Each of these three lines contained five manipuli of hastati , principes , and sixty triarii. A maniple was further subdivided into two centuriae of sixty each hastati and principes , and thirty triarii.
Manipular Legions were supported by ten thirty-man squadrons turmae of equites , light cavalry, and the more loosely organized velites , skirmishing troops. The manipular formation would be initially deployed in four lines. The first was a solid line made up of the skirmishing velites, who would hurl missiles at the approaching enemy to inflict casualties and disrupt their formations. The final three lines known as the triplex acies were made up of the infantry, a line each for the hastati , principes and triarii.
These three lines would be segmented and deployed in a checkerboard pattern known as a quincunx. When the marching enemy would get close the velites would retreat through the gaps in the maniples to the rear of the formation. The front line of hastati then would most likely have formed a solid line to engage the enemy in close-quarters combat.
If the front line could not hold, they would fall back on the principes. If that line could not hold they would then fall back on the triarii. There were about 30 legions around the Roman Empire, three of which were based in Britain at Caerleon, Chester and York. Tombstones at Chester indicate that some men joined the legions young; two men had been only fourteen when they had joined up.
A legion had commanders, officers and ordinary soldiers. There were also doctors, engineers and other workers. Centuria: century was made up of 10 contubernium with a total of 80 men commanded by a centurion. Contubernium section - 8 men. The smallest unit of the Roman legion was the contubernium tent group of eight men.
They marched, fought, worked and camped together. The 'section' eight men - the basic unit of the legion. In barracks, these eight men shared two rooms. A leather tent, usually made out of calfskin or goatskin, which would protect the soldiers from the elements when sleeping. These would often sleep between six and eight soldiers each. The large Roman shield, which was curved to fit the body. They were made from thin sheets of wood, glued together so that the grain of each piece was at right angles to the piece next to it.
The whole was bound around the edges with wrought iron or bronze and the center was hollowed out on the inside for the handgrip and protected by metal bands. On the outside the surface was covered in leather, on which was fastened gilded or silvered decoration, probably in bronze. Each cohort had different color schemes aid recognition during a battle.
The shields also carried the name of the soldier and that of his centurion. On the march, the shield was hung by a strap over the left shoulder. The apron consisted of a number of leather thongs to which were riveted metal plates, and weighted with bronze. It could have been either decorative, protection for the genitals or a combination of both. The standard tunic worn over linen undergarments and underneath a legionary's armor.
These were red, it is thought, so that the enemy would not be able to easily see a legionary bleed if wounded during battle. Chain mail that was used extensively throughout Roman history and well after its fall.
It provided excellent protection and flexibility, but was very heavy and time consuming to make. Plate Armor. A name translated by modern scholars, as we don't know what the Romans actually called it.
This armor was made up of many pieces of laminated iron all bound together to form a very flexible, strong and the most effective of Roman body protection. It seemingly replaced chain mail as the favored Legionary issue but due to budgeting constraints its length of service seems to have been a relatively short period of time roughly Rome's golden era in the early empire and through the late 2nd century.
Scale Armor, actually translated to Armor of Feathers. Scale armor consisted of row upon row of overlapping bronze or iron scales, which resembled a coat of feathers. Scale seemingly began to replace Plate late in the 2nd Century CE, as it was easier and less expensive to make than the other forms, but was less flexible and is often considered far less capable.
Common thought is that it was especially vulnerable from an upward stab, but this theory is highly debated. The Roman short sword. It was a double-edged weapon about 18 inches long and two inches wide, often with a corrugated bone grip formed to the Legionaries hand.
A large round ball at the end helped with the balance. The primary use was for thrusting at short range. It was carried high on the right hand side so as to be clear of the legs and the shield arm. The Roman javelin. It was seven feet long and very light, as it was thrown before just prior to engaging the enemy in melee, to disarm as much as wound them. The top three feet were of iron with a hardened point. It is probable that more sturdy types of spear of the same name were available for defense against cavalry in formation such as the turtle.
The Roman dagger was anywhere from 7 to 11 inches long in similar width to the gladius. It could be highly decorative or very plain, but was a very useful secondary weapon in case of being disarmed. It was attached to the belt on the left hand side. A centurion's equipment was notably different from that of a legionary. He wore a transverse, side to side, crest along his helmet that would serve as an easily recognized point of reference for the men.
The crest was made either of feathers or horsehair and colors could signify various ranks. Rather than the Lorica Segmentata of the Legionary, they would wear either chain or scale. It was generally about waist length with a lower edge similar to the muscled cuirass.
The armor and helmet could be silver-plated as well. He did not wear the apron like the Legionary but had a double-pleated kilt like piece. They also wore a cloak, of fine material, which hung from the left shoulder and a very ornate belt.
Additionally the wearing of bronze greaves on the shins set them apart from the rank and file.
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