Roman Battle Tactics 109BC - AD313

[Marcus Mummius]

I just noticed this book on Amazon. It looks cool What is it about, what is in it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Battle-Ta ... 22-3758828

Vale,

[Ross Cowan]

You can see the proper cover on the Osprey site, but the contents details there are wrong. I'll post the correct contents and list of plates later.

What's the book about? The title says it all!

R

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

I 'm curious to see the late roman tactics description. I wait this book since a long time...

[Marcus Mummius]

You can see the proper cover on the Osprey site, but the contents details there are wrong. I'll post the correct contents and list of plates later.

What's the book about? The title says it all!

R

Thanks

Actually, the title doesn't say it all . Is everything based on ancient writings or is experimental archaeology also taken into account etc...

[Ross Cowan]

The book is mostly about *classic* cohortal legion tactics (though my concept of the cohortal legion is not very different to the manipular legion), hence the dates. As such a book should be, it is based on the ancient literary evidence - Caesar, Sallust, Appian, Tacitus, Dio, Herodian etc. Here's the contents and plates:

INTRODUCTION
The Size and Organisation of the Legion
Basic Battle Formations
Intervals in the Battle Line

LEGIONARY BATTLE LINES AND MANOEUVRES
Simplex Acies
Duplex Acies
Triplex Acies and Quadruplex Acies

OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS
The Cuneus and Pig’s Head
The Orbis
The Testudo
A Note on Uphill Charges

Epilogue

PLATES:

A. Legionary Centuries in Close and Open Order
B. The Testudo
C. The Cuneus and Pig’s Head
D & E. Battle Array
F. Legionary Century Charging
G. Lanciarii Attack Parthian Cataphracts
H. Cavalry Wedge and Testudo

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

Nothing on the late roman tactics? (IVe-Ve century) it's a pity... but the contents seems very interesting and the early Empire tactics and late roman tactics are not so far...

when the book is definively published?

[Ross Cowan]

The book does contain a little about late Roman tactics/formations and the testudo plate has an insert showing a profile view of a file in a fulcum. The book is out sometime in July, though the exact date is to be confirmed.

I'd like to do a sequel focussing on late Roman tactics but the next book, *if* it gets commissioned, will look at manipular tactics. However, Osprey have just published 'The Roman Army of the Punic Wars, 264-146 BC' and may consider another Republican title as one too many. (Cf. Osprey not wanting another 'Legionary' book covering the period from the Flavians to the Antonines because of "overlap" with other titles in its catalogue.)

Cheers,

R

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

ok... Thank to information!

But... how we know if the late roman (IVe-Ve century...) use really the fulkum like the proto-byzantine armies (end of VIe century) and not the classical testudo? Because in my ancient authors reading there are nothing on fulkum or shield wall before the Strategikon. So, nothing about shield wall in Strategikon. In the IVe and Ve century authors there are not difference to the cohortal legion and the small legions units do easly this tactical formations. Note; In the late roman battle order it seems to no space between cohorts, century, and manipule...

[Ross Cowan]

Hi Damien,

I included a fulcum detail (following Strategikon 12.B.16 ) because of the interesting similarity with the testudo, especially the type used by Mark Antony against the Parthians in 36 BC (Plut. Ant. 45.2).

R

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

I wish read this soon...

[Ross Cowan]

I wish read this soon...

I don't go into the testudo--fulcum connection in any great detail. The best discussion is P. Rance, "The Fulcum, the Late Roman and Byzantine Testudo: the Germanization of Roman Infantry Tactics?"

http://www.duke.edu/web/classics/grbs/F ... Rance2.pdf

Cheers,

R

[Paulus Claudius Damianus]

Yes I have read this study since lot of year. Very interesting...

Thank.

[Robert Vermaat]

I don't go into the testudo--fulcum connection in any great detail. The best discussion is P. Rance, "The Fulcum, the Late Roman and Byzantine Testudo: the Germanization of Roman Infantry Tactics?"

Nevertheless, we would appreciate it greatly if you continued your studies into the Late Roman and Early Byzantine period!!!

[Tarbicus]

Nevertheless, we would appreciate it greatly if you continued your studies into the Late Roman and Early Byzantine period!!!

Well, not particularly all of the "We's" here :wink:

[Ross Cowan]

Robert:

If I did do something on Late Roman tactics (on which I am a bit rusty), I'm not sure if it would be for Osprey. Aside from the copyright issue and rubbish pay, I've never been happy with the lack of control over the artwork. I submit design briefs and hope for the best. I'm fairly happy with the plates for RBT, but a few minor anachronistic elements have crept in (though that won't come as a surprise to RAT members).

Jim:

Don't worry: more early Roman and Italian articles are in the pipeline.

Cheers,

R