Rorarii...

[Leet Eriksson]

I would like to know whats the difference between Rorarii and velites,although i know that both had a similiar role in combat i would like to know wether the name just changed or there were some differences between these two?

[Hakonarson]

Playing WAB are you?? :)

The difference was probably social rather than functional - although many people only call roman light infantry "velites" after they adopted the shields some tiem during the 2nd punic war - before then they weer normally shieldless although often carrying a spear as well as javelins.

such infantry are normally called "leves".

the position of the Rorarii as teh final line tells us that they were considered poor troops, as opposed to teh leves who were stationed in front. so it is likely they had inadequate weapons even for skirmishing - perhaps only a few javelins, no side arms at all.

See

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/army.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/6622/legions.html

http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy08.html