Page 58 - History of War - Issue 10-14

THE ROMAN WAR MACHINE

TRAINING be decreased when the Empire was at war.
Afterswearinganoathofallegiancecalleda
‘sacrementum’ to the emperor, he would begin TRAINING ARENAS
HowtheRomanarmywas his training. A huge emphasis was placed on In harsh winters, training
putthroughitspacesasit marchingandlegionswouldtravel20Roman would be moved indoors
prepared for battle miles(18.4miles/29.6km)aday,withafull to purpose-built arenas
load of equipment on their backs. There would within the camps, so drills
To be selected, a recruit legionary would have also be repeated practise of formations and could be carried out 365
to be at least 1.8 metres (5ft 10 inches) tall, strategies to use in battles. Weapons training days of the year whatever
be physically fit and have good eyesight. He wasadailyexerciseaswastheconstructionof the weather.
wouldusuallybeallowedtobeginhismilitary ramparts and fortifications in case of a surprise
trainingattheageof18,althoughthiscould barbarianambushonaRomancamp.

COMBAT TRAINING
Wooden swords and shields
were used in training drills.
Here the legionaries would
practise their combat
technique and hone their
skills, ready to do battle
with the barbarian hordes.

The hand-to-hand expertise
COMBAT TECHNIQUE ofaromanlegionary
Legionary fighting styles involved a mixture To combat this threat, the Roman soldier The gladius was much more nimble than
ofswordandshieldtactics.Barbariansfrom would block the oncoming enemy with his shield barbarian broadsword and even if the legionary
tribes such as the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Gauls andforcehimtoreelbackwardsoreventothe were disarmed, he could use his shield as a
and Vandals would often carry two-handed ground. From here, the legionary could use his blunt weapon. Alternatively he could reach for his
broadswords that could do major damage with a sword to deliver quick cut-and-thrust strikes secondary weapon: a short concealed dagger
single blow. before the enemy could recover. knownasapugio.

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