Deployment across Empire

130 AD #1
https://pasteboard.co/Jmynn9R.jpg
130 AD #2
https://pasteboard.co/JmypieE.jpg


Logistics and Supply

#1 https://pasteboard.co/JmyZ2To.jpg

#2 https://pasteboard.co/Jmz0ECO.jpg

#3 https://pasteboard.co/Jmz1ltQq.jpg


Although not the highest deployment in the
imperial army history, it's still fairly high at 380,000
(peaked at around 450,000 early 3rd century)

Notice a large part [near 60%] of the Roman Army
were not actually Romans.

Allied Alae and Auxiiiaries were not Roman citizens
like Legion members... but Auxilia cohorts were still
part of the standing army of Rome under leadership/
command of Centurians, Decurions and other Roman
officers, sharing camps with Legions on campaign.

Basically Legions were the better equipped
heavy infantry component.

There were generally 3 types of strongholds
for the Roman Army:
- Legionary Fortress and Auxiliary Fortress
- Forward operation bases
- Marching camps

Logistics is the key to any successful military. Can you imagine what a logistical nightmare it must have been in those days? Then again, one should assume that of an army of 300, 000, probably fully two thirds of it was support units, maybe more.

I was planning to add some logistic/supply info.
so make sure to check back on this thread.

Augustus put some major reforms in place
for the Imperial army... And made it so that the
Romans could campaign all year round if need
be...Prior to that the Army would normally return
to regional Fortresses after campaign season
to wait out the winters.

Not only Augustus. Priot to him the "Marian Reforms"
made significant changes and improvements to the
Roman Army.

Interesting thread. Organized and trained troops. Pretty impressive forces.

I love when a Caesar built a 1400’ Bridge across the Rhine in ten days........and tore it down soon after.
Telling the enemy.......any time I want.......

At the height of the surge in Iraq 07-08 they say to support the roughly 40K combat arms Soldiers their was well over 100K Soldiers their in support MOS’s.

He also built a large tower on the western side
of the bridge, something like 4 storey high IIRC.
He stationed garrisons on both sides of the river
to secure the bridge while his main army roamed
the territory on the eastern side of the Rhine.

I think his finest effort was at Alesia where he had
built a 10 mile fortification to surround Vercingetorix,
then 3 miles out from that, built another 14 mile
fortification to surround his own forces...
We are talking 13 foot walls with towers,
Rampart, ditch and moat among other
defensive features... all in 3 weeks while
under regular attack.

Ditches were 5 yard wide x5 yard deep.
one filled with water from nearby redirected
river.. supplemented with various mantraps
and deep holes in front of the ditches.

https://pasteboard.co/JmAtozw.jpg

Usually it’s 10-11 support for each frontline trooper.

When you watch these consider that the Romans
could be on campaign with a number of legions
and auxilia... they made a new fortified marching
camp every day when on the move, which held the
men and thousands of animals.

IF just for one Legion (5000 +/- men ) they would
ordinarily send out 600 legionaires to build the camp
after a Tribune and Centurians had carefully selected
and surveyed a suitable site.
They have found camp sites that generally range
from 20 to 40 ha. in size.

Starman,
Interesting stuff.
thanks.
Dont know if you have ever read anything by this guy.
Hes good.
https://www.amazon.com/Name-Rome-Men-Roman-Empire/dp/0300218524
In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire Paperback – February 23, 2016
I've read this one about six times.
It covers Gaius Marius very well.

dave

Instead of reading the same book over,
you may like to find a host of new reading
Here.,. (try different key word searches eg;
Roman/ army, empire, Gaul-Germany, Britain,
legions, auxilia, Praetorian, etc. )

https://archive.org/search.php?query=Roman%20army

Below is the book I used for the charts in the OP.
https://archive.org/details/RomanArmy?q=The+roman+army

list of content:
https://pasteboard.co/JmLtmhtv.jpg

Browsing the pages You can see the author extensively
lists all his citations and references both modern and
ancient (including Goldsworthy).

Here are Caesars Dairies in translated text.
http://classics.mit.edu/Caesar/gallic.html

I am sure Biden had some conferences with some Roman Generals back in the day.

Such volumes of commodities and goods would generate lucrative opportunities for theft, corruption and graft. I wonder what mechanisms the Romans had in place to keep everybody honest.

MMmmmm!!!! Delicious Posca!!!

Augutomus Cornpopagus....

Somewhere I have my latin text from my sophomore year . We translated Caesar's Gallic Wars. Interesting stuff, it was!

decimation was used to keep everybody on the go.

if there was a problem with authority every tenth man was killed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimation_(Roman_army)

decimation was used to keep everybody on the go.

if there was a problem with authority every tenth man was killed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimation_(Roman_army)

He marched in solidarity with them. Survived the Mt. Vesuvius eruption because he was in jail being processed after his arrest.

The man has more stories than you can shake a stick at. Never challenged by the press.

A man with that history should be mummified when he dies and buried in a pyramid next door to his childhood friends pyramid . He and Tut were the best of friends.

The centurion dates back to 8th century BC Rome.
and had a role up to the 5th century AD.

When Caesar took on Vercingetorix at Gergovia
52 B.C., an over zealous failed attempt on the
walls resulted in the loss of 46 centurions and
some 700 legionaires. (according to his diaries).
His most trusted veteran 10th legion obeyed
the signal to hault and advance no further than
the Gallic camp they had taken, while the other
legions pressed on.
Although Caesar would commend his men for
their drive and bravery he also chastised them
for their impetuous actions.



Centurion ranks 1st century AD (post Marian reform):


The 1st cohort ["primus"] of a legion was double-
strength, (5 centuries of 160 legionaires vs 80.) ,
It had 5 level of senior Centurion. The first cohort
(Millarian Cohort) also contained all headquarters
personnel and functions. By end of third century,
the first two cohorts of each legion had been
expanded to Millarian status.

-Primus pilus (chief centurion that served on general
staff had command of the first century and first cohort
and lead of entire legion, whilst command of the legion
went to a Legate.)
-princeps,
-hastatus,
-princeps posterior,
-hastatus posterior.

Those 5 constituted the Primi-Ordines (top line order)
within which strict seniority was observed. Immediately
supporting Primus pilus(commander of first rank century)
was his deputy and successor in battle, the Princeps,
(commander of 2nd rank century/First Cohort.)
::::::::::::
The lower-ranking cohorts in a legion ie; 2nd to 10th
(secundus, tertius, quārtus,quīntus, sextus, septimus,
octāvus, nōnus nōnus, decimus) - had 6 level of centurion:

-pilus prior,
-pilus posterior,
-princeps prior,
-princeps posterior,
-hastatus prior,
-hastatus posterior.

Centurions of the lower rank cohorts had little difference
in status apart from seniority.


OPTIO (Optio Centurionis) was a chosen Legionary
that assisted his Centurion. There was one Optio
for each of the 60 centurions in a legion , and he
was second in command of the century.

AQUILIFER: he bore the Roman Legion's standard.
He was ranked immediately below Centurion.
May be designated for special duties and succession
and may advise Primus Pilus, primarily in operational
areas.