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Gaius Octavius

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  3. The Roman Army

    in Gloria Exercitus - 'Glory of the Army'

    Posted

    Notes from: "Hannibal" (The Roman Army), The Early Army of Rome 500-350BC; Theodore Ayrault Dodge.

     

    Earliest: Three Tribes each required to produce 1,000 foot and 100 horse. Foot divided into 10 centuries of 100 men. Horse divided into 10 decuries of 10 men. (After first mounted mob and second Dorian Phalanx.)

    King or leader had a personal guard of 300 mounted men called celeres. They were paid and kept constantly at the ready. Each 1,000 foot were commanded by a tribune (~colonel). Each century by a centurion (~captain).

     

    Servius Tullius: 168 centuries of foot divided into 4 legions of 4,200 foot (42 centuries); 2 legions of juniores, aged 17-45. 2 legions of seniores, aged 46-60. A cavalry arm 2,400 strong. There also were centuries of pioneers and musicians.

     

    Servian Classes:

    1st - 20 jugera or more of farms or 100,00 As'. (1 As originally equaled 1lb of copper or alloy.)

    2nd - 3/4 of 1st.

    3rd - 1/2 of 1st.

    4th - 1/4 of 1st.

    5th - 1/8 of 1st

    6th - Less than 5th and regarded as supernumeraries and made up of artificers and musicians.

     

    Their Arms:

    1st - helmet, breastplate or coat of mail, grieves, shield, sword and long lance.

    2nd - No grieves.

    3rd - Neither grieves nor breastplate.

    4th - No metal helmet, grieves or breastplate.

    5th - Armed only with darts and bows.

     

    Desireable height was 5' to 5'3" (Roman measure?). Higher not considered strong; shorter preferred. Strongly built, big hands, intelligent.

    Youths of less than 17 (called tirones or recruits) were put through the extremes of training.

     

    Best men in front rank. Each levy district furnished equal parts of each century for uniformity. 8 to 12 ranks; 250 to 375 files, covering a front of less than 1/4 mile.

  4. Europe's debt to Islam given a skeptical look

    in Historia in Universum

    Posted

    I believe that the truth lies somewhere in between. The fact that Egyptians, Greeks, Jews, Romans, and mis-alleged Byzantines, provided the foundations for Moslem advances is too often disregarded. Persian, Indian and Chinese influences are also disregarded. Christian 'Byzantine' emigrants from Constantinople brought their books, learning, and art to Christian Europe during the 1400's. This was once held to be the kick start for the Renaissance. In the 1200's a school of medicine was established at the University of Bologna, where logic and mathematics were long taught. This is not to denigrate Arabic or Moslem advances and contributions to civilization. The fact that there are Arabic loan words in Spanish has all to do with the Moorish conquest.

     

    I believe that the theory that the West owes all to Arabs and Moslems came to bear during the mid-20th century when Europe needed Moslem labor.

  6. Publishing Artwork?

    in Hora Postilla Thermae

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Octavius

    If you mean that you want to sell some of your work, this is the way you go about it. Put a price on it. Have one of your pals 'buy' it. Pay him back. Do it over and over. Keep raising your prices. Soon you will catch a turkey and get away with a real sale. Don't forget my share.

  8. The Levy of the Annual Regular Legio

    in Gloria Exercitus - 'Glory of the Army'

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Octavius

    My, I am sure faulty understanding of matters military, goes this way: Any unit which may operate independently, has a commander, be he sergeant, colonel, optio, decurio, or tribune. Certainly an alae operated 'away from', or independently from a cohort or legion. Cohorts need not have been with the rest of their legion to engage in battle. Indeed, cohorts need not have been an integral part of any legion. There were independent cohorts. Batavians in England. The Italian allies were organized into cohorts and attached to legions. Insofar as the 'pyramid' is concerned, the various units were supposed to do as the overall commander bid. No one was supposed to run around doing as he pleased. A cohort could be detached from the main battle line to flank the enemy for an example. Unit strengths varied within the legion, the legions, and the times. Once there were maniples; then there were none.

     

    When one thinks of the American order of battle, it has changed from time to time. After WWII, the Atomic Division came into vogue. Once there were 3-5 squads to a platoon; 3-5 platoons to a company; 3-5 companies to a battalion, etc. Not all infantry, but logistics, intelligence, and headquarters, and not all of the same strength. A 1st or 2nd lieutenant commanded a platoon. A 1st Lt. or Capt., a company. A Major was/is generally a staff officer, but may command a battalion or a company. It goes this way all the way to the top. Since lieutenants and captains have a penchant for being whacked in battle, a corporal could, in theory, command a division. The Romans may have been more rigid. Gen Eisenhower (if my memory serves) was a Regular Army Major at the time he was commanding allied forces on D-Day. That distinction is for another day. So are regimental combat teams, brigades, reserves and corps.

     

    Faustus, where are you? Are you goldbricking again? (Insider joke.) :)

  20. Roman Communications

    in Romana Humanitas

    Posted

    During a battle, I believe that trumpets were used to direct tactics.

     

    I take it you mean at sea? At any rate that is a quick system, but needs a response like a RGR probably. I think the communications specialist, and there likely were those, had their hands full. These things are not handled "casually". Someone has be be able to be held responsible, just in case!

     

     

    Faustus

     

    Actually, I meant on land, but I can see trumpets used at sea, especially in fog. They might even have been used to communicate set signals from tower to tower on Hadrian's Wall.

  21. Come up with a new UNRV name for yourself!

    in Hora Postilla Thermae

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Octavius

    I've had one bestowed on me by Gaius Octavius that I like; The Savage!

     

    " Post #107

     

     

    Optio

    **

     

    Group: Equites

    Posts: 98

    Joined: 23-August 07

    From: Aotearoa

    Member No.: 3845

     

     

     

     

    I'd have been one of the denizens of the Subura (but not a slave), who'd have had all you hoity types clutching your purses and secreting valuables into the sinus of your toga if you passed me in a dark alley (or even a well lit one). Need someone assasinated? I'd be your man. I'd have been a member of the capite censi that all you senators and first class Romans would be at pains to keep placated with bread and circuses. I would loaf and graft as would be my gods given rights as a free born Roman scumbag.

     

     

    --------------------

    Mau e kii mai: He aha te mea nui o te Ao?

    Maku e kii atu: He tangata, he tangata, he tangata."

     

    ================================================================================

    ============================

     

    I didn't pull his name out of thin air. :lol:

     

    :ph34r:

  25. Roman Grass

    in Romana Humanitas

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Octavius

    There is a large park across the way from me in which there is both a Long and a Sheep Meadow. Up until WWII(?), sheep grazed these meadows. I wouldn't want to picnic there. The recesses of my flawed memory have conjured up a picture of a straight bladed push mower on a relative's farm. Maybe? I don't think that it would work in the City.

     

    What about fallen leaves?

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