11-07-2012, 09:36 PM
Hi John - welcome back!
I'm not sure how a ridge can form a defile... ;-)
You mean, I suppose, that the defile is next to or below the ridge... So you're putting the Roman line on top of the ridge then? I would see this as a flaw in the plan - Tacitus's original Latin makes it clear (as much as T is ever clear!) that the Romans were in the defile, with rising ground protecting their flanks. Various translations have confused this point...
'Field fortifications' may not play any part in this. They were very rare, in fact - although you could cite examples (Caesar at Dyracchium and elsewhere... Belisarius?), these I think are exceptions to the general rule. In fact, there's a suggestion in the Annals (III.20) that the Roman army considered fighting from behind fortifications a 'disgrace' - more practically, their style of warfare suited combat in the open. The only fortifications necessary to this scenario would be Paulinus's marching camp - large enough for 10,000 men. As I've mentioned before, you be best looking for it on the flattish ground beside the river to the north-west.
So your earthworks 'complex' around Church Stowe may have been something - but they're not, I think, securely dated to the Roman period, let alone the time of this battle!
Quote:- perfect 360 degree defensive terrain, as a free standing "horse shoe" ridge with VERY long views all around... ridge forms a "narrow defile"...
I'm not sure how a ridge can form a defile... ;-)
You mean, I suppose, that the defile is next to or below the ridge... So you're putting the Roman line on top of the ridge then? I would see this as a flaw in the plan - Tacitus's original Latin makes it clear (as much as T is ever clear!) that the Romans were in the defile, with rising ground protecting their flanks. Various translations have confused this point...
Quote:7 separate features which appear to have characteristics of Roman field fortifications... Pre-prepared redoubt in the form of Castle Dykes
'Field fortifications' may not play any part in this. They were very rare, in fact - although you could cite examples (Caesar at Dyracchium and elsewhere... Belisarius?), these I think are exceptions to the general rule. In fact, there's a suggestion in the Annals (III.20) that the Roman army considered fighting from behind fortifications a 'disgrace' - more practically, their style of warfare suited combat in the open. The only fortifications necessary to this scenario would be Paulinus's marching camp - large enough for 10,000 men. As I've mentioned before, you be best looking for it on the flattish ground beside the river to the north-west.
So your earthworks 'complex' around Church Stowe may have been something - but they're not, I think, securely dated to the Roman period, let alone the time of this battle!
Nathan Ross
