Roman equipment and infantry tactics

Question 1

What were the components of a Roman legionary soldier’s armour?

Answer 1

Tunic
Lorica Segmentata (plate armour)
Gladius (weapon)
Boots
Cassis (helmet)
Scutum (shield)
Pilum (spear)
Sporran
Dagger
Pack of supplies

Question 2

Tunic?

Answer 2

protected against chafing from plate armour

Question 3

Plate armour/ Lorica segmentata?

Answer 3

• Made of horizontal metal bands covering torso, and vertical metal bands protecting shoulders
  POS:
• flexible and manufacture quicker than chainmail
• offered good protection against projectiles, and some protection against swords
  NEG:
• was easily damaged

Question 4

Gladius

Answer 4

• Main weapon for legionary soldiers, used for fighting in close quarters
• stabbing, as more likely to hit a vital organ or artery and be fatal
• also a defensive piece of equipment, could be used to parry blows

Question 5

Boots

Answer 5

Protected feet from dropped or broken weapons on uneven battlefields with sharp stones- also helped with balance

Question 6

Cassis

Answer 6

• Helmet thats lighter than a Corinthian helmet and does affect peripheral vision, whilst still offering some cheek protection
• Protected head from projectiles
• Horsehair plumes were common and may have intimidated enemy by making them seem taller

Question 7

Scutum

Answer 7

• Curved shield, offering protection from a range of angles
• Included a metal knob in the middle which could be used to punch enemies and knock them off balance

Question 8

Pilum

Answer 8

• Spear thrown at the start of battle like a javelin- intended to kill frontline, which would then trip up the soldiers behind them
• Tip would bent after being thrown so enemies couldn’t reuse them
• If it pierced a shield it would bend and be difficult to remove, making the shield useless

Question 9

What would occur at the start of a battle?

Answer 9

Roman legionaries would throw their pilim at the enemy

Question 10

What was the second stage of a battle?

Answer 10

Soldiers would advance closer to fight at close quarters in loose formation

Question 11

What was their primary weapon?

Answer 11

Gladius, but they’d use the scutum to defend themselves or punch them off balance

Question 12

What was one formation used in battle?

Answer 12

Testudo
- shields would be locked together to form a wall against projectiles
- formation would move towards enemies to fight in close quarters
- could also be used to form a ramp to help solders climb to the top of an enemy wall

Question 13

Evidence for the testudo?

Answer 13

Its on Trajan’s column

Question 14

What was a popular siege tactic?

Answer 14

Surround and starve-
- surround a fortification to prevent anyone entering or exiting
- eventually food and water would run out and they’d be forced to surrender

Question 15

What was used to scale enemy walls?

Answer 15

Siege towers
- sturdy so defenders couldn’t pull it back, and would protect from projectiles
- typically on wheels and would contain ladders to allow soldiers to climb over walls
- archers would also stand on tower and fire arrows into the town/ fort