Julius Ratus Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 Hey all, I've got a quick question. Who were the Soldurii? I looked them up on Wikipedia and could find nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted April 2, 2008 Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 This is from De Bello Gallico by Caesar........... .... And while the attention of our men is engaged in that matter, in another part Adcantuannus, who held the chief command, with 600 devoted followers whom they call soldurii (the conditions of whose association are these, - that they enjoy all the conveniences of life with those to whose friendship they have devoted themselves: if any thing calamitous happen to them, either they endure the same destiny together with them, or commit suicide: nor hitherto, in the, memory of men, has there been found any one who, upon his being slain to whose friendship he had devoted himself, refused to die); Adcantuannus, endeavoring to make a sally with these, when our soldiers had rushed together to arms, upon a shout being raised at that part of the, fortification, and a fierce battle had been fought there, was driven back into the town, yet he obtained from Crassus [the indulgence] that he should enjoy the same terms of surrender [as the other inhabitants]. Book III Chapt. 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julius Ratus Posted April 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2008 This is from De Bello Gallico by Caesar........... .... And while the attention of our men is engaged in that matter, in another part Adcantuannus, who held the chief command, with 600 devoted followers whom they call soldurii (the conditions of whose association are these, - that they enjoy all the conveniences of life with those to whose friendship they have devoted themselves: if any thing calamitous happen to them, either they endure the same destiny together with them, or commit suicide: nor hitherto, in the, memory of men, has there been found any one who, upon his being slain to whose friendship he had devoted himself, refused to die); Adcantuannus, endeavoring to make a sally with these, when our soldiers had rushed together to arms, upon a shout being raised at that part of the, fortification, and a fierce battle had been fought there, was driven back into the town, yet he obtained from Crassus [the indulgence] that he should enjoy the same terms of surrender [as the other inhabitants]. Book III Chapt. 22 Thanks GPM. So they just sound like a military unit used by Adcantuannus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 You need to careful with latin terms. For instance - Gregarii were gladiators who fought as a team. That doesn't mean they were equipped in any special way or received special training, nor does it mean they were a seperate class. It was just a name applied those told to take part in a spectacular event aside from the standard and regulated individual contests. The name Soldurii may therefore not mean it was a particular type of unit, rather than it was a unit in a certain circumstance. In the case mentioned above, it appears that certain warriors were used as some sort of elite bodyguard and given a special name, even if they didn't look or behave any different on or off the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.