Dominic Sandbrook

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.

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.

So that's the Hastati and the Principes. They also have two javelins. And I'll just quote Goldsworthy on this because. Lots of people listening to this have a sense that these javelins, the pilar, the legionaries throw them and they then have a kind of bendy head. It's meant to stick in the enemy's shield and the droops down. This is not true. I'll read Goldsworthy on how these javelins work.

So that's the Hastati and the Principes. They also have two javelins. And I'll just quote Goldsworthy on this because. Lots of people listening to this have a sense that these javelins, the pilar, the legionaries throw them and they then have a kind of bendy head. It's meant to stick in the enemy's shield and the droops down. This is not true. I'll read Goldsworthy on how these javelins work.

So that's the Hastati and the Principes. They also have two javelins. And I'll just quote Goldsworthy on this because. Lots of people listening to this have a sense that these javelins, the pilar, the legionaries throw them and they then have a kind of bendy head. It's meant to stick in the enemy's shield and the droops down. This is not true. I'll read Goldsworthy on how these javelins work.

All of the weapon's weight was concentrated behind the small tip, giving it great penetrative power. The length of the metal shank gave it the reach to punch through an enemy's shield and still go on to wound his body. But even if it failed to do so and merely stuck in the shield, it was very difficult to pull free and might force the man to discard his weighed down shield and fight unprotected.

All of the weapon's weight was concentrated behind the small tip, giving it great penetrative power. The length of the metal shank gave it the reach to punch through an enemy's shield and still go on to wound his body. But even if it failed to do so and merely stuck in the shield, it was very difficult to pull free and might force the man to discard his weighed down shield and fight unprotected.

All of the weapon's weight was concentrated behind the small tip, giving it great penetrative power. The length of the metal shank gave it the reach to punch through an enemy's shield and still go on to wound his body. But even if it failed to do so and merely stuck in the shield, it was very difficult to pull free and might force the man to discard his weighed down shield and fight unprotected.

So basically, you don't need the head to bend. I mean, it's, you know, it's a massive problem if you've got a great spear stuck in your shield and you have to throw it away. And then the guy can come up with his gladius and slice your stomach open. So very bad news. The third rank, so this is the veterans, the triarii, they have very long thrusting spears and they essentially are reserved.

So basically, you don't need the head to bend. I mean, it's, you know, it's a massive problem if you've got a great spear stuck in your shield and you have to throw it away. And then the guy can come up with his gladius and slice your stomach open. So very bad news. The third rank, so this is the veterans, the triarii, they have very long thrusting spears and they essentially are reserved.

So basically, you don't need the head to bend. I mean, it's, you know, it's a massive problem if you've got a great spear stuck in your shield and you have to throw it away. And then the guy can come up with his gladius and slice your stomach open. So very bad news. The third rank, so this is the veterans, the triarii, they have very long thrusting spears and they essentially are reserved.

Should the first two ranks break, then they will form a kind of porcupine, a defensive screen bristling with spears. I'm aware that that might all sound rather complicated, but the aim of it is to enable fresh units constantly to be filtered up to the front so that if one line gets kind of annihilated or loses energy or whatever, then they can easily be replaced.

Should the first two ranks break, then they will form a kind of porcupine, a defensive screen bristling with spears. I'm aware that that might all sound rather complicated, but the aim of it is to enable fresh units constantly to be filtered up to the front so that if one line gets kind of annihilated or loses energy or whatever, then they can easily be replaced.

Should the first two ranks break, then they will form a kind of porcupine, a defensive screen bristling with spears. I'm aware that that might all sound rather complicated, but the aim of it is to enable fresh units constantly to be filtered up to the front so that if one line gets kind of annihilated or loses energy or whatever, then they can easily be replaced.

And what gives the Roman line its flexibility is that there are kind of gaps built into the battle formations. The Roman lines are subdivided into units called maniples. And if people think of maybe a checkerboard or on a die, a five, Just lots and lots of those kind of fives that you get on dice all in a row. You have a maniple, then you have a gap equivalent in length to the length of a maniple.

And what gives the Roman line its flexibility is that there are kind of gaps built into the battle formations. The Roman lines are subdivided into units called maniples. And if people think of maybe a checkerboard or on a die, a five, Just lots and lots of those kind of fives that you get on dice all in a row. You have a maniple, then you have a gap equivalent in length to the length of a maniple.

And what gives the Roman line its flexibility is that there are kind of gaps built into the battle formations. The Roman lines are subdivided into units called maniples. And if people think of maybe a checkerboard or on a die, a five, Just lots and lots of those kind of fives that you get on dice all in a row. You have a maniple, then you have a gap equivalent in length to the length of a maniple.

Then you have another maniple and then you have another row behind it. But the maniple behind it is filling in the gap. But essentially, it means that you can constantly thread people through the gaps and move people up to fill gaps. Can I, the depth of the maniples, it's on a stupefying scale. So it's perhaps five or six men across.

Then you have another maniple and then you have another row behind it. But the maniple behind it is filling in the gap. But essentially, it means that you can constantly thread people through the gaps and move people up to fill gaps. Can I, the depth of the maniples, it's on a stupefying scale. So it's perhaps five or six men across.

Then you have another maniple and then you have another row behind it. But the maniple behind it is filling in the gap. But essentially, it means that you can constantly thread people through the gaps and move people up to fill gaps. Can I, the depth of the maniples, it's on a stupefying scale. So it's perhaps five or six men across.