Dominic Sandbrook

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.

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.