Gladiators used in roman army?

[Jeanne d'arc]

One of the roman units are gladiators , where they used in the roman armies back then??I thought they only fight in arena's for entertainment to the crowd.

[Tamur]

You're right, they were fighters in the same sense that boxers these days are. Making an army of them was the purvue of Spartacus alone.

[Hurin_Rules]

I don't think gladiators were ever used by the Roman army. Gladiators were usually slaves/prisoners of war and would not be trusted, let alone armed.

I think CA tried to justify the gladiator unit with the rather weak argument about the slave revolt led by the gladiator Spartacus. This revolt did indeed happen, and gladiators did fight in it. But note that these rebels fought AGAINST Rome, not for it.

I can't think of any other examples of Gladiators fighting in a war. Anyone else?

[Barkhorn1x]

One of the roman units are gladiators , where they used in the roman armies back then??I thought they only fight in arena's for entertainment to the crowd.

This is one of 'those' issues. Here, IMO, is why their inclusion - as units are a bit silly.

1. There is documented evidence of Gladiators fighting during the Sparticus Slave revolt, circa 72BCE, and as part of one of the "claiment" armies during the Civil Wars of 69CE.
2. However, these men would have fought in legionary attire - gladiator attire being more suited for a "show" rather than serious fighting.
3. Therefore, these men would have been indistinguishable from a run of the mill legionary.
4. So their inclusion - as units in gladiator attire - is ahistorical, quite silly and a sop to those whose only knowledge of Roman history comes from a Riddley Scott movie.

Barkhorn.

[lars573]

The gladiators in spartucuses slave revolt would have been wearing gladiator gear at first. They had no other armour in the gladiator barracks. I couldn't find any referance to gladiators being used in a real battle, but what I did find is that rich romans would use gladiators as private security and bodyguards

[shingenmitch2]

Jeanne.

In a nutshell... nope.

As for the revolts, they would have used anything on hand including farm implements. After Sparticus defeated his first roman army, I'm certain they stripped the bodies of the Roman regulars and used whatever was still in decent shape.

[Steppe Merc]

Yeah, these units are pure fantasy. But at least they aren't totally made up like the Arcani...

[Oaty]

Unfortanately with the new board all the old posts got deleted but someone posted that they were used (excluding Spartucus) and they performed so horribly in the battle they were'nt really worth bringing. So the option is there and if they make them weak units then it wo'nt be so bad