Roman army

[Mediteran]

hi, i was wondering if anyone could help me concerning the roman army...

Historically, did the mix different legions for one army?

for example, i have legio X etruria and legio V apulia, now would they have both in one army or were they in separate armies, and each army only had legions from that specific place? and, did they mix "their" units (like hastati, triarii and so) with the others like hastati samnici and so?

and also abour retraining, or replenishing the legions, were they "retrained", and if they were, only at the specific place the legion is from or from anywhere?

sorry if my question is not understandable, english is not my native language :)

thanks!

[Jebivjetar]

I think that legions did "retrain", but in some cases, some barbarian leaders (like Cesar) did make a new legions rather than retraining the old ones. Also, Cesar did mix more legions in one army.

[Watchman]

That was the "Marian" ones. People with way too much cash and ambition were raising and disbanding them all the time so there generally wasn't any shortage of out-of-job soldiers looking for a new employer, I've been given to understand.

The "premarian" levies were normally mobilised on rotation AFAIK, though I don't know how they handled geographic distribution. Would seem to make sense to take as much of the manpower as possible per batch from a given area, so the soldiers are already more or less familiar with each other (and regional dialects, quirks of custom etc.) and thus "knit" faster, but OTOH that's also "putting all the eggs in one basket" as casualties go - a mauled maniple would mean an entire village or small town losing a major chunk of its adult male "rural middle class" populace...

[johnhughthom]

"putting all the eggs in one basket" as casualties go - a mauled maniple would mean an entire village or small town losing a major chunk of its adult male "rural middle class" populace...

Don't forget that was still happening as recently as World War One.

[Celtic_Punk]

an entire town's male populace in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia (can't rmemeber) got wiped out in ww1 and 2 i think.

[Maion Maroneios]

I believe I remember Legion compositions varied from place to place. Especially after the Marian and Augustan Era, Legionnaries tended to be equipped according to the region tasked to defend. For example, legionaries in Dacia would generally be better equipped against the terrible Thracian falxes, while Eastern Legionaries would have other equipment, like "cheires" (armguards) IIRC.

Maion

[Knight of Heaven]

I think that legions did "retrain", but in some cases, some barbarian leaders (like Cesar) did make a new legions rather than retraining the old ones. Also, Cesar did mix more legions in one army.

Ceasar barbarian?? He is considered the greater roman in history not only becouse his ability in politics and in war, but also for what he did in roman justice system to create a balanced society at the time.
Also you must considerer. historicaly any roman army in a great campaing was composed by more then one legion and thousands of Auxliares. Speaking in marian times a legion was compose by 10 cohorts and respective auxiliares. An army was compose by various legions.
Also ceasar did raise new legions, but you must considerer "ambitions mans" or mans who hold important offices like a colsul office, he had the moral and lawfull right to do that. As far as roman law at the time says. Of course that didnt stop from the rest of the senatores and other triunviros to be afraid of him. i talking about the optimates and the populares.
In game is dificult to roleplay like it should, still i belive is up to you to create your own rules.

[Mikhail Mengsk]

For ancient greeks, any non-greek was a barbarian, no matter if this particular barbarian held an empire or a village XD

[Maion Maroneios]

That's correct. The term "barbaros" was used to describe any non-Greek people. It didn't have a demeaning nature, at least not the same nature as we understand the term "barbarian" today (unwashed, uncivilized, unsophisticted etc.). The name came from the fact that the Hellenes thought the non-Greeks use the words "bar-bar" a lot, hence it became barbar-os (the masculine form).

Maion

[Knight of Heaven]

That's correct. The term "barbaros" was used to describe any non-Greek people. It didn't have a demeaning nature, at least not the same nature as we understand the term "barbarian" today (unwashed, uncivilized, unsophisticted etc.). The name came from the fact that the Hellenes thought the non-Greeks use the words "bar-bar" a lot, hence it became barbar-os (the masculine form).

Maion

Interesting
i had that ideia, still that wasnt what i meant in the post