Velites and Light Armed

[Johnny Shumate]

What are the differences between the velites and light armed? Livy mentions them fighting together at the battle of Ilipa. The latin is this: velitumque et levis armaturae. Translated it reads: velites and the light armed. So they are not one of the same. I know what the velites looked like. What about the "light armed"..? Hastati with no body armor..?
Thanks
Johnny

[Gaius_Calvus]

Johnny,

What I'm thinking is that since velites were a part of the regular legionary structure, these could be Italian or other allied light infantry.

Rome got both light cavalry and light infantry with javelin/shield from Numidia and other sources, to include Spanish allies.

So, I would say Spanish/Italian/Numidian allied light infantry, with some sort of tunic, a light spear and/or javelins, and perhaps a light shield or buckler of the type common to that nation.

Edge

[Johnny Shumate]

Edge,
That makes perfect sense to me. The Romans had many Spanish allies in this battle and they would fit well with the "light armed".
Thanks for the information,
Johnny

[zugislander]

It could also mean Antesignani (probably spelled that wrong). But I do not remember when they were in usage in the republican period.

Cordially,

MJB

[drsrob]

Several discusions on the antesignani can be found on this forum.