Roman General

[cunctator]

Would it be possible to have a bodyguard unit that could dismount before battle, like some of the cavalry in Medieval? I think thats the most realistic way.

Pertinax:

had seemed to me to understand that one talked about general fighters, not of commandants that look from far the battle.
as you know the Roma strength well it was the infantry and not the cavalry so an infantry general would be more right. several for other factions like the Ellenistic, Parthia, and the various barbarian factions

Here is a quote from Polybios histories (Book 3/65):
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/...yout=&loc=3.65
The roman consul Publius Scipio led his cavalry personally in battle with Hannibals horsemen. 218 BC it`s hardly toward the end of the empire.

Here is another Polybios quote (Book 15/10) that shows Scipio Africanus using a cavalry bodyguard:
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/...yout=&loc=15.6
Sarcasm has posted another example for republican generals fighting on horseback.

[Pertinax]

Would it be possible to have a bodyguard unit that could dismount before battle, like some of the cavalry in Medieval? I think thats the most realistic way.


Here is a quote from Polybios histories (Book 3/65):
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/...yout=&loc=3.65
The roman consul Publius Scipio led his cavalry personally in battle with Hannibals horsemen. 218 BC it`s hardly toward the end of the empire.

Here is another Polybios quote (Book 15/10) that shows Scipio Africanus using a cavalry bodyguard:
http://perseus.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/...yout=&loc=15.6
Sarcasm has posted another example for republican generals fighting on horseback.

be able to choose if assigning the general an united one of cavalry or infantry would be the best thing also for me before the battle!

the cavalry and relationship Roman infantry is as what there is Germanic faction between cavalry and infantry...

[Ano2]

I believe that it was cumstomary for a General to go on foot (He would then choose a Master of the Horse) but in certain circumstances they could request to have a mount and the senate could either accept or reject the request.

[Rubber Ducky]

Someone posted this sometime ago -

Roman generals fought on foot. It was a way of showing equality within the army. Hence some Roman generals were very popular with the troops and people. On the other hand, riding on the horse is a sign of being disrespect and usually a sign of rebellion. Thus the Senate was alarmed when Julius Caesar wore purple and rode the streets of Rome on a horse, indicating self-proclaimation of Emperor.

Hope this helps.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

I'm pretty sure that Gaius Julius Caesar both command his army on foot and mounted. His horse were famous and brought courage to all who saw it. It was grey white but had some freak foots. In his early days Julius Caesar fought on foot but in the Gallic Campaign i'm sure he rode on his horse. He needed the overview but many times during the fights he may unmount himself to fight amongst the infantry in the battallions there was under pressure.

I'm also very sure that normal Roman Generals wasn't like Julius Caesar and under the hole battle sat on their horse to maintain overview. It's correct when the army march the general normally marchs with them on foot. But in battle it's on horse.