01-07-2013, 09:47 PM
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That is because 80% of my research is in total opposition to the “generally accepted ideas.” However, I will state my research is 100% faithful to the primary sources. I’ve read these “general accepted views” that claim the cohort was introduced as part of the Marian reform or the cohort was introduced in Spain around 211 BC (Bell). The general view is that all those references to cohorts found before 211 BC or 102 BC are all explained away as being anachronistic, yet not one person can prove that they are anachronistic other than claiming they are anachronistic...which is not proof…its conjecture.
Steven, whilst I may not entirely agree with some, even many, of the 'accepted conclusions' and will, if I can get my lazy butt in gear, make good on my intention to write out a little thesis that sets out my logic and submit it for critique; I have certainly found little evidence to support the idea that the Republican legions and their allies were broken down into a standardised cohort structure, although I do think there are hints of an early evolution when it comes to the Extraordinarii.
I am not, however, desirous to comment on your astrological or cosmological view(s), that I have seen expounded here before, due to a firm logical and deductive basis for believing that military structures are based primarily on battlefield tactical deployments due to weapons usage and operational requirements of military command and control, with a good dose of common sense and occasional bouts of historical comfort. That said.......
Quote:.......I have studied many historians and their methods dating back to the 17th century and I was fascinated to find too many place so much trust in Polybius. Realising no one has explored the premise Polybius could be wrong, I undertook such a study which began seven years ago and combined with the notion to ignore “the generally accepted views,” I can truly say those two small decisions for me personally have paid great dividends.
From all that I have been able to discover and unless I have been mislead; there seem to be only 5 main sources of our understanding of Roman Military Organisation from 3cBC to 5cAD (or BCE & CE for the PC), supplemented by other hints and tips; and looking at the period after Livy's strange early legion breakdown; they being: Polybius; Josephus; 'Hyginus'; and Vegetius; with the early Byzantine Military Treatises. Of them I will still be most comfortable that Polybius wrote from first hand knowledge; Josephus wrote from observation and some questioning; 'Hyginus' as a non-military mathematical wizard with A-Level students to test and a smattering of racism; and Vegetius with rose spectacles and an armchair academic soliloquy to his Emperor. Of them I would rather dismiss 'Hyginus' first (and found that I must).
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With due respect Mark, to my understanding, you claim that Polybius is “the best and most detailed of the early writers” then you also believe the legion of Polybius is not a cohort structure. This completely goes against Polybius’ use of the word cohort, especially at Zama when he mentions the hastati were in cohorts. Polybius also states that three maniples made a cohort. So if Polybius is “the best” then his use of the word cohort cannot be dismissed…so Polybius must be correct in regard to cohorts.
As I am a great supporter and believer in the primary sources, allow me to indulge in a long exercise to make my point. At Caudium in 315 BC, Livy states that on to the left wing, Poetelius made a sudden decision to reinforce his front line with the reserve (subsidiarias) cohorts. This has been interpreted to be the triarii. At the battle of Zama in 202 BC Polybius describes the hastati being organised in cohorts. So here we have two ancient historians referring to cohorts, one in 315 BC for the triarii and one in 202 BC for the hastati. So can we combine the two references and see if both ancient writers are working from the same page? Taking the legion of Polybius, be ignoring the 1200 velites we are left with a legion of 3000 men consisting of 1200 hastati, 1200 principes and 600 triarii. By dividing 3000 men by 10 cohorts the result is:
1200 hastati organised into four cohorts each of 300 men
1200 principes organised into four cohorts each of 300 men
600 triarii organised into two cohorts each of 300 men
Indeed I do not believe the legions of Polybius to be organised into a firm cohort structure - I believe it firmly based upon the 3-line model and on centuries and maniples. That Livy & Polybius do use the word 'cohort' I do not dispute, but believe it to be a sub-legion grouping with no fixed elements when it is required. Certainly that interpretation fits all usage.
I do not believe that there are 1,200 Velites - Polybius is very careful not to say that (but many have ignored it and I find it the most obvious mis-calculation in many historian's breakdown) - I believe there were 1,000 of them.
I have interpreted Polybius as saying that each century consisted of 60 'Heavy Infantry' supported by 20 Velites and operating in the manipular-structure with 'prior' & 'posterior' centuries; with the Triarii at half that, because that was all that was needed for the third line.
No cohort structure is mentioned and there are no commanders of such detailed. I do note, however, that a hint can be seen in the organisation of the Extraordinarii, which seems to constitute a consular army in miniature.
Quote:.......This gives a total of 10 cohorts. So now we have subsidiarias cohorts (the triarii) as stated by Livy and we also have the hastati organised into cohorts as mentioned by Polybius. The problem with modern historians is many believe a cohort consists of one maniple of hastati, one maniple of principes and one maniple of triarii. ........
Post-Marian and the citizen-legion structure of the Late Republic and Early Empire where the legion-cohorts do definitely seem to have consisted of 6 centuries and the centurion rank structure we are all used to, I am not aware of any evidence that would support the separate hastati, principes or triarii cohort structure.
It's no good - I'll have to write - perhaps by the end of the month if I try....... Mark
