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ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME
THE SAMNITES
The Samnites and their relatives in central and south Italy are known as Oscans, from the name of their language.
The Samnites were the largest and most important Oscan nation, and was made up of a league of four tribes, the Pentri, Caudidi, Hirpini and Caraceni.
The Samnites fought a series of wars with Rome from 343 to 272, and were by far Rome’s most formidable Italian foe. Many Samnites were later to join Hannibal.
Livy the early Roman historian states that the Samnites fought in a loose phalanx formation in the form of a square, which was tactically flexible and more suited to their hilly terrain.
The Greek style phalanx was a formidable weapon especially from the front. But it was not flexible and once in contact with the enemy was vulnerable on its unprotected flanks and rear. It also need level, open terrain for its cohesion. The Romans had used the Phalanx to great effect along the coastal plains, but war in the constricted terrain of the mountainous spine of central Italy meant the Roman phalanx was a failiure. The Samnites did well in mobile warfare and were well used to mountain ambushes.
CTSM-04A
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIOR
Samnite tunics were brightly coloured and decorated, and there is little evidence of uniformity.
Their weapons included the javelin and short spear. There was a mixture of oval and round shields, and many infantry wore a distinctive cuirasse of Italian design. Small breast and backplates of leather backed bronze linked by hinged straps of similar construction passing over the shoulders and under the arms. The commonest type was the triple disc style.
CTSM-04B
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIOR
The proportion of cavalry fielded is never mentioned in historical references, but it is assumed it was low, as the wooded mountains would not have been good cavalry country. Like the Romans the Samnite cavalry were organized into Turmae.
Many paintings show warriors carrying spears over their shoulders with bright cloths hanging from them. These are often interpreted as flags, but it is believed that they were tunics and belts. These represent trophies taken from the dead or captured enemy who had been stripped, which was a common practice in both Italy and Greece.
CTSM-04N
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIORS
ROMAN AUXILLIARY CAVALRY
As Romans were never considered exceptionally good horsemen, and the role of the cavalry not as important in the Roman thought process, the Equitatus was generally made up of non-Roman horsemen. While they would play an important part of Legionary tactics, the Roman Cavalry was considered secondary and would remain the weakest part of the Roman Army until the very late Imperial period.
Generally, the cavalry was used as light skirmishing troops, and mounted archers whose job was to patrol, act as scouts and messengers and to provide a mobile defensive screen while the legion was massing in battle array. As in all armies throughout history, the mounted trooper was also very effective in chasing down and harassing a fleeing and panicked enemy force.
As part of the military reforms of Augustus around AD 14, the Auxilia were re-organized. They would be trained to the same standards of discipline as the legions. They were mainly drawn from a wide range of warlike peoples throughout the provinces, and would receive Roman citizenship on completion of their 25 year sevice. Senior officers in contrast were Roman citizens.
The Auxilia filled the tasks of patrolling, containing raids, tax collecting, and the multitude of duties of the frontier troops.
They were especially suited to garrison and local policing activities, and could also hold their own in small scale warfare.
ROMCAV-11A
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
ROMAN AUXILIARY CAVALRY
Roman Auxilia cavalry were usually heavily armored in mail and armed with a short lance, javelins, the Spatha long sword, and sometimes bows for specialist Horse archer units. These men primarily served as Medium missile cavalry for flanking, scouting, skirmish, and pursuit.
Cavalry units were known as Alae, and were made up of 16 Turmae.
A Turmae consisted of 30 troopers, and was commanded by a Decurio, and a second in command called the Duplicarius.
Cavalrymen carried Clipeus , a flat oval or hexagonal shield. These were extremely light, constructed of double or triple thickness plywood, made up of thin strips of birch.
ROMCAV-11B
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
ROMAN AUXILIARY CAVALRY
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO PLACE YOUR PRE-ORDERS**
THE SAMNITES
The Samnites and their relatives in central and south Italy are known as Oscans, from the name of their language.
The Samnites were the largest and most important Oscan nation, and was made up of a league of four tribes, the Pentri, Caudidi, Hirpini and Caraceni.
The Samnites fought a series of wars with Rome from 343 to 272, and were by far Rome’s most formidable Italian foe. Many Samnites were later to join Hannibal.
Livy the early Roman historian states that the Samnites fought in a loose phalanx formation in the form of a square, which was tactically flexible and more suited to their hilly terrain.
The Greek style phalanx was a formidable weapon especially from the front. But it was not flexible and once in contact with the enemy was vulnerable on its unprotected flanks and rear. It also need level, open terrain for its cohesion. The Romans had used the Phalanx to great effect along the coastal plains, but war in the constricted terrain of the mountainous spine of central Italy meant the Roman phalanx was a failiure. The Samnites did well in mobile warfare and were well used to mountain ambushes.
CTSM-04A
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIOR
Samnite tunics were brightly coloured and decorated, and there is little evidence of uniformity.
Their weapons included the javelin and short spear. There was a mixture of oval and round shields, and many infantry wore a distinctive cuirasse of Italian design. Small breast and backplates of leather backed bronze linked by hinged straps of similar construction passing over the shoulders and under the arms. The commonest type was the triple disc style.
CTSM-04B
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIOR
The proportion of cavalry fielded is never mentioned in historical references, but it is assumed it was low, as the wooded mountains would not have been good cavalry country. Like the Romans the Samnite cavalry were organized into Turmae.
Many paintings show warriors carrying spears over their shoulders with bright cloths hanging from them. These are often interpreted as flags, but it is believed that they were tunics and belts. These represent trophies taken from the dead or captured enemy who had been stripped, which was a common practice in both Italy and Greece.
CTSM-04N
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
THE SAMNITES,
SAMNITE WARRIORS
ROMAN AUXILLIARY CAVALRY
As Romans were never considered exceptionally good horsemen, and the role of the cavalry not as important in the Roman thought process, the Equitatus was generally made up of non-Roman horsemen. While they would play an important part of Legionary tactics, the Roman Cavalry was considered secondary and would remain the weakest part of the Roman Army until the very late Imperial period.
Generally, the cavalry was used as light skirmishing troops, and mounted archers whose job was to patrol, act as scouts and messengers and to provide a mobile defensive screen while the legion was massing in battle array. As in all armies throughout history, the mounted trooper was also very effective in chasing down and harassing a fleeing and panicked enemy force.
As part of the military reforms of Augustus around AD 14, the Auxilia were re-organized. They would be trained to the same standards of discipline as the legions. They were mainly drawn from a wide range of warlike peoples throughout the provinces, and would receive Roman citizenship on completion of their 25 year sevice. Senior officers in contrast were Roman citizens.
The Auxilia filled the tasks of patrolling, containing raids, tax collecting, and the multitude of duties of the frontier troops.
They were especially suited to garrison and local policing activities, and could also hold their own in small scale warfare.
ROMCAV-11A
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
ROMAN AUXILIARY CAVALRY
Roman Auxilia cavalry were usually heavily armored in mail and armed with a short lance, javelins, the Spatha long sword, and sometimes bows for specialist Horse archer units. These men primarily served as Medium missile cavalry for flanking, scouting, skirmish, and pursuit.
Cavalry units were known as Alae, and were made up of 16 Turmae.
A Turmae consisted of 30 troopers, and was commanded by a Decurio, and a second in command called the Duplicarius.
Cavalrymen carried Clipeus , a flat oval or hexagonal shield. These were extremely light, constructed of double or triple thickness plywood, made up of thin strips of birch.
ROMCAV-11B
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME,
ROMAN AUXILIARY CAVALRY
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER TO PLACE YOUR PRE-ORDERS**
