09-25-2022, 11:04 PM
Theoderic wrote:
Surprisingly although from Tacitus’ description of the site there would appear to be a number of options, his description is remarkably specific from a topographical point of view.
It is that access to the battle field is by a defile or a strip of land from a plain and on the other side of the battlefield there is a defile with woods behind it, that was large enough for 10,000 men and horses to charge out of.
Renatus wrote:
Where does Tacitus say this?
Tacitus writes (open to interpretation):
He chose a position approached by a narrow defile…
The “position” refers to the battle field which is approached by a narrow “defile” or “strip / tongue of land” depending on your translation. So this is the entrance to the battle site.
….. and secured in the rear by a wood……and that the plain there was devoid of cover
Therefore the plain (battlefield) must have been between the entrance and the wood at the rear of the battlefield.
The legionaries were posted in serried ranks, the light-armed troops on either side, and the cavalry massed on the extreme wings.
The narrow defile gave them the shelter of a rampart.
This defile had to be between hills to give them a rampart like cover
The enemy, he knew, had no approach but in front. An open plain lay before him.
Therefore the Brythons had to cross the plain to get to the Roman line.
At first, the legionaries stood motionless, keeping to the defile as a natural protection: then, when closer advance of the enemy had enabled them to exhaust their missiles with
The Roman line was in a defile that was not at the entrance to the battle site, therefore there had to be a narrow entrance to the battle site and also a defile on the other side of the plain which was the battle field.
They brought even their wives to witness the victory and installed them in waggons, which they had stationed just over the extreme fringe of the plain.
The wagons had to be either on the hills surrounding the battlefield (otherwise the “wives” would not have been able to see the battle) or outside the entrance to the battlesite….
(At least that is the way I see it)
Surprisingly although from Tacitus’ description of the site there would appear to be a number of options, his description is remarkably specific from a topographical point of view.
It is that access to the battle field is by a defile or a strip of land from a plain and on the other side of the battlefield there is a defile with woods behind it, that was large enough for 10,000 men and horses to charge out of.
Renatus wrote:
Where does Tacitus say this?
Tacitus writes (open to interpretation):
He chose a position approached by a narrow defile…
The “position” refers to the battle field which is approached by a narrow “defile” or “strip / tongue of land” depending on your translation. So this is the entrance to the battle site.
….. and secured in the rear by a wood……and that the plain there was devoid of cover
Therefore the plain (battlefield) must have been between the entrance and the wood at the rear of the battlefield.
The legionaries were posted in serried ranks, the light-armed troops on either side, and the cavalry massed on the extreme wings.
The narrow defile gave them the shelter of a rampart.
This defile had to be between hills to give them a rampart like cover
The enemy, he knew, had no approach but in front. An open plain lay before him.
Therefore the Brythons had to cross the plain to get to the Roman line.
At first, the legionaries stood motionless, keeping to the defile as a natural protection: then, when closer advance of the enemy had enabled them to exhaust their missiles with
The Roman line was in a defile that was not at the entrance to the battle site, therefore there had to be a narrow entrance to the battle site and also a defile on the other side of the plain which was the battle field.
They brought even their wives to witness the victory and installed them in waggons, which they had stationed just over the extreme fringe of the plain.
The wagons had to be either on the hills surrounding the battlefield (otherwise the “wives” would not have been able to see the battle) or outside the entrance to the battlesite….
(At least that is the way I see it)
Deryk
