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Originally Posted by Kagetora:
But they are the elite of the early army, meaning that they are like they Varangian Guard for the Romans. When they were sent into battle, it meant that the "Decisive moment" in the battle had come, remeber that they were always the most senior troops in the army and best equipped, your telling me men like that are never used for an attack. Thats like saying that Marines are to be used strictly for home defense and the National Guard are to be used as the offensive force. It just dosn't make sense to so heavily equipe a force of elite and only use them for defense.
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Well I am not an historian, but what I understood from my reading is that triarii were used only when the Hastati and Princepes fallen, their job were fix the enemy to let the Hastati and Princepes reorganize or withdrawal.But they are the elite of the early army, meaning that they are like they Varangian Guard for the Romans. When they were sent into battle, it meant that the "Decisive moment" in the battle had come, remeber that they were always the most senior troops in the army and best equipped, your telling me men like that are never used for an attack. Thats like saying that Marines are to be used strictly for home defense and the National Guard are to be used as the offensive force. It just dosn't make sense to so heavily equipe a force of elite and only use them for defense.
:In other words triarii were used only when the battle was going to a desperation situation. They are the key of the roman army to avoid aniquilation.
There was a Roman adage that "matters had reached the triarii," which meant the situation had become desperate.
The Roman term "going to the Triarii" meant that you were going to see a situation through to the bitter end.
The Triarii were the seasoned veterans whose actions would often decide the outcome of battles, they were well equipped & battle seasoned warriors.
Members of the Triarii were also chosen to be the general's bodyguard.
For a look at how good they really were just examine what happened at the historical battle for the Trebbia... The Triarii broke through the middle of the Carthaginian lines even though the battle went bad all around them. Upon seeing the battle was lost, retaining their order they marched off the field to hook up with other roman forces.
The Triarii were the seasoned veterans whose actions would often decide the outcome of battles, they were well equipped & battle seasoned warriors.
Members of the Triarii were also chosen to be the general's bodyguard.
For a look at how good they really were just examine what happened at the historical battle for the Trebbia... The Triarii broke through the middle of the Carthaginian lines even though the battle went bad all around them. Upon seeing the battle was lost, retaining their order they marched off the field to hook up with other roman forces.
Originally Posted by The_Emperor:
For a look at how good they really were just examine what happened at the historical battle for the Trebbia... The Triarii broke through the middle of the Carthaginian lines even though the battle went bad all around them. Upon seeing the battle was lost, retaining their order they marched off the field to hook up with other roman forces.
Are you sure about this? I have not seen that written and would be interested in reading that account. What I read is that the triarii held off the flankers long enough that the central legions hastati and principes broke through the center of the line at Trebbia. What you propose seems a bit unlikely. The triarii start in the rear. The triarii would have been busy trying to delay/halt Mago's ambush force from the rear, and the cavalry swarming about the flanks. I don't see how the lines could have inverted. Instead I could see some triarii falling back through the same opening fighting a rear guard. Their spears should have been sufficient to keep cav at bay, while Hannibals infantry was either broken (in center) or otherwise engaged. For a look at how good they really were just examine what happened at the historical battle for the Trebbia... The Triarii broke through the middle of the Carthaginian lines even though the battle went bad all around them. Upon seeing the battle was lost, retaining their order they marched off the field to hook up with other roman forces.
Casualty information suggests the phalangites of the Carthaginian line held (positioned to the edges of the infantry formation ala Cannae), while the spanish/gauls in the center broke.
Triarii were small units 600 men each (fixed size) vs. 1200 men (and larger for emergencies) for hastati and principes.
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