Dominic Sandbrook

But I think Varro clearly feels that the advantage of the position outweighs that. So his dispositions, infantry in the middle, as ever, Roman cavalry on his right wing. So that's next to the Arphidius, next to the river. And then the Allied cavalry is on the left wing, which is next to the ridge of hills. And their role is purely defensive.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

They're always going to be outnumbered and outfought by the Carthaginian horse. Their role is essentially to ensure that the line of infantry can't be attacked on the flanks. And this is really, really important because the goal has to be that the infantry defeats the Carthaginian infantry before the Roman and Italian cavalry can be chased off. And it's the measure of how important this is.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

that Varro himself takes up command of the allied cavalry and Paulus leads the Roman cavalry. So very, very important. But obviously it's the infantry that the Romans are pinning their hopes on.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

And so we should probably just describe, you know, what they look like, how they're lined up, how they're armed, that kind of thing, because these are not legions, not Roman soldiers of the kind that most people will be familiar with from Gladiator or whatever. This is from a kind of earlier period. And essentially, the Roman infantry is lined up in four distinct ranks.

So the first line consists of very lightly armed skirmishers who are called velites. And Polybius specifies that these are the youngest and the poorest. He gives a kind of very detailed account of how the Romans fought in battles. Very groovily, they would often wear wolfskin. Oh, right. Yeah. You have your little spears and you have your wolfskin and...

So the first line consists of very lightly armed skirmishers who are called velites. And Polybius specifies that these are the youngest and the poorest. He gives a kind of very detailed account of how the Romans fought in battles. Very groovily, they would often wear wolfskin. Oh, right. Yeah. You have your little spears and you have your wolfskin and...

So the first line consists of very lightly armed skirmishers who are called velites. And Polybius specifies that these are the youngest and the poorest. He gives a kind of very detailed account of how the Romans fought in battles. Very groovily, they would often wear wolfskin. Oh, right. Yeah. You have your little spears and you have your wolfskin and...

You form a screen in front of the main block of the heavy infantry and they form three lines. So the first line is a group called Hastati. These are men in their late teens, early twenties. So they're young, they're full of vigour, but they're not as experienced as the next line of heavy infantry who are called the Principes, so the chief men. These are guys who are in the prime of life.

You form a screen in front of the main block of the heavy infantry and they form three lines. So the first line is a group called Hastati. These are men in their late teens, early twenties. So they're young, they're full of vigour, but they're not as experienced as the next line of heavy infantry who are called the Principes, so the chief men. These are guys who are in the prime of life.

You form a screen in front of the main block of the heavy infantry and they form three lines. So the first line is a group called Hastati. These are men in their late teens, early twenties. So they're young, they're full of vigour, but they're not as experienced as the next line of heavy infantry who are called the Principes, so the chief men. These are guys who are in the prime of life.

They're very fit, they're very strong, but they're also experienced. And then at the back, you have a line called the triarii, who are the veterans. Now, how are these heavy infantry armed? It's quite important for understanding the battle to get a sense of this. All the heavy infantry have very heavy, kind of large oblong shields, which are held up with the left arm.

They're very fit, they're very strong, but they're also experienced. And then at the back, you have a line called the triarii, who are the veterans. Now, how are these heavy infantry armed? It's quite important for understanding the battle to get a sense of this. All the heavy infantry have very heavy, kind of large oblong shields, which are held up with the left arm.

They're very fit, they're very strong, but they're also experienced. And then at the back, you have a line called the triarii, who are the veterans. Now, how are these heavy infantry armed? It's quite important for understanding the battle to get a sense of this. All the heavy infantry have very heavy, kind of large oblong shields, which are held up with the left arm.

So that's quite a strain on the arm over the course of a long day. They might have a kind of small oblong plate on their chest, the pectorale, or if they can afford it, chain mail. And they're armed with the Spanish stabbing sword. So the sword that opens up the guts of the person that you're fighting with. You know, if you if you can get a clear stab at him. So the front two ranks.