Legionary

A recreation of the appearance of Roman legionaries wearing the lorica segmentata, 1st–3rd century.

The Roman legionary (Latin: legionarius, pl. legionarii) was a professional heavy infantryman of the Roman army after the Marian reforms. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign. The last five years were on veteran lighter duties.[1]

History

The Inception of the Legionary: Marius's Reforms

When Gaius Marius became consul in 108 BC, Rome was at war with the Numidian king Jugurtha. Seeing a need for more manpower, Marius eliminated the property requirements that used to qualify Romans into the army, allowing any Roman citizen to become a legionary.[2] After the war, Marius set out to further professionalize and standardize the Roman legionary. He greatly enhanced the training of the soldiers and uniformly armed them, giving Rome an armed force that does not have to be raised with every new campaign.[3] He further gave his soldiers retirement benefits, such as land or monetary payment. However, because the legionaries looked to their generals for their rewards and benefits, they soon became loyal to generals rather than the Roman senate. This would eventually factor in to the end of the Roman republic.[4]

During the Principate

As Augustus consolidated power in 27BC and founded the Principate, he further professionalized the Roman legionary. Under him, a legionary's term of service was raised to 25 years (before that, a legionary's average term of service was only 10 years) and pay was standardized throughout the legions. Other than the gradual provincialization of recruits and the evolution of some military equipment, Roman legionaries would remain broadly unchanged until the end of the Pax Romana.[5] These legionaries would expand Rome's borders to include lower Britannia, Dacia, North Africa, and more through military campaigns under Augustus and future emperors.[6]

The Decline of the Classical Legionary

Clibinarii, a type of heavy cavalry in the late Roman Empire, grew in prominence along with other forms of cavalry as the Roman legionary declined.

From the reign of Septimus Severus onward, the Roman legionary gradually lost its preeminence. Though there were multiple causes for this decline, all pointed to the gradual degradation of discipline. Septimus Severus perhaps unwittingly began this decline when he lavished his legionaries with donatives and pay increases, recognizing that they were his key to becoming and staying emperor. However, this proved detrimental to the discipline of the legionaries, as they began to expect more and more rewards from their emperors.[7] Under Caracalla, Septimus Severus's successor, all freedmen in the Roman Empire became Roman citizens, effectively erasing the distinction between auxiliaries and legionaries. This, coincided with the continued expansion of the Roman army, meant recruits of more dubious quality joined the legions, decreasing the quality of the Roman legionary further.[8]

During the 3rd Century Crisis, a more mobile army became necessary, as threats arose across the long borders of the Roman Empire. As such, mounted cavalry became essential to respond to the varied threats to the empire. Because of this, Roman heavy infantry faded further from dominance. By the 4th century, Roman infantry lacked much of the body armor of the classical legionary and used darts rather than the pila of their predecessors.[6]

Functions

Though the legionary was first and foremost a soldier, he provided a variety of other critical functions. Lacking a professional police force, governors would use legionaries to keep the peace and protect critical facilities.[9] As the Roman empire lacked a large civil administration, the army would often be given many administrative positions. High ranking soldiers often acted as judges in disputes among local populations and the army was an important component of tax collection.[10] Legionaries also served to spread Roman culture throughout the provinces where they were stationed. As legionaries settled in the provinces, towns sprang up around them, often becoming large cities. In this way, as legionaries co-mingled and intermarried with the local populace, they helped Romanize the provinces they protect.

Roman legionaries served as a source of labor and expertise as well. As such, much of the infrastructure which connected the empire was built by legionaries. Roads, canals, and bridges were built by legionaries as well as more defensive structures such as fortresses and walls.[6] Hadrian's wall, a monumental example of Roman engineering, was built by the three legions stationed in the area.[11] Legionaries were not just limited to building large-scale engineering projects. Surveyors, doctors, artisans, and engineers within the army would be used for a variety of different civil services along with their normal military role.[10]

Immunes

Regular trained legionaries were known as milites and were the equivalent in rank of the modern private. Included in the ranks, aside from the milites, were the immunes, specialist soldiers with secondary roles such as engineer, artilleryman, drill and weapons instructor, carpenter and medic. These men were still fully trained legionaries, however, and would fight in the ranks if called upon. They were excused from some of the more arduous tasks such as drill and fatigues and received better pay than their comrades in arms.[12]

Recruitment

Though Roman legionaries were predominantly made up of volunteer citizens, conscription of recruits continued through Republic era and into the Principate. This meant that levees remained a significant part of the Roman legions.[13] However, whether voluntary or involuntary, Those serving in the Roman legions tended to come from the lower rungs of the Roman social hierarchy. With the state providing the equipment to the recruits and no property requirements, even the poorest Roman citizens were able to join the legions.[14] The rigorous and dangerous nature of legionary life further meant more well-off men rarely volunteered themselves into the legions.

During the Later Republic, Roman legionaries predominantly came from the areas surrounding Rome. However, as Rome expanded, recruits began to come from other areas in Italy. Slowly, recruits came from the regions where the legions were stationed rather than from Italy itself. By the reign of Trajan, there were 4-5 legionaries originating from the provinces for every legionary originating from Italy.[13]

Equipment

When on the march in hostile territory, the legionary would carry or wear full armour, supplies and equipment. This commonly consisted of lorica hamata, lorica squamata, or 1st–3rd century lorica segmentata, shield (scutum), helmet (galea), two javelins (one heavy pilum and one light verutum), a short sword (gladius), a dagger (pugio), a belt (balteus), a pair of heavy sandals (caligae), a marching pack (sarcina), about fourteen days' worth of food, a waterskin (bladder for posca), cooking equipment, two stakes (sudes murale) for the construction of palisades, and a shovel, and a wicker basket.[15]

Battle and Combat

Maintaining Morale

The Roman legionary fought first and foremost with his contubernium, the basic eight man unit of the Roman army.[16] The men of the same contubernium fought, slept, ate, and trained together. This strong sense of comradery gave Roman legionaries a sense of pride and kept them fighting on the battlefield. The standard bearers, signiferi, also were of huge importance in keeping Roman soldiers in the battle. The loss of a standard was an immense disgrace to the century the standard belonged to. As such, standard bearers served as someone to rally around and as someone to exhort legionaries to battle.

Optiones, Roman officers at the rear of a formation, had many essential roles outside of battle. However, during battle, they were essential in preventing legionaries from routing. Carrying a staff with a ball-end, an optio would prod and hit legionaries fleeing from battle back into formation. Leading at the front, centurions would fight alongside legionaries underneath his command, serving as a role model for his legionaries to remain in combat.[15]

Finally, there were the rewards and punishments, which served as both incentives and deterrents for legionaries in battle. For example, the highly coveted corona civica was given to legionaries who saved a comrade in battle.[17] However, death was the punishment for a variety of different offenses. Those who committed cowardice and dereliction of duty were stoned to death by their comrades. On very rare occasions when a whole unit displayed cowardice, the unit might be decimated, in which one out of every ten soldiers were executed. Less extreme punishments included demotions, changing the wheat rations to barley, and the removal of some identifying military gear.[6]

Prelude to Battle

Large armies would generally not begin battle immediately upon meeting. Rather, days or even weeks of redeployment and negotiation would take place before battle. Several days of maneuvering took occurred before the Battle of Pharsalus began.[18] Before battle, measures were taken to ensure legionaries were as effective as possible. These include giving legionaries their meals and resting them before the battle.[19] Their commanders and general would also give speeches during this time. These speeches would heavily emphasize the amount of plunder and riches that winning the battle would give the legionaries, as this was a primary incentive for the legionaries to do battle. Light skirmishing would then take place, with cavalry and auxiliaries probing enemy lines before a pitched battle commenced.[15]

Fighting Style

The Roman scutum ranged all the way from flat and oval to curved and rectangular as shown in the image above. The metal boss in all Roman scuta gave them an offensive capability.

The Roman legionary's three principle weapons were the pilum (javelin), scutum (shield), and gladius (short sword). Ideally, the legionaries would throw their pila first as they approach the enemy army. These pila could often penetrate enemy shields and hit the soldiers behind them.[20] Even if the pila fail to pierce the shields, the neck of the javelin would bend, making the shield useless. This then makes the enemy vulnerable to missile fire and legionary attack. The disruption and damage wrought by pila would then be followed by the charge of Roman legionaries.[6]

Though Roman scutum have various different designs, they all share a large metal boss in the center of the shield. This allows the legionary to not only use the scutum as defensive equipment but also as an offensive weapon. Legionaries would have used this iron boss to punch and shove the enemy combatants.[21] Accompanying this is the gladius, a primarily stabbing weapon though it can also be used to cut. These fairly simple tools combined with impressive discipline made the Roman legionary an extremely effective soldier in the ancient world.[6]

Though there were many different formations that legionaries fought in, they tended toward close ordered formations with gaps between units. These gaps would allow for reserve units to enter battle or serve as avenues for skirmishing forces to retreat back behind the legionaries. During lulls in the battle, wounded soldiers can further be taken back behind battle lines through these gaps.[15]

Pay and conditions

A denarius, or silver coin used for Roman commerce. In the 3rd century crisis, it underwent rapid inflation and devaluation.

During the Pax Romana, a rank-and-file Roman legionary would be paid 225 denarii per year. This was increased to 300 denarii during the reign of Domitian. However, during the third century crisis, inflation and chaos disrupted a legionary's pay, with emperors often letting legionaries seize goods from civilians. Their income was supplemented by donatives from emperors either to secure a legion's loyalty or to award them after a successful campaign.[6] Plunder and loot also supplement a legionary's income and is used as a large incentive for soldiers to follow their emperor in campaigns. At the end of their years of service, Roman legionaries received a small allotment of land or a monetary equivalent.[22]

As the Roman empire solidified, permanent legionary fortresses were constructed and many grew into towns. These fortresses contained bathhouses, taverns, and even amphitheaters where festivals and animal displays were held. However, legionaries were not allowed to legally marry until the reign of Septimus Severus (though their spouses were often recognized), most likely because of the implicit necessity to care for the widow in the event of a legionary's death.[23]

Training and discipline

When first enlisted, a fresh Roman recruit (tiro) was not given real weapons to train with. Instead, he was given wooden swords and shields designed to be twice the weight of their counterparts in battle. This allowed the recruit to develop strength as he trains with these wooden weapons. Alongside battle training, the recruit was also taught other necessary skills such as swimming and setting up camp.[20] Most of all, however, the recruit was taught discipline, and was drilled twice a day during his training period. After this period, which could last up to six months, the recruit would become a milite and sent to his respective legion.[6]

The Roman soldier underwent especially rigorous training throughout his military career; discipline was the base of the army's success, and the soldiers were relentlessly and constantly trained with weapons and especially with drill—forced marches with full load and in tight formation were frequent. As discipline was important, infractions were heavily punished by the centurions. Punishments could range from being obliged to spend the night outside the protective security of a fortified camp, through being beaten with clubs (fustuarium—a common punishment for 'slowpokes' during long marches), to the stoning of individuals or unit executions involving decimation. However, honors, rewards and promotions were frequently awarded to legionaries who distinguished themselves in battle or through exemplary service.[6]

Diet

A Roman legionary had two meals per day: The prandium(breakfast) and the cena(dinner). For these meals, the soldiers were issued regular rations consisting mainly of wheat, which composed roughly 60–70% of a soldier's total rations.[19] This would be consumed in the form of either bread or porridge. However, while on campaign, the soldiers would cook their wheat rations into hardtack, a long-lasting biscuit.[6]

Supplementing the soldier's wheat rations was the cibaria, rations other than grain. This included a variety of foodstuffs but mainly wine, vinegar, vegetables (largely beans or lentils), salt, salt-pork, cheese, and olive oil. However, this did not include fruit. Through foraging, trade with merchants, requisitioning or raiding during campaigns, the Roman legionary could obtain other foodstuffs not included in his rations. In combination, the average soldier's diet was generally nutritious and filling.[19]

Healthcare

Permanent Roman forts would contain hospitals, where doctors (medici) operated on injured or sick legionaries.[24] These medical personnel also isolated sick soldiers, thereby reducing the chance of a possibly infectious disease spreading through the army. Roman forts and camps were also planned in such a way as to minimize the spread of water-borne illnesses, which ravaged many ancient armies. Engineers took special care in piping fresh water to the camps and carrying sewage downstream of any watering places.[22] Those legionaries who are seriously and permanently injured would be granted missio causaria, or a medical discharge. This discharge would come with many benefits including exemption from some taxes and some civic duties.

Other legionaries

Legionary is also a term used for members of various military forces which have been accorded the title of "legion", although bearing no resemblance to the heavy infantry of ancient Rome. In the 18th and early 19th century this designation was sometimes accorded to units which comprised both mounted and foot components. More recently the title has been used by the French Foreign Legion, the Spanish Foreign Legion and the Polish Legions. Members of these modern legions are often called légionnaires, the French term for legionary.

The term was also used by the Romanian far right paramilitary group known in English as the Iron Guard.

See also

References

  1. ↑ TED-Ed (2018-03-29), A day in the life of a Roman soldier – Robert Garland, retrieved 2018-06-24
  2. ↑ "Gaius Marius | Roman general". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  3. ↑ Gambino, Michael (August 2015). "The Military Reforms of Gaius Marius in their Social, Economic, and Political Context" (PDF). East Carolina University.
  4. ↑ White, Andrew (Spring 2011). "The Role of Marius's Military Reforms in the Decline of the Roman Republic" (PDF). Western Oregon University.
  5. ↑ "Augustus' Military Reforms | Armstrong Economics". www.armstrongeconomics.com. Retrieved 2018-07-15.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rodgers, Nigel (2006). Roman Empire. Dodge, Hazel. London: Lorenz Books. ISBN 0754816028. OCLC 62177842.
  7. ↑ R., Dixon, Karen (2014, ©1996). The late Roman army. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 9781134724222. OCLC 881839972. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ Rocco, Marco. "The reasons behind Constitutio Antoniniana and its effects on the Roman military". Acta classica Universitatis Scientiarum ….
  9. ↑ "Police Work in Roman Times | History Today". www.historytoday.com. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  10. 1 2 The Cambridge history of Greek and Roman warfare. Sabin, Philip A. G., Wees, Hans van., Whitby, Michael. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2007. ISBN 9780521857796. OCLC 190966775.
  11. ↑ "Hadrian's Wall | Roman wall, England, United Kingdom". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  12. ↑ "Rome, The Roman Army". history-world.org. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  13. 1 2 A companion to the Roman Empire. Potter, D. S. (David Stone), 1957-. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub. 2006. ISBN 0631226443. OCLC 60550606.
  14. ↑ "The Marian Reforms | The turning point in Roman history". u.osu.edu. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Ross., Cowan, (2003). Roman legionary : 58 BC - AD 69. McBride, Angus. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1841766003. OCLC 52661320.
  16. ↑ ISO DESIGN (2016-10-26), Roman Army Structure | Vindolanda Museum, retrieved 2018-07-31
  17. ↑ "Augustus wearing the Corona Civica | Museum of Classical Archaeology Databases". museum.classics.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  18. ↑ "Battle of Pharsalus | Summary". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  19. 1 2 3 Roth, Jonathan P. (1999). The logistics of the Roman army at war (264 B.C.-A.D. 235). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9004112715. OCLC 39778767.
  20. 1 2 Brevik, Mads. "The Military Institutions of the Romans (De Re Militari)". www.digitalattic.org. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  21. ↑ "Roman legionary – Soldier Profile". Military History Monthly. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  22. 1 2 Rodgers, Nigel (2013). Ancient Rome: A Complete History of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. Southwater. ISBN 1844778592.
  23. ↑ "Septimius Severus | Roman emperor". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  24. ↑ "Roman Fort". Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2018-06-24.

General books

  • Sumner, G. and Raffaele D'Amato. Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier. Frontline Books, 2009.
  • Watson, G.R. The Roman Soldier. Cornell University Press, 1993.

Other books

  • Matyszak, Philip. Legionary: the Roman soldier's (unofficial) manual. Thames & Hudson, 2009.
  • Cowan, Ross, and Angus McBride. Roman Legionary: 58 BC – AD 69. Osprey Publishing, 2003.
  • The Roman Recruit looks at the life, duties and equipment of a Roman legionary (c. 200AD)
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