NRCE The Roman Army

peditēs

foot soldiers/infantry men

legiō

legion - largest unit - 3600 men (6000 before the time of Caesar)

cohors

cohort - a tenth of a legion

manipulus

maniple - a third of a cohort

centuria

century - half a maniple - 60 men (100 originally)

auxilia

auxiliary troops

levis armātūrae peditēs

light-armed foot soldiers - from Gaul and Germany

funditōrēs

slingers (fundae - slings) - from the Balaeric islands

sagittāriī

bowmen/archers - from Crete and Numidia

equitēs

cavalry men - paid noncitizens from Gaul, Spain and Germany

āla

a squad of 300 equitēs

turma

a tenth of an āla, 30men

decuria

a third of a turma - 10 men

cālōnēs

slaves who performed menial tasks for the camp and officers

mercātōrēs

traders who conducted canteens outside of the camp, selling the soldiers extra provisions and buying booty from them

mūliōnēs

muleteers who took care of the pack animals and the heavy baggage

fabrī

engineers or mechanics who employed to construct bridges, ships, engines of war, etc.

explōrātōrēs (scouts) and speculātōrēs (spies)

scouts and spies who were sent ahead of an army on the march to reconnoiter and secure information about the enemy and the terrain - usually mounted

dux

commanding officer or general - after his first important victory he became imperātor (the commander-in-chief)

lēgātī

legates / staff officers - next in rank to dux

quaestōrēs

handled pay, military equipment and food supply

tribūnī mīlitum

military tribune - six to a legion

centuriōnēs

centurions and captains - noncommissioned plebeian officers who were experienced on the battlefield

praefectī

prefects - commanded the auxiliaries of cavalry

decuriōnēs

decurions - commanded the decuriae

tunica

tunic - a short-sleeved woolen undergarment up to the knees

sagum

a woolen cloak for severe weather which can also be used as a blanket

caligae

leather boots with heavy hobnailed soles, fastened on by straps

lōrīca

leather breastplate with metal bands

galea

leather or metal helmet often ornamented with a crest

scūtum

a curved, rectangular shield

pīlum

throwing javelin or pike

gladius

heavy, two edged sword

aquila

eagle - the standard of the legion made of silver or bronze mounted on a pole carried by the aquilifer.

signum

standard of a cohort or maniple carried by the signifer.

vēxillum

rectangular banner or flag - standard for the auxiliaries

aciēs triplex

triple battle line, usual battle formation of a legion

prīma aciēs

first line - 4 cohorts of experienced soldiers

secunda aciēs

second line - 3 cohorts stationed 150 feet behind the first line - relieved the wounded or fallen soldiers of the first

tertia aciēs

third line - last 3 cohorts

tuba

trumpet - a straight instrument, three feet long, of metal

cornū

horn - a large curved instrument of metal

agmen

the main column of legionary troops

prīmum agmen

the vanguard consisting of scouts, cavalry squads and light-armed infantrymen

novissimum agmen

the rear guard consisted of the least experienced

impedīmenta

baggage that followed the legion, carried on pack animals or wagons - food, etra weapons, clothing, artillery, tools, etc.

sarcīna

personal knapsack of a soldier

impedītus

refers to when a soldier was wearing his sarcīna

expedītus

refers to when a soldier was not wearing his sarcīna

iter

average day's march covered 15 miles from sunrise to noon

iter magnum

forced march which covered 25 miles

castra

camp - built after a day's march for retreat - rectangular in shape

portae

gates at opposite ends of each street - four total

fossa

a ditch or trench dug around the camp

agger

a mound or embankment surrounding the entire camp and constructed from the earth dug out for the fossa

vallum

rampart - a defensive wall made of the agger and a row of strong wooden stakes or palisades driven in at the outer edge of the agger

praetōrium

the general's tent in the middle of the camp

tabernācula

soldeirs' tents made of leather and holding 10 men each

tessera

military password used to get into the camp

vigiliae

the four "watches" into which the night was divided

prīmavigili

6PM to 9PM

secunda vigilia

9 PM to 12 midnight

tertia vigilia

12 midnight to 3 AM

quarta vigilia

3 AM to 6 AM

oppugnātiō

(attack)

obsidiō

(siege)

agger

sloping plane made of earth, stones and logs - gradually lengthened to be the same hight and depth as the wall of the city being attacked - used as a means of approach and for moving up siege machines

ariēs

a battering ram

pluteus

small, moveable, wooden screen used for protection

testūdō

a protective screen formed by the overlapping of shields held in a tortoise-like fashion

turris ambulātōria

a huge, moveable, wooden tower mounted on rollers o vīnea - a heavy moveable shed on rollers (lit. 'vineyard', from vīnum)

tormenta

artillery

ballista

a machine for hurling heavy stones and blocks of wood

catapulta

hurled large arrows and javelins

scorpiō

light catapult for hurling stones and darts

nāvis longa

a battleship propelled by oars and sails

rōstrum

the "beak" of the ship used for ramming other ships, of these ships the most common was the trireme which had three, banks of oars

nāvis

onerāria transport ship, broader and much slower than a battlehsip, carried soldiers, horses and provisions, propelled chiefly by sails