03-10-2014, 03:56 PM
It might be worth hiving off the posts in this thread that do not discuss Late Roman unit sizes into one called 'What is the evidence for the evolution of Roman warfare?'
There is evidence for a gradual evolution in the Roman style of warfare. We go from the early days when the Roman army was more like a Greek one, with the troops armed similarly to Greek hoplites. It then starts to evolve after contact with the Celtic and Germanic tribes who use longer swords and have throwing spears. This led to the armies which had several lines of infantry armed with the pilum and sword and a reserve line composed of veterans with a long spear. This then changes to the 'classic' legion where all the line infantry are armed with the pilum and sword. After contact with the Parthians and Sassanids there is a gradual change from the pilum to a spear that can be both used to thrust or thrown with a similar effect to the pilum (Spiculum). The infantry also start to be armed with a javelin and also throwing darts so that they can start to affect the enemy at a greater distance.There is a further change once the Romans come into contact with those armies featuring large numbers of charging cavalry, including the Sassanids, Goths, Huns, Alans, Vandals etc. The infantry at this stage are being armed with a much longer spear, at least 8 feet long and they are supported by archers forming the rear ranks. Eventually the infantry is armed with a spear up to 12 feet long and they fight in a style similar to the phalanx.
The evolutions appear to have been as a result of the main type of opposing forces they faced. So in the early days where the 'barbarians' fielded a large number of infantry we have the pilum/heavy throwing spear and sword combination to the fore. When the Romans start encountering enemies fielding large numbers of mounted troops they start to change to a longer spear which is used to fend off the cavalry.
There is evidence for a gradual evolution in the Roman style of warfare. We go from the early days when the Roman army was more like a Greek one, with the troops armed similarly to Greek hoplites. It then starts to evolve after contact with the Celtic and Germanic tribes who use longer swords and have throwing spears. This led to the armies which had several lines of infantry armed with the pilum and sword and a reserve line composed of veterans with a long spear. This then changes to the 'classic' legion where all the line infantry are armed with the pilum and sword. After contact with the Parthians and Sassanids there is a gradual change from the pilum to a spear that can be both used to thrust or thrown with a similar effect to the pilum (Spiculum). The infantry also start to be armed with a javelin and also throwing darts so that they can start to affect the enemy at a greater distance.There is a further change once the Romans come into contact with those armies featuring large numbers of charging cavalry, including the Sassanids, Goths, Huns, Alans, Vandals etc. The infantry at this stage are being armed with a much longer spear, at least 8 feet long and they are supported by archers forming the rear ranks. Eventually the infantry is armed with a spear up to 12 feet long and they fight in a style similar to the phalanx.
The evolutions appear to have been as a result of the main type of opposing forces they faced. So in the early days where the 'barbarians' fielded a large number of infantry we have the pilum/heavy throwing spear and sword combination to the fore. When the Romans start encountering enemies fielding large numbers of mounted troops they start to change to a longer spear which is used to fend off the cavalry.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
