05-25-2017, 02:19 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-25-2017, 05:14 AM by Steven James.)
Michael wrote:
On this basis, therefore, 16 could be the correct figure.
It’s been a while since I have looked at all my notes on Hyginus’ camp. Without factoring in the double cohort, 16 men per century on guard duty would make 96 men per cohort and 960 men per legion, which technically equates to 120 tents. So 3 legions will have 2,880 men on guard duty. Therefore, following 16 men on guard duty, Hyginus’ first cohort of 120 feet by 360 feet would have 4 rows each of 192 soldiers in 24 tents, leaving a space of 6 tents for 3 centurions. In total this works out that of the 960 men in the first cohort, 192 men are on guard duty (theoretically 1 row of 24 tents), leaving the residue 768 billeted in 96 tents organised into 4 rows.
Hyginus’ 180 feet by 240 feet, for 3 double cohorts totalling 2,880 men organised into 36 centuries each of 80 men would have a total of 576 men (192 per cohort) on guard duty at 16 men per century. Hyginus’ 180 feet by 240 feet, is the space for 2 double cohorts totalling 1,920 men, which would allocate 384 men to guard duty, leaving the residue 1,536 men billeted in 192 tents organised into 8 rows.
So far so good, and every 480 man cohort would have 4 rows for the infantry. However, I am getting a little concerned about the number of men on guard duty as it starts to seem a little excessive, when the rest of the 2,592 legionaries from cohorts 2 to 10 have to be factored in, but that could just be my own prejudice, which I must guard against.
Why I am a bit partial to 8 men per century on guard duty is the Romans do have a passion for the principal of one tenth. So 1 cohort produces 48 camp guards and 10 cohorts, 480 camp guards. Therefore, 3 legions produce 3 cohorts each of 480 men (1,440 men) as camp guards, or 1,584 men with 3 double cohorts.
With the camp being 2,400 feet long and 1600 feet long, by placing 480 camp guards on the long side, this would have one camp guard for every 5 feet, and by placing 240 men on each wide side, this would give each guard around 6 feet of space.
Hyginus calculations for the legion’s banner carriers being allocated the same space as a legionary cohort of 600 feet by allowing for the baggage trains is correct, and follows the same spacing for the infantry as the century, but the spacing for some of the infantry and cavalry does change in places and does hint at Hyginus making 5 or 6 legions fit into the spacing of 3 legions. This becomes evident in paragraph 25, 26.
His other problem I have found is he works on accurate numbers at times but then rounds them in the result, and then when combined with his change in the ratio of men and horses to the space, he does make it challenging.
On this basis, therefore, 16 could be the correct figure.
It’s been a while since I have looked at all my notes on Hyginus’ camp. Without factoring in the double cohort, 16 men per century on guard duty would make 96 men per cohort and 960 men per legion, which technically equates to 120 tents. So 3 legions will have 2,880 men on guard duty. Therefore, following 16 men on guard duty, Hyginus’ first cohort of 120 feet by 360 feet would have 4 rows each of 192 soldiers in 24 tents, leaving a space of 6 tents for 3 centurions. In total this works out that of the 960 men in the first cohort, 192 men are on guard duty (theoretically 1 row of 24 tents), leaving the residue 768 billeted in 96 tents organised into 4 rows.
Hyginus’ 180 feet by 240 feet, for 3 double cohorts totalling 2,880 men organised into 36 centuries each of 80 men would have a total of 576 men (192 per cohort) on guard duty at 16 men per century. Hyginus’ 180 feet by 240 feet, is the space for 2 double cohorts totalling 1,920 men, which would allocate 384 men to guard duty, leaving the residue 1,536 men billeted in 192 tents organised into 8 rows.
So far so good, and every 480 man cohort would have 4 rows for the infantry. However, I am getting a little concerned about the number of men on guard duty as it starts to seem a little excessive, when the rest of the 2,592 legionaries from cohorts 2 to 10 have to be factored in, but that could just be my own prejudice, which I must guard against.
Why I am a bit partial to 8 men per century on guard duty is the Romans do have a passion for the principal of one tenth. So 1 cohort produces 48 camp guards and 10 cohorts, 480 camp guards. Therefore, 3 legions produce 3 cohorts each of 480 men (1,440 men) as camp guards, or 1,584 men with 3 double cohorts.
With the camp being 2,400 feet long and 1600 feet long, by placing 480 camp guards on the long side, this would have one camp guard for every 5 feet, and by placing 240 men on each wide side, this would give each guard around 6 feet of space.
Hyginus calculations for the legion’s banner carriers being allocated the same space as a legionary cohort of 600 feet by allowing for the baggage trains is correct, and follows the same spacing for the infantry as the century, but the spacing for some of the infantry and cavalry does change in places and does hint at Hyginus making 5 or 6 legions fit into the spacing of 3 legions. This becomes evident in paragraph 25, 26.
His other problem I have found is he works on accurate numbers at times but then rounds them in the result, and then when combined with his change in the ratio of men and horses to the space, he does make it challenging.
