05-30-2013, 07:03 PM
Francesco,
For the point about Rutlius Rufus, it wasn't a law he enacted, it was something that he just did, as Consul and commander of an "inexperienced" consular army poised to fight against the Cimbri-Teutonic forces, who thus far had crushed the Romans in multiple battles.
As an aside, it probably began a tradition of more standardized training among legionary forces as it was picked up by Marius, and by extension, Sulla, who served as legate and military tribune in his army, by Pompey, who served in similar armies in the Socii War and as a Propraetor and Proconsul under Sulla, by Caesar, who was Marius' nephew and who served in Sulla's armies, and others. Successful generals ordered the training, lesser ones simply assumed their men "knew" how to fight. Having the experience of serving in a good army, under good leadership, probably dramatically increased the likelihood that at a later time, that Roman would lead successful armies.
Interested factoid: When Marius was elected Consul again in 104, he discharged his African army and took command of Rutilius Rufus' army, as it was better disciplined (and probably better trained for the infantry intensive battle sure to come against the barbarians). Another factor was that the legions in question had originally been formed in 111 BC, seven years before, and were due to be disbanded after Triumphing. No doubt, many of those from the African army volunteered to join Marius' new army, for patriotic reasons.
See Valerius Maximus 2.3.2. and Frontinus 4.2.2.
Mark,
What happens to the width of any military formations when this happens?
opening up to 1 pace (the length of the swordarm) apart (just like we do in normal drill today and for 100's of years (if not 1,000s!)
Does it get wider, like I mentioned in the last thread?
(Hint, it does)
But the technique is anachronistic anyway. It is just one method of widening the ranks.
For the point about Rutlius Rufus, it wasn't a law he enacted, it was something that he just did, as Consul and commander of an "inexperienced" consular army poised to fight against the Cimbri-Teutonic forces, who thus far had crushed the Romans in multiple battles.
As an aside, it probably began a tradition of more standardized training among legionary forces as it was picked up by Marius, and by extension, Sulla, who served as legate and military tribune in his army, by Pompey, who served in similar armies in the Socii War and as a Propraetor and Proconsul under Sulla, by Caesar, who was Marius' nephew and who served in Sulla's armies, and others. Successful generals ordered the training, lesser ones simply assumed their men "knew" how to fight. Having the experience of serving in a good army, under good leadership, probably dramatically increased the likelihood that at a later time, that Roman would lead successful armies.
Interested factoid: When Marius was elected Consul again in 104, he discharged his African army and took command of Rutilius Rufus' army, as it was better disciplined (and probably better trained for the infantry intensive battle sure to come against the barbarians). Another factor was that the legions in question had originally been formed in 111 BC, seven years before, and were due to be disbanded after Triumphing. No doubt, many of those from the African army volunteered to join Marius' new army, for patriotic reasons.
See Valerius Maximus 2.3.2. and Frontinus 4.2.2.
Mark,
What happens to the width of any military formations when this happens?
opening up to 1 pace (the length of the swordarm) apart (just like we do in normal drill today and for 100's of years (if not 1,000s!)
Does it get wider, like I mentioned in the last thread?
(Hint, it does)
But the technique is anachronistic anyway. It is just one method of widening the ranks.
