Typical three lines AFTER reforms

[VeniVidiVici]

I've been researching the how legionaries' formations worked right after Marian Reforms, but before Caesar's prime. So about 1st century BC.

 

As many of you guys know, there aren't Hastati, Principes, Triarii. All legionary are same with same gears and stuff during that time.

 

What I want to know is, how did they fight in battle?

 

Did they kept rotate cohorts just like old three line formation even though there weren't distinctions between legionaries?

 

Or did they just let first line of cohort fight to death and then second cohort came in after first cohort was nearly annihilated?(which isnt most likely)

 

I looked up everywhere, but I couldn't find the clear answer about how legionaries fought in formations after reform.

 

Hopefully I can fine some good answer here. Thanks.

[caldrail]

http://www.unrv.com/forum/uploads/11852987...78_42_62627.jpg

 

As you see in this game screenshot, the typical formation was the quincunx, or the 'chequerboard' formation. The whoile object of this was to support the line in front and plug the necessary gaps between units. I should point out that the legion pictured is underscale somewhat - there should be six times as many men.

 

However, the romans had other formations that they could use. Single, double, and triple lines were employed on occaision depending on strategy and circumstance.

 

The cohorts weren't necessarily equal. The 'first cohort' was always the elite of the legion, often with a larger unit size.