Roman Legion Camp on March

[roman wargamer]

Visual Top View of the Legio Encampment

with the individual cohors encmpment included.

 

 

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V stands for V form ditche of the legio on the first day.

_ stands for pallisades rampart of the legio.

H stands for preatoria main gate of the legio.

o stands for 5 centuria acies line.

g stands for the gate.

w [means cervus] stands for the cohors fence made of wooden fence pointed stakes.

- stands for the cohors open space use as pathway or bonfire area.

= stands for the legio open space use as cohors equites road way.

 

there was a four gate in the cohors encampment.

there was a open space use as pathway between contubernia as wide as two meter.

there was a open space use as pathway between contutriplia as wide as three meter.

 

each cohors encampment have open space between each other use as road way for the equites of the legio.

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notice:

that there was no figure representatiom on the right side column because it will displace everything awfully.

and the blank spaces have been use to avoid the same displacement effect when posted.

[roman wargamer]

erratum notice:

i notice that there are many typographical error, misplace code, seniority place and misnomen, i wish to correct.

before i finish my calculation on how to do the 'ditch'

 

M [means Lupus] stands for praetoria gate passage spike drawbridge.

Lupus or 'wolf' is a spike drawbridge in the main gate on porta praetoria.

[roman wargamer]

Whatever the actual number in the organisation, the point is that no legion had 16000 on strength. Even then, on campaign a legion is likely to be short of the expected total for a number of reasons as I've mentioned.

then

let's then analyze how i come to workguess that a legio have more than 6,000 men of war.

 

first; it is an accepted fact that a legio have 10 cohors,

 

that each cohors have 3 manipular acies,

composes of Hastatus, Princeps, Triarii.

 

and each manipular acies have the basic 2 centuria lines,

 

by then, let us reconstruct the basic organizational structure of the cohors;

 

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fig.1

 

The Cohors [on the Primary Agmen Column]

 

.Hastatus Prior...................First Manipular Acies Line

.Hastatus Posterior

 

.Princeps Prior...................Second Manipular Acies Line

.Princeps Posterior

 

.Triarius Prior....................Third Manipular Acies Line

.Triarius Posterior

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then, it is also a fact that each cohors have

 

an equitum called cohors equites turmae also known as antisignani equites by their position

and signani called signiferi centuria

 

fig.2

 

The Cohors

 

.Hastatus Prior...................First Manipular Acies Line

.Hastatus Posterior

 

.Princeps Prior...................Second Manipular Acies Line

.Princeps Posterior

 

.Cohors Equites Turmae......The Cohors Command Line

.Signiferi Centuria

 

.Triarius Prior....................Third Manipular Acies Line

.Triarius Posterior

__________________________________________________________________________

as the Roman Legio experience repeated loss and defeat at many battle.

they begun to correct many lop holes in their battle line formation,

 

when the manipular acies line become engage at the battle;

a breaking of the line become apparent and gaps could be threaten by the enemy counter attack.

 

so they develop a measure they called supernumerary line

which means to support the manipular acies. as their function.

 

they are also known as antipilanus which suggest their location and formation

 

fig.3

 

The Cohors

 

1.AnteAdstatus

2.Hastatus Prior...................First Manipular Acies Line

3.Hastatus Posterior

 

4.AntePrinceps

5.Princeps Prior...................Second Manipular Acies Line

6.Princeps Posterior

 

 

E.Cohors Equites Turmae......The Cohors Command Line

0.Signiferi Centuria

 

7.AnteTriarius

8.Triarius Prior....................Third Manipular Acies Line

9.Triarius Posterior

 

the figure representation now shows 10 battle line of centuria.

[roman wargamer]

some explainatory note:

 

to define direction we need to address the following whiere is the north, etc, and etc.

 

then, let's decide the point of direction:

 

the top of the monitor shall be our north and the direction facing the enemy.

left as the west, right as the east, and down as the south.

 

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plotting the camp

 

draw a perfect square composes of 25 square.

90 mm will do in a standard typewriting paper, but i advise the 450 mm measurement in a large paper.

 

 

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it become very apparent that to closely understant the subject being talk about, plotting it in your own

paper work is a very necesary... as it is almost impossible to pin point the exact directional point i am

talking about without the aid of technical desciption.

 

for exmple: where is the rampart place beginning and end of responsibility being guarded by the cohors 1.

 

 

The Camp Gate

 

Porta (LA) gate

 

Porta praetoria - at the North is at at 000 degree

Porta principales dextra- at the East is at 081 degree

Porta principales sinistra- at the West is at 279 degree

Porta decumana - at the South is at 180 degree

 

the via principales

there was a horizontal chief main street that runs straight from west to east

that is also parallel and in front or north side of cohors 7, cohors 9 and cohors 8.

it is not in a perfect equitor of the camp but slightly in favor of the north.

 

here is the point of direction, draw a straight line from point 279 degree to point 081 degree.

 

there was no direct vertical roads that runs straight from porta praetoria to porta decumana.

 

but it they have four indirect vertical roads that i will plot on my next visit.

[roman wargamer]

the road and pathway inside the Legio Camp

 

the via principales begin at NW point of cohors 7 camp and ends at NE point of cohors 8 camp.

there was a horizontal chief main street that runs straight from west to east

that is also parallel and in front or north side of cohors 7, cohors 9 and cohors 8.

it is not in a perfect equitor of the camp but slightly in favor of the north.

 

the 3 via secundae on horizontal pathway

the via secundae 1 begin at NW point of cohors 1 camp and ends at NE point of cohors 2 camp.

the via secundae 2 begin at NW point of cohors 4 camp and ends at NE point of cohors 5 camp.

the via secundae 3 begin at SW point of cohors 4 camp and ends at SE point of cohors 5 camp.

 

the 4 via secundae on vertical pathway

 

the via secundae 1 begin at NW point of cohors 1 camp and ends at SW point of cohors 4 camp.

the via secundae 2 begin at NE point of cohors 4 camp and ends at SE point of cohors 4 camp.

the via secundae 3 begin at NW point of cohors 2 camp and ends at SW point of cohors 5 camp.

the via secundae 4 begin at NE point of cohors 2 camp and ends at SE point of cohors 5 camp.

 

the 4 via secundae vertical on the North side indirectly connect to the Porta Praetoria.

 

the 4 via secundae vertical on the South side indirectly connect to the Porta Decumana.

 

there is only one road way that directly connect to both end of porta... the via principales.

 

you could try to plot it using the following guide point:

 

011..002..003..004

333..351..009..027

------------------297/063

------------------243/117

207..189..171..153

[sonic]

A quick word regarding Roman camps.

 

Roman camps were, whenever possible, set out to the format set in the guidebooks. However, a close inspection of those camps found in Britain show that the Romans, who were exceptionally realistic, could make camps of different shapes and dimensions when the local topography was unsuitable for the square/rectangular ones.

 

For anyone interested, check out 'Roman Camps in England: The Field Archaeology' by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.

 

It's available on Amazon.co.uk but is a bit expensive. Maybe a trip to the library...?

[roman wargamer]

A quick word regarding Roman camps.

 

Roman camps were, whenever possible, set out to the format set in the guidebooks. However, a close inspection of those camps found in Britain show that the Romans, who were exceptionally realistic, could make camps of different shapes and dimensions when when the local topography was unsuitable for the square/rectangular ones.

the perfect square are only visual guide for the commoner to easily comprehend and understand the subject being talk.

i know very well what you are talking about... did you ever notice that i claim every cohors have each own mini camp.

 

for example: the intervallum space are only around 70 meter [200 feet long] not 90 meter as shown.

 

a quick read in the previous upper post will clarify some details.

[roman wargamer]

Guarding The Frontline fence

 

each cohors have each own place in the rampart to guard as their responsibilities.

 

Castrorum metatores measure the camp size of the legio.

 

each legiones have each own 'Ligo' as entrenching tools to excavate the ditch.

 

here is the area of responsibilities for each cohors to guide them in their area to guard.

 

cohors 1..from degree 292.5 to 337.5

cohors 2..from degree 022.5 to 067.5

cohors 3..from degree 337.5 to 022.5

 

cohors 4..from degree 202.5 to 247.5

cohors 5..from degree 112.5 to 167.5

cohors 0..from degree 157.5 to 202.5

 

 

cohors 7..from degree 247.5 to 292.5

cohors 8..from degree 067.5 to 112.5

Edited May 16, 2007 by roman wargamer

[roman wargamer]

visual representation of how the Roman Legio do the Ditch.

 

when the Roman arrive in the area to become their camp. they encircle the whole area in Square Formation.

 

the whole legio do a single line of men in battleline formation;

Trarii in the rear, facing East [ Right] or toward the enemy.

Left is the West means their back.

 

code

 

3 means Triarii

2 means Princeps

1 means Hastatus

c means cursores

-- means space

a__means land topsoil topography

b__means land lowsoil topography or under 1 meter

 

 

 

each man will be required to excavate 1 meter depth, 1 meter front lenght and 1.5 meter wide width.

in 1 hour work time

 

6 hours fig.0

 

 

a_________________________________________________________________[3]___(2)___[1]___©__©___

b___________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

7 hours fig.1

the Triarii determine the line of the ditch, distance and form... and begun the excavation.

the excavated soil begome the rampart 1 meter wide base.

 

a________________________________________________________[3]____#--- ___(2)___[1]___©__©___

b_______________________________________________________________!_/________________________

 

 

 

8 hours fig.2

the Triarii retreat inside the ditch they just excavated.

and the Princeps just follow the ditch excavation of the Triarii.

the excavated soil begome the rampart 2 meter wide base.

 

a__________________________________________________[3]___(2)___## -----__ [1]___©__©_________

b________________________________________________________________!__/________________________

 

 

 

9 hours fig.3

the Triarii and Primceps retreat inside the ditch they just excavated.

and the Hastatus just follow the ditch excavation of the Triarii and Princeps.

the excavated soil begome the rampart 2 meter wide base and initial 2 meter height wall.

 

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a_____________________________________________[3]___(2)___[1]___##-----___©__©_______________

b_______________________________________________________________!___/________________________

[roman wargamer]

9 hours in Roman time is the equivalent of 3:00 pm of our modern time.

 

fig.3

the Triarii and Primceps retreat inside the ditch they just excavated.then on act of reserved guard formation.

and the Hastatus just follow the ditch excavation of the Triarii and Princeps.

the excavated soil begome the rampart 2 meter wide base and initial 2 meter height wall.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#

a________________________________________[3]___(2)___[1]___##-----___

[roman wargamer]

How lenght wide and long is the Praetoria FOSSA Fastigata in the first day?

 

if every men of the triarii in the 2 cohors determine the lenght distance Praetoria fossa fastigata;

then it will be around 400 to 450 meters if every men have a 1.5 meters lenght to excavate.

 

it is the triarii who will determine everything, even the ditch starting point and actual configuration.

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#

a________________________[3]___(2)___[1]____

[roman wargamer]

special note:

 

only 8 cohors do the digging of the FOSSA, and it is called Fossa Fastigata in the first day.

in the next day it will become deeper and wider if they ever stay one more day in the same camp.

 

the Triarii Prior and the Triarii Posterior [ 81+81=162 men X 2 Cohors= 324 men] who will do begin the FOSSA.

the Praetoria FOSSA Fastigata lenght and width will be translated into 1 meter wide and around 400 to 450 meters long.

1 meter wide, 1 meter deep, and 1.5 meter lenght long per man of the triarii.

 

only the Triarii men will do the dig and the antepilanus triarius will do the carrying of the soil in to the right place,

which happen to be only about 1 meter away from the excavation point.

 

their are 2 Cohors who do not take part in the excavation of the ditch.

[roman wargamer]

See below for layout of Camp:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/camp2.html

these camp lay out and size could be subject to many possible error.

 

first it may not even be capable to house even only the First Cohors due to their number.

the tent could only roughly contain less than a 5 hundred men.

 

then the via Decumana should be in the rear or back of Fossa and Porta Praetoria,where the Cohors O is.

 

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as the curia Aediles ended his ceremony while the whole legio and council of war awaited the verdict.

the legio Legate stand and deliver what alongside the plebis councilium tributa are known along.

 

that the wind of the coming fall has arrived... and you can begin to smell the snow begin to come.

 

let the preparation for the castra Hiberna begin, so the each milites can at ease for the season.

 

and the wintering camp is being settled.