11-30-2004, 11:01 PM
Just finished reading Adrian Goldsworthy's "The Complete Roman Army". An excellent introduction to the subject for newcomers like myself.<br>
<br>
On the subject of the massacre at Teutoburg Wald, I have a few questions...<br>
<br>
1) Size of the army<br>
- Varus had Legiones XVII, XVIII and XIX<br>
- The Post-Marian Legion consisted of ten cohorts, each with 482 men (80 per century, plus 1 centurion and 1 standard bearer x 6 = 1 cohort), for a total of 4,820 men per legion<br>
- Thus, three legions gives Varus 14,460 legionaries.<br>
- Varus also had three calvary alae, each consisting of 16 turmae of 30 men (480 men per alae), so that's 1,440 calvary troopers, plus standard bearers<br>
- Also, Varus had six infantry cohorts of auxiliaries, adding another 2,880 infantry (480 x 6 cohorts)<br>
- So, assuming all units were up to strength, Varus had 18,780 men, of which almost 15% were mounted calvary.<br>
<br>
Am I correct in my calculations?<br>
<br>
2) Size of Arminius' army?<br>
- How did the German forces wipe out such a force?<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
On the subject of the massacre at Teutoburg Wald, I have a few questions...<br>
<br>
1) Size of the army<br>
- Varus had Legiones XVII, XVIII and XIX<br>
- The Post-Marian Legion consisted of ten cohorts, each with 482 men (80 per century, plus 1 centurion and 1 standard bearer x 6 = 1 cohort), for a total of 4,820 men per legion<br>
- Thus, three legions gives Varus 14,460 legionaries.<br>
- Varus also had three calvary alae, each consisting of 16 turmae of 30 men (480 men per alae), so that's 1,440 calvary troopers, plus standard bearers<br>
- Also, Varus had six infantry cohorts of auxiliaries, adding another 2,880 infantry (480 x 6 cohorts)<br>
- So, assuming all units were up to strength, Varus had 18,780 men, of which almost 15% were mounted calvary.<br>
<br>
Am I correct in my calculations?<br>
<br>
2) Size of Arminius' army?<br>
- How did the German forces wipe out such a force?<br>
<p></p><i></i>
