05-06-2001, 06:36 PM
Salve,<br>
<br>
Heinlein has incorporated quite a few Roman military practices in his future army portrayed in <i> Starship troopers</i>, eg connection of citizenship to military service and units named after their commanders.<br>
<br>
There appear to have been distinct forms of corporal punishment in the imperial army. Next to formal punishment for a set range of offences there was also informal punishment for lesser offences and that was not to the death.<br>
<br>
According to Polybius (book 6.37-38) the formal punishment of <i> xylokopia</i> or <i> fustuarium</i> was carried out in the camp (at the central <i> forum</i>?) and after one of the tribunes delivered the first blow all the other troops joined in to beat the condemned man. He also mentions that some escaped being beaten to death, which appears to imply that the condemned soldier was able to run away. The centurions are not mentioned in these formal punishments and it seems that the higher ranking <i> tribuni</i> were in charge of such matters.<br>
<br>
The trashing by centurions seems to have been more a more informal form of corporal punishment (perhaps distinguished as <i> castigatio</i> from the more formal <i> fustuarium</i>) and administered for other offences than Polybius sums up as being punishable by cudgeling. It was forbidden for soldiers to raise their hand against the rod (<i> vitis</i> / <i> virga</i>)of a centurion/decurion and capital punishment was attached to breaking of the officer's staff. What the consequences were of running away to avoid a beating rather than actively resisting blows I do not know.<br>
<br>
Roman discipline was harsh in theory, but the sources indicate that in practice a more lenient attitude prevailed unless some stern disciplinarian wanted to set examples. Units did break in battle and were not always punished for that according to the rigid regulations described by the Polybian histories.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sandervandorst>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 5/7/01 8:20:50 am<br></i>
<br>
Heinlein has incorporated quite a few Roman military practices in his future army portrayed in <i> Starship troopers</i>, eg connection of citizenship to military service and units named after their commanders.<br>
<br>
There appear to have been distinct forms of corporal punishment in the imperial army. Next to formal punishment for a set range of offences there was also informal punishment for lesser offences and that was not to the death.<br>
<br>
According to Polybius (book 6.37-38) the formal punishment of <i> xylokopia</i> or <i> fustuarium</i> was carried out in the camp (at the central <i> forum</i>?) and after one of the tribunes delivered the first blow all the other troops joined in to beat the condemned man. He also mentions that some escaped being beaten to death, which appears to imply that the condemned soldier was able to run away. The centurions are not mentioned in these formal punishments and it seems that the higher ranking <i> tribuni</i> were in charge of such matters.<br>
<br>
The trashing by centurions seems to have been more a more informal form of corporal punishment (perhaps distinguished as <i> castigatio</i> from the more formal <i> fustuarium</i>) and administered for other offences than Polybius sums up as being punishable by cudgeling. It was forbidden for soldiers to raise their hand against the rod (<i> vitis</i> / <i> virga</i>)of a centurion/decurion and capital punishment was attached to breaking of the officer's staff. What the consequences were of running away to avoid a beating rather than actively resisting blows I do not know.<br>
<br>
Roman discipline was harsh in theory, but the sources indicate that in practice a more lenient attitude prevailed unless some stern disciplinarian wanted to set examples. Units did break in battle and were not always punished for that according to the rigid regulations described by the Polybian histories.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sandervandorst>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 5/7/01 8:20:50 am<br></i>
