Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Historical Republican Legion

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1

    Default Historical Republican Legion

    Out of curiosity, what was the Historical army compisition of the Republican Romans? This army compisition is the only one im having problems with. I have been experimenting with: 2 generals, 8 principales, 6 trarii, 2 veliete 2 equites. Its ok, but the cost is through the roof. Any advice would be helpful. I know there are other guides, but they protain to RS. 1.6, which at this point looks at an entirally new game, as RS II should rightfully be called Rome 2.

  2. #2
    Rex Basiliscus's Avatar Senator
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    The Court of Antiochus Epiphanes
    Posts
    1,386

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    Well my republican legion looks like this: 1 general, 10 cohorts, 4 triarii, 2 velites, 3 cavalry (or 2 cav and 1 artillery)...

  3. #3

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    as i have always been a faithful follower of century x's legion system(at least as far as unit compostion) so i just converted his system to the republican era, so the 1 first cohort and 9 normal cohorts becomes 10 poylbians, and 4 sword/spear auxillia becomes 4 triarii, and then usally 2 skirmishers or archers, and 3 cav, + 1 general. For allied legions i use the same, except in some areas like spain carthage, or gaul there are no triarii to recurite so i use the heaviest local spearmen i can, along with native archers, and cav.

  4. #4
    apple's Avatar Searching for 42
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Stockholm Sweden
    Posts
    11,780

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    I use 8 polybian cohorts, 4 triarii, 4 velites, 3 Equites and 1 general.
    Son of Legio
    Father of Paedric & Remlap
    Roma Surrectum II, Ages of Darkness II, Rome Total Realism & RTR: Imperium Surrectum Developer

    Mundus Bellicus - TWC - ModDB - Discord - Steam

  5. #5

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    what was it hisorically? converted into RSII

  6. #6
    apple's Avatar Searching for 42
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Stockholm Sweden
    Posts
    11,780

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    The normal size of a legion in this period was 4,200 infantry, of which 3,000 was heavily-armed and 1,200 velites (plus 200-300 cavalry). In times of emergency, a legion of 5,000 infantry could be levied, of which 3,800 would be heavy infantry.[35] However, Polybius and Livy also mention legions of 6,000 infantry.[8] This has led Roth to conclude that Republican legions were variable in size, depending on circumstances when they were raised.[38] The heavy infantry of the earlier legion was organised into 30 centuriae unit of 100 men each. The subdivisions in the mid-republican period were called maniples (manipuli, from manus = "hand"). There were 10 maniples in each of the three lines that a legion was drawn up in for battle: hastati, principes and triarii, for a total of 30 maniples in each legion. The maniples of the front two lines contained twice as many men (120) as those in the rear line (60).[35] If the legion numbered 5,000 men, the maniples in the front lines were increased to 160 men each.[39] Membership of each line was determined by age-group: the hastati contained the younger men (up to 25 years old); the principes those in the 26-35 group; and the triarii the older men (36-46).[39]
    Each maniple was commanded by 2 centurions (centuriones, literally "leaders of 100 men"), one senior (prior), one junior (posterior), who were elected by the unit's members.[40] Centurions were paid double the rate of their men (i.e. 4 obols, or two-thirds of a drachma per day).[37] Each centurion would then appoint a deputy (optio), whose role was to supervise the rear of the unit in action, while the centurions led from the front.[40] In addition, each maniple included 2 signiferi (standard-bearers), appointed by the centurions, and at least one tubicen (trumpeter).[25]
    The presence of two centurions and two standard-bearers in each maniple has led many historians to assume that a maniple contained two centuriae, the basic unit of the earlier Roman army. In this scenario, the centuriae of the front two ranks would contain 60 men each.[41] But Polybius makes clear that the maniple was the smallest tactical unit in the army.[42] Furthermore, the sources are clear that a maniple possessed only one signum, or standard.[43] Indeed, signum was used as an alternative name for manipulus.[40] Thus, the role of the maniple's second signifer was presumably to act as a substitute for the first if the latter fell in combat.[44] This is how Polybius explains the presence of two centurions in each maniple, emphasizing that the senior one was in command of the maniple.[40] Furthermore, if each maniple contained two centuriae, the centuriae of the triarii would contain only 30 men each, improbably few for a unit that was nominally 100-strong. Thus, it is possible that centuriae did not exist in this period and were wholly replaced by maniples.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_a...e_mid-Republic

    I would guess that my composition is quite close to that.
    Son of Legio
    Father of Paedric & Remlap
    Roma Surrectum II, Ages of Darkness II, Rome Total Realism & RTR: Imperium Surrectum Developer

    Mundus Bellicus - TWC - ModDB - Discord - Steam

  7. #7

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    The problem is that the unit sizes are not proportional to IRL, making it difficult to sort out what composition to have. Yeah, I guess apple's is closest. Personally, I ditch the triarii altogether - I use 2 Generals, 10 cohorts, 4 velites, 2 cavalry, and 2 slingers/archers/extra cavalry. Not quite historical, but it works for me.
    'Ecce, Roma Surrectum!' Beta Tester and Historian
    Under the proud patronage of MarcusTullius

  8. #8

    Default Re: Historical Republican Legion

    thanks for all your advices

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •