Realities of Ancient Warfare: Rome

Rome's Isolationist Nature Revealed

Rome was something of a newcomer even though the founders of Rome began their work in founding Rome only 50 years after Carthage began its own history as a city. The Roman people were a mix of Latins, Etruscans, Celts and other native Italian people. Roman society was tribal in that its population was identified to specific clans and families. The Romans were constantly at war with their neighbors. While Rome absorbed different people and assimilated them into their society. In the process they accepted people of Latin or Italian heritage. Even in their acceptance the Romans maintained a distinct class structure based on degrees of privielage and not monetary standing. They were snobbish about background and family. Because of this difference, citizens held different levels of rights; some with partial rights and others with full rights. Non Romans were thought to be generally good people but certainly inferior to the Romans. This class distinction would erupt into civil war as early as the War with the Veii and ending around 80 B.C. during the Social War which concluded with everyone in Italy below the Po river being equal citizens. So for people within Italy the Romans slowly warmed to them. As for those outside of Italy the Romans had less regard.

The Roman army was long in the development and after Rome forsook the hoplite system around 400 B.C. its army was distinctly unique being based on Italian or Latin ideas and military systems. By the time of the Second Carthaginian War Rome controlled all of Italy below the Po River. On the Roman side we see the core force of a full consular army being two Roman citizen legions mirrored with two Latin allied sections. So a full consular army had four legions with various support units primarily of Latin allied horse. That is the way in Classical Hack players should think: forces in relation to army organization for both battle line units and support units.

This list is used for the Romans and it includes one and two consular legion(s). Just print two lists should you wish to field a force of one full consular army being two legions. Remember a Roman legion of the period has two sections for each legion-one Roman; placed on the right and one allied section: placed on the left. When a full consular army of two legions is fielded the Romans are placed in the center and the allies on each flank. The triarii of the Romans and their Allies can be brigaded together. All Romans and Allies have been adjusted with plus 2 for sword for melee value factor excluding triarii.

The Roman Numbers Game

The total possible number of men for a full consular army of two legions including all armies would be about 21900 men. Two consular armies would equal about 42800 men. But these are estimates and this figure could vary. Still the basic general numbers are apparent by the basic Roman organization to some extent.