04-04-2014, 06:06 PM
Quote:What are the auxiliaries then exactly? Following the same line of thinking, they might exist under different names in which case one could as well call them auxiliaries.
If I may, it would seem completely reasonable to interpret 'auxiliaries' as I believe the Romans did throughout our period....as 'auxiliary' to the legions
- During the Middle Imperial (time that Polybius/Livy mainly refer to) the auxiliaries are the Socii allies, but otherwise armed and armoured identically
- for the Late Republic they are the allies and mercenaries providing the light troops, 'specialists' and cavalry that the legions no longer possess themselves
- For the Early Empire they are the regularised auxiliary units that provide the garrisons and supporting troops to the c30 legions
- and during the Late Empire they are, as well as the limitanei descendants of those above as well as the new Auxilia Palatina units who join with the Field Army Legio's as their main (it seems) infantry striking arm; not improbably given their naming, indeed recruited from the tribal areas they seem to represent and still being a source of capable soldiers.
So, always present auxiliary additions to the legion-based troops........ Auxiliaries <> Legion-based troops.
M2CW