Manipular Tactics

[Ludens]

Here I've found one interesting example concerning this subject you're discussing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uocQ8t9K9FA

As I've written before, I don't believe the makers of HBO had any inside knowledge on the mechanics of historical battles and just made this up. I don't believe it would work in the real world either. The manoeuvre is too rigid and too predictable for close combat. As soon as the whistle blows, the attackers know what movements the legionaries are going to make. In close combat, being predictable will get you killed.

[Jebivjetar]

As I've written before, I don't believe the makers of HBO had any inside knowledge on the mechanics of historical battles and just made this up. I don't believe it would work in the real world either. The manoeuvre is too rigid and too predictable for close combat. As soon as the whistle blows, the attackers know what movements the legionaries are going to make. In close combat, being predictable will get you killed.

Yeah. I don't know either how much on this subject do HBO people know about. This link I gave as an optional suggestion rather than final solution. I found it interesting though.

[Macilrille]

Here I have to agree with L C Sulla. That is the general understanding of how it was done, there are other interpretations, but this one seems to fit the evidence we have best.

However, I cannot put my finger on it, but there is something in that interpretation that strikes me as wrong, intuitively and probably from my experience as a re-enactor (Viking, somewhat different). But as I cannot say what it is, it may just be a minor point for in general the interpretation seems right.

Still has been written upon it, for a general overview you could get Osprey's, they are easy and give an overview. From there you can move on to specialists.

Ludens is definately right in HBO's case, everything in that interpretation is an invitation to a cunning opponent with just a little knowledge on your doctrine to time his attack and rip your formation apart at a vulnerable point. I see two of them in that interpretation. The guy behind you holding on to you will inhibit your mobilty somewhat = death. The shuffling will leave two guys in one' place as they shuffle and thus almost immobile and unable to defend themselves properly, ie very dead.