Debat about time limit... THE ANSWER!!!

[Macilrille]

I also have to sadly disgaree on this one, but time forces brewity as I go in a small extended weekend in a few hours.

1. Written sources tells us about longer battles, Adrianopolis for example is definately described with longer fighting in intense heat. Though that was exactly one of the factors the Goths used to defeat the Romans.

2. I can fight longer than an hour in my 22 Kg chainmail + helmet if doing realistic style combat (huscarl). I originally came from oldfashioned carpentry where everything is done by hand and from Muay Thai, so I was pretty fit when I started and though I have grown softer I can still do about three hours of huscarl fighting if I really push it. Much more if I take small breaks. Martial arts and carpentry builds strength and stamina. Further, when fighing in groups and even sometimes one-on-one there will be lulls where you can get your breath, and the trick is to conserve your strength (something I learned from carpentry, banging in 1000+ 4'' nails in a day and lobbing heavy timbers as well as rafters about requires conservation of strength). Not fight 100 % all the times, but in fact mostly fight at 80-ish, sometimes only 50, sometimes 100. It is a hard trick to learn when young and energetic, but is is valuable in the long run ;-) To step back a bit (even if only within oneself and take a defensive stance without appearing to) and get a bretaher as well as an overview of the battle, I am also one of our tacticians, so I sort of have to do this even when I am not commanding.

3. There would have been small lulls in battles so to speak, and if you were Roman you would be relieved during these, and step back in line to get a breather while others took over. Not breakoffs, but small lulls where both sides would reorganise for next charge.

Our large-ish battles (350- 400 participants) are in phases: 1 Fight and attrition- enemy and we try our various tactics and plans to win and, 2 breakdown of order as attrition takes its toll, chaos ensues as both sides try to take advantage of the holes in enemy line and ensuing chaos. 3 Reorganisation and final battle. I would imagine if we were 50.000 instead of 150- 200 on each side there would be many such small phases and/or they would go on till one side routs.

Hannibal at Cannae Pfff, for real Roman-killing try Cimbri at Arausio WAAAAAARGH!!!

Edited fast to add.

Mano-a-mano much harder than formation figthing, in formation sword much harder than spear-shield or pike/two-hand-spear. It is solo I can still do 3 if I push it, with two-handed-spear in formation I can probably go for at least 6 hours. Greek-style fighting easiest. Also sprinting 100 m in chainmail (22 Kg) is hard, but not nearly as hard as a duel. Legs are strong and used to carrying weight, torso not used to so much added weight.

Off for holiday.