Ancient Romans?

Question

Just wanting to get peoples opinion on how the ancient Romans trained for battle? If you have some answers, please share.

Answer 1

Ancient Romans had a very strong belief that all young men were to grow to be warriors/fighters/soldier/etc. Therefore they spent whatever time they could building up their strength. When it came time to actually fighting with the army, the Romans had a great defensive plan. They fought in a tight box, in rows, with spears and weapons ready to attack. Since there were no gones in the Ancient Roman times, the tighter the box the less damage could be done. However, this tactic only worked until arrows and catapaults were invented. hope this gave you some idea.

Answer 2

The military system changed in the years.

In early republic men were drafted for a specific war, and were supposed to provide their own weapons and armour- which means only the relatively rich were drafted. They trained in their own free time and were supposed to know their job when drafted. Did not always work that way- as proves the battle of Cannae

After the reforms of Marius the army was all-volunteer and serving for 10 to 20 years. weapons and armour were provided by the state. the first year was spent on training and road building (skill and strength training). Extremely strict discipline, superb manoeuvring skills. The legions usually fought in a 4-legion formation (consular army) of app. 25 thousand men and could (and did) anihilate enemy armies much bigger than their own.
This applies to early/middle empire too

In late Empire the armies are hereditary- only the children of legionnaires are accepted into the legions- kind of a trade union heaven. The legions are poorly trained and wear no armour. No discipline to speak of, everyone has entitlements, "rights", etc.
The most effective fighting force of the late Empire are "barbarians" who serve for money individually, and later as whole tribes- which is OK until these tribes revolt.

Answer 3

Young Roman men of property were required to go to the Campus Martius, or Field of Mars, to train as infantrymen. For most it was mandatory. These men were the future legionaires.

Initially they were of the landowner class, and were required to provide their own equipment. Cavalry was provided by the capitalist class, which is why they were called the Equestrian Order. However, due to enormous losses in the wars with the Germans (the Teutons and Cimbri especially) the Consul Gaius Marius was forced to recruit from the general populace, then referred to as the head count.

Training for the head count legions was different, as they required equipment to be provided, and their attitudes were politically less elitist. In the century after Gaius Marius the frequent civil wars created more and more citizen soldiers. Since legionaires customarily received a grant of land and the franchise, and any legionaire who won a civic crown for bravery automatically entered the Senate, the political impact on Rome was huge.

The Roman infantryman fought in cohorts of 1000, and centuroes of 100. Hence the rank of Centurion for the noncoms. They used short swords and shields that could interlock for close order fighting. As well, they were deadly accurate with the pilus, a short spear that they customarily threw before charging.

As with the thin red line of the British Army, the Romans excelled at maneuvering. This was their forte, and their ability to change formations in combat made them able to defeat armies that outnumbered the legions ten to one.

Answer 4

First a recruit had to have a letter of recommendation to join the legions. Most likely from his father. Then he had a medical examination and a talk from the recruitment officer. Then he was given a denarius (a gold coin of 25 denarii) as his travel expences and sent to a training camp. He then took the oath and was henceforth to be paid at the time of Augusus 225 denarii per year. His training consisted basically of two parts:

The AMURA: (basic training) - 2 years.
First the recruit was made physically fit. By running, marching, hill climbing and obsticle courses. He learn't to march. To drill. Drill after drill after drill. He practiced first with a wooden sword, then afterwards on the stkes, excirsising his skill. He practiced and practiced with others. He was taught how to and practice both in the short throwing spear(the pilum) and the use of the shield (the scutum). He learnt to and/or practiced swimming. He also learn how to leap onto a wooden horse in full armour. By the time he was finnished his Amura he was a very deadly individual fighter.

The ARMABILLICA( advanced training) - 3 years:

After that he learn't formation training. Amongst these was the Spartan Phalanx. A formation in the form of a wedge that could be used for attack or defence. Another was the famed Turtle(Torquedos) A formation that surrounded the men in the formation both on every side and on top. He was taught to operate in battle effiecienly in these formations. So well trained that when fully trained a turtle was tested with a fully equipped war chariot drawn by two horse standing on top of it. Only then were they fully trained in formation. They also learnt and practiced the building of their fortified camps they used on the march. This camp was made of a ditch and piled up dirt with stakes on top. Each legionary carried two stakes. It had gates and provided a sanctuary for the legion at night. They learnt other engineering such as road building. They learnt garrison duties. They marched and marched, they praciticed manouvering and military excirsises. They learnt technology such as operation of a catipult(arrow and spear throwing), a ballista(rock and incenduary thowing) and the giant raspioaballista(giant crossbow type throwers of giant bolts). They learnt about terraine, weather and their logistical and command systems. By the time they had finished the Armabillica they were no longer a deadly individual. They were all a lethal monstrous military mincing machine.

The Romans also had great equipment and unbelievable organisation. They had , and trained as such, three lines of the hastati, principes and tiarii(pilus in the empire). These rotated of the first two or even the third. Behind them was the "double " number one cohort with the best men in the legions under the chief centurion-the primus pilus inerta. In support was 120 legionary cavalry and cohorts of auxilury cavalry on the wings, legionary and auxilury slingers, auxilury infrantry-archers-spear and dart throwers and the deadly field artillery. Backed up by logistics, fire, command, spy, scout, transport, technical and legal units and trained to act as one-coordinated and expert-the Roman legions were the greatest fighting force in history. Other units of the armed forces also trained similarly: The Auxilia, the Navy, the Numachia(organised irregular units) and the Symmachia(unorganised irregular units). And after the training the Romans continued practice. They always practiced. As Josephus said :
'' They do not allow peace to make them soft. Instead they hone themselves in constant practice in preperation for war. They fight and march as one. Their manouvers are bloodless warfare, their battles are sagunary manouvers". It therefore is no wonder that they won most of their battles and that the battles they did loose had unusual circumstance about them. The most unenviable position in the ancient world was at the start of a battle opposite a Roman legion. What you had here is the greatest comparitive amalgamation of organisation for the purpose of warfare of all time. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Depends on the time period. In early Rome, fighting was sort of a hobby for people, and there weren't real armies.

As Rome progressed, they trained their soldiers better, provided strong weaponry, and their ranks were disciplined. That's how they expanded their empire so far.

But when they got really big, they had to admit barbarians from conquered lands into their ranks - there simply weren't enough people! These new recruits used their traditional fighting style - putting on paint and acting really retarded, and didn't follow orders very well. This attitude spread through the Roman ranks, soldiers weren't trained as well or as capable, leading to the downfall of Rome.

In its height, Rome's armies had boot-camps just like we do today. The soldier was expected to carry a heavy loads while they marched on foot, including weapons, armor, and supplies.

Answer 6

~When the Goths came knocking, no wheres near good enough.