillary and so on.
There was a thread about Roman cavalry here.
I posted some numbers for (mainly) cavalry units there but as you can see in this example:
"For example the army under Cestius Gallus in 66CE consisted of 16 legionary cohorts. 6 auxiliary cohorts, 4 Alae quingeniariae (around 2.000 heavy horsemen) PLUS
2000 horsearchers from Commagene
1.500 horsearchers from Judaea
1.200 horsearchers from Emesa "
"What I want to say is that while in 66CE between 10 to 18 percent of the regular army was cavalry. this specific army here for example had:
8.000 legionary infantry
4.800 auxiliary infantry
2.000 heavy Roman cavalry
4.700 allied horsearchers
7.500 allied archers
1.000 allied skirmishers "
As you can see, this army has a quite big contingent of archers and horse to support the legions. No real need therefore to change the legions too much as they are the basic part which can storm cities and form a basic line of heavy infantry in the field to support the lighter troops. Something the Parthians lacked for example.
One of the most important things is the attachment of different auxiliary units which carry out the actions the legions can't (archers, cavalry, light infantry and other things).
Think of the legion as the equivalent of the basic modern infantry bataillon and according to circumstances they are supported by tanks, transports, artillary and so on.
There was a thread about Roman cavalry here.
I posted some numbers for (mainly) cavalry units there but as you can see in this example:
"For example the army under Cestius Gallus in 66CE consisted of 16 legionary cohorts. 6 auxiliary cohorts, 4 Alae quingeniariae (around 2.000 heavy horsemen) PLUS
2000 horsearchers from Commagene
1.500 horsearchers from Judaea
1.200 horsearchers from Emesa "
"What I want to say is that while in 66CE between 10 to 18 percent of the regular army was cavalry. this specific army here for example had:
8.000 legionary infantry
4.800 auxiliary infantry
2.000 heavy Roman cavalry
4.700 allied horsearchers
7.500 allied archers
1.000 allied skirmishers "
As you can see, this army has a quite big contingent of archers and horse to support the legions. No real need therefore to change the legions too much as they are the basic part which can storm cities and form a basic line of heavy infantry in the field to support the lighter troops. Something the Parthians lacked for example.
RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS ET ROMANAE RELIGIONIS
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM
[Micha F.]
DEDITICIVS MINERVAE ET MVSARVM
[Micha F.]
