Roman Auxiliaries - The Unsung Heroes of Rome
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Date: 2023-08-10
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Comments and reviews: 20
Antonio
Congratulations, excellent work. A small correction concerning the theoretical auxiliary units strength. Most of the scholars agree on the following numbers:
Ala milliaria: 768 equites, distributed in 24 turmae of 32 cavalrymen
Ala: 512 equites and 16 turmae
Cohors milliaria equitata: 800 infantrymen and 256 cavalrymen distributed in 10 centuries of 80 men each and 8 turmae.
Cohors milliaria: 800 infantrymen and 10 centuries of 80 men each.
Cohors quingenaria equitata: 480 infantrymen and 128 equites distributed in 5 centuries and 5 turmae. Probably one centuria was double strength. But it is possible that the additional 80 men were evenly distributed among the 5 centuries.
Cohors quingenaria: 480 infantrymen and 5 centuriae even in this case the additional 80 men were possibly concentrated in one double strength century or equally distributed among the 5 centuries.
These of course are theoretical figures, since frequently the units were under strength. Occasionally, according to some original documents, the number of soldiers could even exceed the theoretical strength.
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Congratulations, excellent work. A small correction concerning the theoretical auxiliary units strength. Most of the scholars agree on the following numbers:
Ala milliaria: 768 equites, distributed in 24 turmae of 32 cavalrymen
Ala: 512 equites and 16 turmae
Cohors milliaria equitata: 800 infantrymen and 256 cavalrymen distributed in 10 centuries of 80 men each and 8 turmae.
Cohors milliaria: 800 infantrymen and 10 centuries of 80 men each.
Cohors quingenaria equitata: 480 infantrymen and 128 equites distributed in 5 centuries and 5 turmae. Probably one centuria was double strength. But it is possible that the additional 80 men were evenly distributed among the 5 centuries.
Cohors quingenaria: 480 infantrymen and 5 centuriae even in this case the additional 80 men were possibly concentrated in one double strength century or equally distributed among the 5 centuries.
These of course are theoretical figures, since frequently the units were under strength. Occasionally, according to some original documents, the number of soldiers could even exceed the theoretical strength.
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Matthew
Seriously, come on, y'all are going on about this crap again? Have you not yet researched the Roman-Carthaginian Wars? Rome places it's youngest, freshest troops in the front lines when doing battle out on the field, it is an honor to be at the front; as a customary adopted from the Greeks and their Hoplite Phalanx. Except once you proved yourself in battle, served a tour and obtained land, only then were you considered a position at the back to reserve strength and skill. Such as it goes, So it has come to the Triarii, this idea was to weed of the weak from the strong; as is with everything in life. From finding a suitable candidate for a job to a mate for your offspring. That is all.
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Seriously, come on, y'all are going on about this crap again? Have you not yet researched the Roman-Carthaginian Wars? Rome places it's youngest, freshest troops in the front lines when doing battle out on the field, it is an honor to be at the front; as a customary adopted from the Greeks and their Hoplite Phalanx. Except once you proved yourself in battle, served a tour and obtained land, only then were you considered a position at the back to reserve strength and skill. Such as it goes, So it has come to the Triarii, this idea was to weed of the weak from the strong; as is with everything in life. From finding a suitable candidate for a job to a mate for your offspring. That is all.
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Felixstowe
Lovely video mate, but I don't want any skin-care products! Actually, on a more serious note, the pure snobbery of the Romans and the way they treated their Auxilia in the early Empire, goes a long way to explain Civilis Batavian revolt. You can do boring frontier duty, you can fight and die for us, but we won't pay you what you're worth, and we'll always be better then you. Oh, and we'll take all the credit.
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Lovely video mate, but I don't want any skin-care products! Actually, on a more serious note, the pure snobbery of the Romans and the way they treated their Auxilia in the early Empire, goes a long way to explain Civilis Batavian revolt. You can do boring frontier duty, you can fight and die for us, but we won't pay you what you're worth, and we'll always be better then you. Oh, and we'll take all the credit.
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Imperium
Great video as always but I think the Hispania Auxiliaries were more important and strong than what people regard them, the people from this land were always described as agile, skillful and enduring specially in guerilla warfare, it took the Romans more than 200 years to fully subdue the whole region comparing to Gaul which is about the same size took them basically little more than 10 years to fully subdue.
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Great video as always but I think the Hispania Auxiliaries were more important and strong than what people regard them, the people from this land were always described as agile, skillful and enduring specially in guerilla warfare, it took the Romans more than 200 years to fully subdue the whole region comparing to Gaul which is about the same size took them basically little more than 10 years to fully subdue.
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Neutral
They also often weren't trained in the Roman style but were allowed to fight as they saw fit, especially during the age of the Republic, we can read this in the account of Caesars invasion of Spain, where he fights Pompeys army, and among them, Iberians, equipped as Roman legionaries, but fighting as heavy skirmishers, in their native style and tactics, causing some headache for Caesars officers.
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They also often weren't trained in the Roman style but were allowed to fight as they saw fit, especially during the age of the Republic, we can read this in the account of Caesars invasion of Spain, where he fights Pompeys army, and among them, Iberians, equipped as Roman legionaries, but fighting as heavy skirmishers, in their native style and tactics, causing some headache for Caesars officers.
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Dan
Haven't had the chance to leave a comment for a hot minute. You really are doing great, dont stop the hard work. I've been playing ALOT of rome 2 with a buddy who i bought it for. i've been teaching him about Rome while he plays as Macedon. I was just telling about the Auxilia last game. I'll have to throw some into the next legion i raise for my invasion of Sicily.
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Haven't had the chance to leave a comment for a hot minute. You really are doing great, dont stop the hard work. I've been playing ALOT of rome 2 with a buddy who i bought it for. i've been teaching him about Rome while he plays as Macedon. I was just telling about the Auxilia last game. I'll have to throw some into the next legion i raise for my invasion of Sicily.
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KatonRyu
I love these kinds of videos, not just for their historical information but also because it'll be good for my slightly OCD tendency to want to compose armies as standardized as possible in games like Rome 2 for 'realism'. Knowing the real auxiliary cohorts weren't exactly standardized either makes things much easier.
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I love these kinds of videos, not just for their historical information but also because it'll be good for my slightly OCD tendency to want to compose armies as standardized as possible in games like Rome 2 for 'realism'. Knowing the real auxiliary cohorts weren't exactly standardized either makes things much easier.
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Mike
I tried to share this video on Reddit and it got down voted within 2 minutes. I don't understand why people hate the idea that Samurai, Knights, and Legionaires didn't do most of the fighting, and didn't use their swords as primary weapons. Honestly it's cool to learn the real and nuanced history of wardare.
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I tried to share this video on Reddit and it got down voted within 2 minutes. I don't understand why people hate the idea that Samurai, Knights, and Legionaires didn't do most of the fighting, and didn't use their swords as primary weapons. Honestly it's cool to learn the real and nuanced history of wardare.
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Xerato2
Well made info-video --- The thing is though that, Romans also forced themselves upon all non-romans, aiming to take other people's land and more. one way or another, so (thus the rest of the human race in the world, where they did thread) so, actually calling them heroes. I don't know. :-/
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Well made info-video --- The thing is though that, Romans also forced themselves upon all non-romans, aiming to take other people's land and more. one way or another, so (thus the rest of the human race in the world, where they did thread) so, actually calling them heroes. I don't know. :-/
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Diogo
The Auxiliaries are an example of what most men had to endure throughout history. They were forced to fight in wars and couldnt even vote. Even worse than this is that when women started to vote they were never forced to fight in any war while the men kept being forced to do that.
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The Auxiliaries are an example of what most men had to endure throughout history. They were forced to fight in wars and couldnt even vote. Even worse than this is that when women started to vote they were never forced to fight in any war while the men kept being forced to do that.
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chemical_art
One reason for their popularity was that the Gauls (3: 19) had were writings such as Commentarii de Bello Gallico. Hearing Caesar himself praise their ability to war did much to improve their reputation and thus desire to employ them!
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One reason for their popularity was that the Gauls (3: 19) had were writings such as Commentarii de Bello Gallico. Hearing Caesar himself praise their ability to war did much to improve their reputation and thus desire to employ them!
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Marco
Great video! But what about the Republic? Who were the Socii auxiliaries of the Republic? Can you please do a video about them?
At the end of the day, they conquered half of the territories of the empire.
Again, very well done
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Great video! But what about the Republic? Who were the Socii auxiliaries of the Republic? Can you please do a video about them?
At the end of the day, they conquered half of the territories of the empire.
Again, very well done
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chippyonline001
It'd be nice to have another video focusing on auxiliaries, maybe distinguished soldiers such as those mentioned here but with a little more depth to their stories. Thank you for this! Interesting vids as always. Ave Roma.
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It'd be nice to have another video focusing on auxiliaries, maybe distinguished soldiers such as those mentioned here but with a little more depth to their stories. Thank you for this! Interesting vids as always. Ave Roma.
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twitchsopamanxx
Forgotten? Wasnt at least half the army by the time of the late roman empire composed by auxiliaries? Regardless, fantasic video as usual Mr Filaxim. Nothing better to drive an hour or two than a good roman history video.
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Forgotten? Wasnt at least half the army by the time of the late roman empire composed by auxiliaries? Regardless, fantasic video as usual Mr Filaxim. Nothing better to drive an hour or two than a good roman history video.
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adriano
Didnt mention a single time illyrians which played a huge role in late roman empire.
The white hat 'PILEUS' which albanians wear until today became a symbol of late roman empire and was also stamped on roman coins.
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Didnt mention a single time illyrians which played a huge role in late roman empire.
The white hat 'PILEUS' which albanians wear until today became a symbol of late roman empire and was also stamped on roman coins.
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Alfredo
In Spain and Latin America when a person is in an emergency or in distress they scream, Auxilio, the equivalent of Help in English.
The word Auxilio comes from these Roman times and the Auxiliary Roman units.
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In Spain and Latin America when a person is in an emergency or in distress they scream, Auxilio, the equivalent of Help in English.
The word Auxilio comes from these Roman times and the Auxiliary Roman units.
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Hun
Great video. I am curious about how different were the role and equipment of the Auxiliary during the 3rd century crisis as compared to the early Principate period. Could you point me to any source? Thanks!
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Great video. I am curious about how different were the role and equipment of the Auxiliary during the 3rd century crisis as compared to the early Principate period. Could you point me to any source? Thanks!
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SRK
Fate of a brbarian is either to be perished by roman steel and fire or to serve rome economically or militarily with full devotion without wanting anything in return. There's no way between
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Fate of a brbarian is either to be perished by roman steel and fire or to serve rome economically or militarily with full devotion without wanting anything in return. There's no way between
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Felipe
So, our fellow veteran Secundus, a Briton, served in a cohort composed mainly by Nervians (Belgium) and Pacensians (Portugal, and was married to a Greek woman. Roma caput mundi, indeed!
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So, our fellow veteran Secundus, a Briton, served in a cohort composed mainly by Nervians (Belgium) and Pacensians (Portugal, and was married to a Greek woman. Roma caput mundi, indeed!
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user
British empire utilize auxiliary too. Indians, Nepalese, African colonies, even Aussies and Canadians. French - arabs from colonies or coloured african from more exotic colonies.
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British empire utilize auxiliary too. Indians, Nepalese, African colonies, even Aussies and Canadians. French - arabs from colonies or coloured african from more exotic colonies.
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