(Late) (Roman) Formations

[John Conyard]

To answer Robert first. When you meet an enemy as good as you are, and neither of you are pushing the other back, there is little to do but keep at it until one side wins. Trust in your fellows, your God, your cavalry out there somewhere, but keep up the pressure and never waver. "Give me one more step and I'll give you victory" etc etc.

Now to move away from the 4th century. Caesar's infantry did come forward to charge into Pompey's, not unlike Greek hoplites went forward at the run. Pompey's troops did not respond. So the Cesareans halted, dressed ranks and came on again. Good discipline. If the troops of Pompey had come forward at the run it would just duplicate a hoplite clash, shaking itself out into a pushing match.

In the early period centurions often did display a lack of discipline and individual courage. But by the 4th century we have developed into a disciplined army, with different ideas of personal virtue. Not heroes, but true professionals.

I suspect that our own personal perceptions are informing this discussion too heavily.