how far was a Roman soldier expected to march in a day and how much gear was he expected to carry?

Answer 1

I saw a recent Roman exhibit in Suttgart where they showed off and discussed some of these things. In battle gear, Legionaires ran 100 steps and marched 100 steps to enjoin up to battle wearing helmets, sheilds and sword or spear.

On the march to change location, the army's personnel carried all cooking, weapons, booty and personal efffects. For the entire group, each man was expected to also carry one or two "spindles" -- 3 to 4 foot posts that were sharpened at the ends in long tapered spikes that had a notch in their centers of the lumber. These spindles interlocked to form like oversized pick-up-jacks. Assembled, these made a prickly fence around the camp at night to form a defensive perimeter. Often, the soldiers would buddy-up with one or two others and carry the bulk of their burden on a donkey. 50 miles was the day's march in this situation.

Tour of duty was 25 years for a soldier, 26 years for a "marine" (a soldier that worked onboard a ship, usually helping with rowing). The draft was accomodated by a knight on horseback selecting you and asking if one of your friends or neighbors would also care to join and so on to obtain a group of 30.

Answer 2

On average, about 15 miles a day & about 70 pounds of equipment - namely, the helmet, gladius (sword), pilum (javelin), scutum (shield), a log (for camp wall), a cooking pot, a blanket.

The other general equipment & supplies are in a supply train called an impedimenta - namely as this train impedes on the speed a legion can march.

Answer 3

I have heard of desert marches from sun up till sun down and on average i believe it was around 70lb of gear...