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I have been re-reading Gore Vidal's novel 'Julian', which I would recommend to all interested in the Late Roman period, in it he describes the ominous sound of troops gathered for an adlocutio rolling their spear-shafts in the hollow of their shields, indicating their displeasure and mutinous intent. What I would like to know is whether this has any support in the primary sources? In Nelson's navy crews on the edge of mutiny would trundle cannonballs around the decks at night as a sign of their mutinous attitude, perhaps Vidal used this as his model.
Martin
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Vidal was presumably drawing on Ammianus (as he so often did in this novel), who provides a few, perhaps slightly contradictory, descriptions of soldiers expressing approval or otherwise:
When greeting Julian as Caesar:
...no one held his peace, but all the soldiers with fearful din struck their shields against their knees (this is a sign of complete approval; for when, on the contrary, they smite their shields with their spears it is an indication of anger and resentment) (15.8.15)
When approaching battle:
[the soldiers] gnashed and ground their teeth and showed their eagerness for battle by striking their spears and shields together (16.12.13)
When acclaiming Julian (although Amm. has previously claimed that clashing spears and shields was a sign of 'resentment'!):
...rising to their feet and clashing their spears against their shields with mighty din, almost with one voice they acclaimed the emperor's words and plans. (20.5.8)
When raising Julian to emperor:
Eager for revolution, with one accord they mingled fear-inspiring shouts with the violent clash of shields, calling him a great and exalted leader and (as they knew from experience) a fortunate victor over nations and kings (21.5.9)
When disapproving of Valentinian's plans:
...a threatening murmur arose, as the centuries and maniples made a loud noise and all the common maniples clashed their shields and all the common soldiers persistently urged that a second emperor should at once be named (26.2.1)
None of these exactly match the description in the novel of the rolling spears - it does sound a bit similar to the infamous 'shot rolling' in the Navy. Perhaps there's something in another source (Tacitus?) about it...
Nathan Ross
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It looks like Vidal was basing his usage on knowledge of Ammianus, but probably introducing an element from naval 'shot-rolling' to differentiate expressions of disapproval from those of approval, which are rather confused in the primary source.
Fast clapping is now used to indicate approval, whilst the slow clap is used in derision. It could be that Roman troops used something similar, modifying the rapidity of striking their shields to express different attitudes.
Martin
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Perhaps it's not the act of clashing shield and spear specifically to express disapproval, but merely making noise to express any emotion either good or bad; the gist of the action may be read in the buzz of the troops in the same way an athlete can tell when the crowd is not amused.
-Ryan
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Quote:My paper, 'The Clashing of Weapons and Silent Advances in Roman Battles', is concerned with the clashing of swords, pila and spears against shields in battle, but it also contains some examples of the clashing of weapons to express disapproval, anger and grief.
The British army in the Napoleonic Wars used silence and noise very effectively. The French typically advanced with much shouting and hat waving, the British would await in silence, reserving their fire until very short range. After one or two volleys the British soldiers would be ordered to give three loud cheers and then charge with the bayonet. The use of silence and noise, carefully controlled, has always had a great psychological effect in combat.
Martin
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The gnashing and grinding is very reminiscent of Medieval Icelandic descriptions of berserkers winding themselves up to a frenzy.
Martin
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