Imperial Navy.

[Gaius Octavius]

To my understanding, it was the vision of Augustus that created the Imperial Navy, and that Agrippa carried out this vision. In your opinion, what was the value of this navy to the future of the Empire?

[Faustus]

To my understanding, it was the vision of Augustus that created the Imperial Navy, and that Agrippa carried out this vision. In your opinion, what was the value of this navy to the future of the Empire?

In one instance the value or of an Imperial Navy to Rome might be measured in the importance given to, first, making Britain a Roman province, and then in maintaining it as one. The last connectivity of Britain to Rome was through their naval lines of communication, even as the empire fell. The last places in Briton to consider themselves

[Kosmo]

After Actium the need for a large navy was no more. Local fleets were created to handle local problems while a larger fleet was kept in bases in Italy (Misenum, Ravenna etc) In the Late Empire germanic enemies often used the sea (goths, saxons, vandals) but there were few sea battles.

[Gaius Octavius]

After Actium the need for a large navy was no more. Local fleets were created to handle local problems while a larger fleet was kept in bases in Italy (Misenum, Ravenna etc) In the Late Empire germanic enemies often used the sea (goths, saxons, vandals) but there were few sea battles.

 

Then why would Augustus have built these two great fleets and headquarter them in Italy?

[Ursus]

The main duty of the Navy was to dissaude pirates from harrassing Roman commerce in the Mediterannean.

[CiceroD]

I have volunteered for sailing on a tall ship; A ship that had multiple sails and lines for controlling them. Most Roman ships only had one or two square sails.

So in the typical Roman Quinquireme or Liburnian what was the need for actual seamanship?

 

Were the navy men of the day simply dumb boat rowers? (Besides navigators and officers of course)

or did they have to practice boarding or other skills?

[Primus Pilus]

After Actium the need for a large navy was no more. Local fleets were created to handle local problems while a larger fleet was kept in bases in Italy (Misenum, Ravenna etc) In the Late Empire germanic enemies often used the sea (goths, saxons, vandals) but there were few sea battles.

 

Then why would Augustus have built these two great fleets and headquarter them in Italy?

 

He had to build them to deal with Sextus Pompey in the west and the Egyptian fleet in the east. Once these two large organized threats were defeated, the Roman navy was used primarily to protect shipping and to support ground operations. The continued existence of these permanent post-Actium fleets prevented a resurgence of piracy.

[caldrail]

After Actium the need for a large navy was no more. Local fleets were created to handle local problems while a larger fleet was kept in bases in Italy (Misenum, Ravenna etc) In the Late Empire germanic enemies often used the sea (goths, saxons, vandals) but there were few sea battles.

 

Then why would Augustus have built these two great fleets and headquarter them in Italy?

 

 

Kudos. "Look, oh public, at this magnificent navy I have given you". Since there were no great seafaring enemies to combat one wonders what other reason Augustus had to create these fleets. I suppose there's an outside chance Augustus had in mind to use this navy to support operations on the german coast, but obviously that never happened. Otherwise, as stated, piracy was the main concern and a very real one. The deterrent of a large navy in suppressing piracy is a lesson we could learn today.

[Gaius Octavius]

Could it be that Augustus was thinking in terms of future wars with such as Parthia; the ferrying of legionaries and supplies to hot spots; and communications between Rome and the provinces?

[Kosmo]

Could it be that Augustus was thinking in terms of future wars with such as Parthia; the ferrying of legionaries and supplies to hot spots; and communications between Rome and the provinces?

 

Why would they need WARships for that? A trireme it's highly unpractical for transport.

[Gaius Octavius]

Kosmic:

 

If there were a war, warships would come in handy.

 

Cecil

[Primus Pilus]

Kosmic:

 

If there were a war, warships would come in handy.

 

Cecil

 

It was definately valuable in moving legionaries to Cyprus in order to put down the Jewish revolt of AD 115 - 117. Though other than this and the invasion of Britain, there was little necessity for naval activity in anything other than providing logistical support. (Though that support was paramount in varies Germanic activities in the early principate as well as Corbulo's and Trajans' eastern/Armenian campaigns via the Black Sea, etc.)

[Gaius Octavius]

Assume for a moment that during Tiberius' reign, an Asiatic enemy used its fleet to attack the Empire from the Black Sea. Would Augustus be blamed for not providing a navy, (from the left overs of Actium at least), to protect the Empire?

[Gaius Octavius]

Were there any naval stations in the Maeotis or the Caspian Sea? If I recall correctly, there was a Roman fort on the coast of Yemen, if so, was this to support a naval station there?

Edited January 29, 2008 by Gaius Octavius

[Ingsoc]

Could it be that Augustus was thinking in terms of future wars with such as Parthia; the ferrying of legionaries and supplies to hot spots; and communications between Rome and the provinces?

 

By their nature military organisation are conservative and tend to continue with what method that brought them victory hence Augustus saved the navy that give him victories over Sexstus Pompius and Marcus Antonius but in reallty the navy was much greater that Rome needed, for example Nero saw no problem to recriut two legions from the navy in the begining of the revolt against his rule since the navy wasn't that usefull.