slingers, regular cohortes or irregular numeri?

[Anonymous]

Avete!<br>
<br>
Reading through a lot of diplomas and inscriptions, I never found a name of cohors or numerus definited like "funditorum", composed of slingers, among the auxiliary forces during the early empire; but from the ancient sources and from sculptures like the Trajan's column I can suppose that they existed.<br>
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Are the units of slingers formed by irregular troops and collected in numeri, or regular ones organized in auxiliary cohortes? Do you know any actual name of this kind of unit?<br>
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Thanks again<br>
Lucianus <p></p><i></i>

[Praefectusclassis]

This probably is relevant to your question about archers too: especially in the earliest Empire, many auxiliary units used their own - traditional - weaponry. The name Cohors or Numerus just indicates size and some sort of organizational level. It does not necessarily mean that that unit was armed as standard light infantry.<br>
For example: We know of a Cohors I Cretum that is called Sagittariorum on only one diploma of 110 (CIL XVI 163), not so on earlier or later diploma's, nor on other inscriptions. Crete was well known for its archers during the whole Ancient period. Possibly this unit would have consisted of archers all along. That it's not called sagittariorum all along would then only point to an inconsistency in Roman official denomination. <p>Greets<BR>
<BR>
Jasper</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ujasperoorthuys.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Jasper Oorthuys</A> at: 7/31/02 8:00:11 am<br></i>

[Guest]

Salve,<br>
<br>
Slingers were definitely used by the early imperial Roman army even if no unit of <i> funditores</i> has been recorded. According to Vegetius, <i> Epitoma</i> 1.16 (text and translation, all recruits were thaught to throw stones by hand as well as using slings. Confirmation for training in the throwing of stones by sling can be found in the inscription recording a speech by Hadrianus to troops whose exercises he had observed (<i> AE</i> 1899, 126; <i> CIL</i> 8, 18042: <i> ... lapides<br>
fundis mitteretis...</i>). Units could thus field trained slingers from their ranks to provide long range missile fire.<br>
<br>
Though in the republican era specialised units of slingers existed, there is no evidence extant that records specialist units for the early imperial army. However one should take into account that designation of armament was not necessarily incorporated in the unit titles, which followed a variety of conventions rather than a single universal standard. It cannot be excluded that units of slingers may be hidden from view. In late Roman times though a <i> legio pseudocomitatensis</i> of <i> funditores</i> is attested in the army of the <i> magister militum per Orientem</i> in the <i> Notitia Dignitatum</i>, a document which features an order of battle of the army. This seems to suggest that slingers could be found in the legions as well Lead sling bullits with legionary titles from the first century BC, while striclty speaking only attesting that they are likely to have been produced by/for that legion, may perhaps point to legionary slingers in earlier times. Absolute certainty is not guaranteed as some of the late Roman <i> legiones</i> were formed out of existing auxiliary units.<br>
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Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot!<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Lucianus <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, in the later empire, say 150 AD, it sounds like there would have been units of slingers attached to a legion on campaign. Can someone comment as to the the accuracy of "sling staffs"? Would these have been grouped into cohorts or numeri at that time? Peddie (<i> The Roman War Machine</i>) credits them with a remarkable range of about 200 yards. I'm engaged in a discussion on another board about the chances of a Roman force matched against Wellington at Waterloo and I'm looking for some firepower.<br>
<br>
Come take a look and join in if you like at pub18.ezboard.com/fhistoryandwarfrm1.showMessage?topicID=31.topic . <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

they could do that if they used lead shot, which they would of, wander if lorica would stand up to a musket ball, i would say yes <p></p><i></i>