Historical Republican Legion

[Espadas:Benson]

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.

[Rex Basiliscus]

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

[sithlord447]

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.

[apple]

I use 8 polybian cohorts, 4 triarii, 4 velites, 3 Equites and 1 general.

[Espadas:Benson]

what was it hisorically? converted into RSII

[apple]

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.

[rory o'kane]

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.

[Espadas:Benson]

thanks for all your advices