Rome - Roman Soldiers
What You Need to Know About The Roman Army
Much of Roman history deals with wars, which means Roman soldiers in Roman legions fighting first Italians, then as the Empire expanded, other peoples around the Mediterranean. The Roman Empire depended on the Roman army. Not only did the legionaries conquer, but they spread the language and culture of Rome to Europe to the Rhine, and much of...
Roman Battles
Read a summary of Roman battles during both the Republican and Imperial periods listing the date, name/location of the battle, the winner and loser.
The Size of the Roman Legions
The Roman legions are the bodies of Roman soldiers responsible for creating the Roman Empire. Most of the soldiers were infantry, but there were also groups of cavalry, and auxiliaries. The size of these units changed over time.
Size of Roman Soldiers
Vegetius says that Roman soldiers had to be six feet tall. Find out how that could be possible.
Roman Military Leaders
Profiles of Roman military leaders Agrippa, Brutus, Camillus, Cincinnatus, Horatius, Marius, Stilicho, and Sulla.
Testudo
Testudo is the name of a military maneuver the Romans used for defense and attack.
Cohort
A Roman cohort was a section of a Roman army smaller than a legion and larger than a group of tent-mates. Learn more about the cohort and the organization of the Roman army.
Tribunes
Profile of the Roman Tribunes.
The Servian Reforms of the Roman Army
The second to last king of Rome is credited with creating reforms to Roman society that including reforming the Roman army.
Magister Militum
The Roman military office of Magister Militum was a military commander.
Lixae - The Roman Legions' Non-Combatants
In addition to the fighting units in the Roman army, the legions, auxiliaries, and cavalry, there were many hangers-on who were non-combatants. Some of these are referred to as lixae, a term that is not clear from the sources.
Roman Crowns
Crowns (coronae) were awarded to heroic Roman soldiers. Gold crowns were highly prized, but weren't the most coveted; instead, the Oak Crown (ilignea corona) or the Grass Crown (corona graminea) were the highest.
Donativum (Donative)
Who isn't grateful for a bonus when one's basic salary covers just the essentials? The donativum was unpredictable, but it became a necessary bonus for Roman soldiers.
Stipendium (Stipend)
For the Roman legionary or praetorian, the basic pay was a stipend that was paid at three times during the year.
Did Roman Soldiers Eat Meat?
In 'The Roman Military Diet,' R.W. Davies argues against the idea that unless they were from the provinces, Roman soldiers were vegetarian.
Limitanei
Limitanei is the Latin word for certain troops during the Roman Empire.
The Battle That Stopped Rome
If you're trying to understand what we know of the Teutoberg Forest disaster in A.D. 9, when three Roman legions were annihilated by German tribes, or you are looking for background on the opening scene of the movie Gladiator, Peter S. Wells' very clearly written The Battle That Stopped Rome - Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the...
Greaves
Greaves were a part of the armor of the Roman soldier. See what various greaves looked like.