Evocati - Retired Roman veterans recalled to battle!

[Destraex]

I have been reading my lovely Roman legion book and came across the Evocati.

Edit. I got a bit excited.

quote from legions of rome by stephen dando collins:
In times of emergency, retired legionaries could be recalled from their homes to serve behind their old standards, which they appear to have taken into retirement with them. This militia, called the evocati, was controlled by the governor of each province.
Paulinus used evocati to help him defeat boudicca in britian in AD60. Nero sent evocati to egypt in ad66 for an invasion of ethiopia that had to be aborted because of the jewish revolt. Mucianus, the governor of syria, set off for italy in ad 69 to depose emperor vitellius with an army which included 13,000 Evocati from the east. Vitelius fielded evocati from britain and the rhine when his army opposed vespasians army.
Historian tacitus was to say that in ad 59 most of the legionaries discharged that year scattered themselves in the provinces where they had completed their military service. He complained that whole legions were no longer transplanted as in former days with tribunes and centurions and soldiers of every grade to create new colonies so as to forma state by their unity and mutual attachment, with the result he lamented that the latest discharges became a mere crowd rather than a colony.
The evocati were still in existence by around ad 230 in the time of cassius dio, who said that they constitute even now a special corp and carry rods like the centurions, he added I cannot however give their exact number.

I want to see these guys in Rome2. Just to have a hard core of grey haired veterans once again rising to the challenge. I cannot imagine how the legions reacted to these old warhorses.

[Jezza93]

I don't think they were quite like that...

Now and then veterans would request to be allowed back into their legions or would be invited by their generals. They didn't have legions of Evocati but merely a few veterans in a legion who were excused duties like latrine duty,making fortifications etc.

[Destraex]

I will have to go grab my book a bit later and go over it. Perhaps it said units rather than legions.

[daelin4]

Just had a quick read of the wiki entry. Evocatus, according to what I just read, were re-enlisted Roman troops. It doesn't specifically say legions- and thus could possibly include those discharged from auxilia, where they would have been granted citizenship- but it does imply that.

I suppose one way to implement Evocati as a unit in battle mode would be spawnable garrison for larger cities, kinda like the spawned version of triarii, veteran troops with good combat stats and the core of your garrison force. In certain cities this could either be replaced by, or even supplemented with, urban cohorts.

I hope CA includes a replenishment system for spawnable garrisons as well, because it was lame how you could endlessly spawn the same fresh units every time a siege took place. If garrisons also had to replenish, then it would naturally take Evcati MUCH longer because they were made up of re-enlisted troops. This would also counterbalance their significantly higher combat rating, and thus encourage players to preserve them from over-use.

The nature of the Evocati- retired troops that have re-enlisted, and usually in much larger numbers if their general was popular- would be a bit difficult to accurately depict in the kind of game Total War is known for. If you disbanded troops, they are simply deleted. Ad your units did not retire after twenty years. I think having them portrayed as a semi-elite spawnable garrison is a fair enough portrayal- being military retirees where some re-joined makes it all seem more natural than just hiring on a unit of retired troops to act just like regular troops.

[Sharpe]

If they were in the game I would like them to have slightly worse normal stats than a regular legionary but higher morale. They have been there and done it, and Roman military careers lasted 25 years did they not? Thats a lot of experience.

[Destraex]

Actually it was 25yrs for auxilliary units with no pension payout, but with citizenship at the end.
16yrs for the roman legionaries... but yes still a helluva lot of experience.

Most of the Roman Evocati would have been 36 or older I would imagine.
Auxilliary Evocati would have been 42 or older.
I guess its also interesting to know that men were starting families at this age! No wonder wemon have a clock and we do not!

Not sure how effective they would be. What would really sux is if you were one of the maimed. I think life for an auxilliary would be over after this. But as a Roman I believe their was some sort of bread pension...if you were in rome.


We certainly know that Vikings often fought into their 60s or older in the dark ages...

[zg0301zg]

Actually it was 25yrs for auxilliary units with no pension payout, but with citizenship at the end.
16yrs for the roman legionaries... but yes still a helluva lot of experience.

if I remember correctly pension was only after the reforme, before that everyone had to be in the army, but it was I think a bit shorter period.
Since they have realized that no matter the discipline and training for further conquest they cant relay on mear militia based army rather than on strong and proffesional, after serving 25 year they got land into newly conquest teritory for increased public order and loyalty.

[dom385]

It would be cool if you got a unit or 2 of legion veterans when a town was besieged, maybe with lower armour and attack, but still able to hold their own .On a similar topic, I wonder if town watch will be in again? Although almost entirely useless as a combat unit, they were great for garrisons.

[Rorarii]

I would like to see retired legionaries on their land grants - new settlement in newly conquered territory .. keep'in a eye on the new citizens.

Settlement must be placed near a river, on a choke-point, to tax the passers-by etc.

R

[Apollodotos I Soter]

I would like to see retired legionaries on their land grants - new settlement in newly conquered territory .. keep'in a eye on the new citizens.

Settlement must be placed near a river, on a choke-point, to tax the passers-by etc.

R

That is a great idea. I would like to establish roman Colonia or the hellenistic cleruchies.

[cwastoinand]

It would be cool if you got a unit or 2 of legion veterans when a town was besieged, maybe with lower armour and attack, but still able to hold their own .On a similar topic, I wonder if town watch will be in again? Although almost entirely useless as a combat unit, they were great for garrisons.

+1

[Armatus]

I fully support this

[Szlachta]

Gaul Catamite mercenaries. They get the Romans drunk, have their way with them (or the other way around) and then slit the Roman throats.

[Titus Livius Patavinus]

It would be cool if you got a unit or 2 of legion veterans when a town was besieged, maybe with lower armour and attack, but still able to hold their own .On a similar topic, I wonder if town watch will be in again? Although almost entirely useless as a combat unit, they were great for garrisons.

This is a great idea. Maybe not have them be movable units, but if a city is besieged, they are there. Plus they would help garrison the city.

[General Sultan V]

Thats a stupid Idea on how Evocatii Should be used, they were retired men in their 40's-60's, had already survived for 25 years or more of Brutal battles and wars with Many civilizations around the world. had ran their gladii's through many enemies, and ready and willing to do it again


If they are envolved in RTW2, They would have alot higher stats, Attack, defense skill, and higher morale, the ability to inspire nearby units. Etc. they should be a decisive factor in the battle

[LestaT]

Wait for Evocati DLC.

[dom385]

They might have had a lot of experience but once they've been sitting round for a few years (and by the time they're 40-60) they're going to be getting slower and weaker. I'd imagine that they're gear is starting to be getting a bit rusty as well, since no matter how well maintained it is it'll happen eventually, and they are probably only be keeping it for sentimental value anyway.

But the morale boost seems like a good idea, I think some one said it before anyway.

[Imperator of Rome]

I have been reading my lovely Roman legion book and came across the Evocati.

Edit. I got a bit excited.

quote from legions of rome by stephen dando collins:
In times of emergency, retired legionaries could be recalled from their homes to serve behind their old standards, which they appear to have taken into retirement with them. This militia, called the evocati, was controlled by the governor of each province.
Paulinus used evocati to help him defeat boudicca in britian in AD60. Nero sent evocati to egypt in ad66 for an invasion of ethiopia that had to be aborted because of the jewish revolt. Mucianus, the governor of syria, set off for italy in ad 69 to depose emperor vitellius with an army which included 13,000 Evocati from the east. Vitelius fielded evocati from britain and the rhine when his army opposed vespasians army.
Historian tacitus was to say that in ad 59 most of the legionaries discharged that year scattered themselves in the provinces where they had completed their military service. He complained that whole legions were no longer transplanted as in former days with tribunes and centurions and soldiers of every grade to create new colonies so as to forma state by their unity and mutual attachment, with the result he lamented that the latest discharges became a mere crowd rather than a colony.
The evocati were still in existence by around ad 230 in the time of cassius dio, who said that they constitute even now a special corp and carry rods like the centurions, he added I cannot however give their exact number.

I want to see these guys in Rome2. Just to have a hard core of grey haired veterans once again rising to the challenge. I cannot imagine how the legions reacted to these old warhorses.

There's no need to wait. Roma Surrectum II already has them and my God are they useless.

[Lord Baal]

Maybe as a result of constant warfare you can receive a bonus for your units in experience, morale or stats, indicating that veterans are being summoned?

[General Sultan V]

They might have had a lot of experience but once they've been sitting round for a few years (and by the time they're 40-60) they're going to be getting slower and weaker. I'd imagine that they're gear is starting to be getting a bit rusty as well, since no matter how well maintained it is it'll happen eventually, and they are probably only be keeping it for sentimental value anyway.

But the morale boost seems like a good idea, I think some one said it before anyway.

Hmmm, you know age did'n matter back then, centurions were usually 50 years of old, and They did more work and killing then any other member of their Unit, the Centurion would be at the front of the cohort, not part of the typical relief system