The Roman Army Flashcards
What was the criteria to enter the army?
Males had to be 20+ to enter
Can’t marry whilst still a soldier
Have to do 25yrs in the army
Service in army was a way of getting citizenship to Rome
What were the duties of a legionary?
Ordinary soldier
What was the uniform of the centurion?
They wore their crest as a visual aid to help the legionaries in their battles
What duties did the tribune have?
Commanded a cohort
What were the colors of a legate?
White and scarlet
What were the duties of a praetor?
General of an army
Which 2 other duties were also important in the army?
Aquilifer
Signifier
What were the duties of the aquilifer and signifier?
Signifier -the treasurer of the army as well as the army’s bearer
Aquilifer- standard bearer of the legion’s eagle, encouraged soldiers
What was the Aquila?
The eagle, was the most important to legion.
What was the signum?
Battle sign carried by signifier in a battle or war
What does SPQR stand for?
“The Senate and People of Rome”
What was the duties of the praetorian guard?
To serve as a personal bodyguard for the emperor instead of the army.
How many praetors were to make a guard?
10000
Explain the army organization?
80 legionaries made a century and was controlled by a centurion.
6 centuries made a cohort and was controlled by a tribune.
10 cohorts made a legion and was controlled by a legate.
30 legions made an army and was controlled by a general.
What was a standard military uniform made of?
Pilum Tunic Gladius Galea Pugio Belt Sandals Scutum Lorica segmentata
Describe a standard army uniform
All soldiers hade a gladiator which was a short sword for close up stabbing.
A belt to hold his sword and dagger
Leather sandals that were comfortable enough
A special curved shaped shield called a scutum
A long metal javelin called a pilum
Galea to protect the head and neck
A Pugio was the dagger that they used
Strips of metal tied with leather across the body was called a logical segmentata.
A woolen made tunic for warmth
Name 2 battle formations
Testudo and the orbis
Describe the testudo
Known as the tortoise shell formation, the soldiers would make a shell structure using their shields so that they were protected from the inside.
Describe the orbis formation
Used to counter attacks on enemy cavalry.
What does cavalry mean?
When soldiers fought on horseback rather than on the ground
How was the roman military strengthened?
They offered their opponents an alliance or defeat and if they accepted Rome would rule that area and their people would be allowed citizenship and protection.
This helped expand Roman Empire
Which was the most feared army?
The imperial roman army
