The Roman Legion

Patreon | historiacivilis.com/patreon
Donate | historiacivilis.com/donate
Merch | historiacivilis.com/merch
Mailing List | historiacivilis.com/mailinglist
Twitter | historiacivilis.com/twitter
Website | historiacivilis.com
Music is "Adam Are You Free?" by P C III

Пікірлер: 1 300

  • @breezybaby6430
    @breezybaby64304 жыл бұрын

    "It was so informal that we don't even have a name for it." We sure as hell do. BATTLE BUDDY!

  • @QemeH

    @QemeH

    3 жыл бұрын

    Wingman

  • @girl_frotter

    @girl_frotter

    3 жыл бұрын

    no, it was "boyfriends"

  • @yehudatheodoros6547

    @yehudatheodoros6547

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@girl_frotter were definitely a few but statistically most of the time not

  • @84MadHatter

    @84MadHatter

    3 жыл бұрын

    @Ellie negative this the army not the navy

  • @rjhaney2614

    @rjhaney2614

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@84MadHatter Double negative. This was Ancient Rome, not modern America.

  • @kassthered8452
    @kassthered84524 жыл бұрын

    There is a famous quote from a legionary: "If anyone ever saluted a Tribune, the light must have been really bad." Says a lot about those guys...

  • @OHYS

    @OHYS

    4 жыл бұрын

    I DON'T GET IT

  • @Aipe97

    @Aipe97

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@OHYS The joke is that the tribunes (I'm assuming the thin striped ones) hold so little respect that the only reason someone would salute them was if they thought it was someone more important due to the bad light

  • @OHYS

    @OHYS

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Aipe97 Thank you for explaining. I hate being left In the dark.

  • @paint_thinner

    @paint_thinner

    4 жыл бұрын

    So do tribunes

  • @idndyzgaming

    @idndyzgaming

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@OHYS aaaaayyyy!

  • @allisongretsinger322
    @allisongretsinger3222 жыл бұрын

    Fun Fact: The first legions Gaius Marius raised in 107 BCE after his Marian reforms were enacted were almost entirely from the urban poor and in this one case there was an exception to the norm of the Decanus being selected by the other men of the Contubernium. In Marius' first legions, the Contubernii were organized so that each group had at least one literate man, the appointed Decanus, whose additional duty was to teach the others to read.

  • @marcospatricio8283

    @marcospatricio8283

    Жыл бұрын

    Wait, for real?! I've never read of that in the Marian Reforms. What are your sources? I'm curious.

  • @kakyoin9688

    @kakyoin9688

    11 ай бұрын

    @@marcospatricio8283 I think the Marian reforms came to being because the Roman legions suffered some horrific defeats. It was during the late Republican period.

  • @collinwheeler1984

    @collinwheeler1984

    11 ай бұрын

    Ty 3:01 hun t I

  • @theincrediblefox

    @theincrediblefox

    11 ай бұрын

    ​​@@marcospatricio8283 Plutarch wrote about this in Gaius Marius chapter 9, section 1. As far as i can tell, this was no official part of the military reform, but instead a measure Marius took to fight poverty and improve living conditions in the citys.

  • @phnexOice

    @phnexOice

    11 ай бұрын

    The reforms came from 2 big problems the maniple system had. 1. With Romes empire getting larger armies would often have to be on campaign for a long time, and so the landed citizen militias saw their farms collapse in their absence durring their campaigns, hurting the Roman economy. 2. The specialized roles of the maniples made reenforcing them a nightmare, often times many armies had far too many Hastati and Principe and a serious deficit of Triiari. The cohort system fixed both of these problems

  • @M_Chen333
    @M_Chen3335 жыл бұрын

    "We can safely ignore the thin striped tribunes. They're dead to us." DAMN, SON

  • @hugo57k91

    @hugo57k91

    4 жыл бұрын

    They are tho

  • @ngolokante7805

    @ngolokante7805

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@hugo57k91 basically

  • @84MadHatter

    @84MadHatter

    3 жыл бұрын

    so like second lieutenants

  • @OrDuneStudios

    @OrDuneStudios

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@84MadHatter 100%

  • @mal3xia

    @mal3xia

    2 жыл бұрын

    Those thicc bois tho.

  • @alexandriariley5209
    @alexandriariley52098 жыл бұрын

    The Roman Legion - the only bureaucracy that didn't have communication problems.

  • @chaosherald8879

    @chaosherald8879

    8 жыл бұрын

    You can't afford that in the military.

  • @tylerdurden3722

    @tylerdurden3722

    4 жыл бұрын

    I was wondering about the problems they must of had.

  • @JackMaltano

    @JackMaltano

    4 жыл бұрын

    Violence solves all problems.

  • @Yunghamz

    @Yunghamz

    4 жыл бұрын

    They were aware of this. They were obsessed to the point of madness when it came to communication channels and military logistics. The lack of problems is a sign of their preparedness.

  • @Winged_Snek

    @Winged_Snek

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Yunghamz very true, the military logistics were a top priority for the entire state. Making their armies disciplined yet powerful gave them the superiority they needed to be what they were.

  • @michaelpisciarino5348
    @michaelpisciarino53485 жыл бұрын

    Top Down/Bottom Up System *Contubernium* 8 Men, 4 Pairs of 2, Small, informal unit Bottom/UP Decanus- The Leader of the Contubernium (elected by their peers, known for his experience) A Century (1:39) - 80 Men - Rome's most Basic Tactical Unit - 10 Contubernia - 59 Centurions per Region - Top/Down Promotion by Superiors Cohorts (2:51) - 6 Century = 480 Soldiers -10 cohorts in ever legion -Trumpet Call - Bottom/Up System, Institutionalized Command Structure The First Cohort (4:05) - 5 Double Strength Centuries = 800 Men - Very Prestigious, Protecting The Commander Primus Pilus - Highest Ranking Front Line Soldier - Spoke to The Commander, planned/strategized - 4th In Command *Camp Prefect* "The Professional Soldier" - Supplies/Encampment Master - Former Primus Pilus - 3rd in Command *Military Tribune* (6:32) "The Aristocracy/The People of Rome" - Elected position - Son of a Senator, Please The Voters Back Home - (Thin Striped Tribunes)=A bit of a joke) - (Thick Striped Tribunes= Actual Responsibility and Respect) - 2nd In Command, *Legate* (8:10) "The Will of The Senate" - A Senator appointed by the Senate to lead the Legion

  • @lewisirwin5363

    @lewisirwin5363

    4 жыл бұрын

    So essentially Legionnaire = Private Decanus = Corporal Optio = Lieutenant/Sergeant-Major Centurion = Captain/Major Thin-Striped Tribune = Adjutant/Staff-Officer/Senior Cadet Camp Prefect = Chief Logistical Officer Thick-Striped Tribune = Political Officer/ Lieutenant-Colonel Legate = Colonel/Brigadier

  • @physical_insanity

    @physical_insanity

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lewisirwin5363 Thin Striped Tribune = Yeoman

  • @buckplug2423

    @buckplug2423

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lewisirwin5363 Something like that, although I'd make the 1st Cohort officers captains (apart from the Primus Pilus, who could be a major or a senior captain as it's designed in some armies) and the officers of other cohorts as Lieutenants - since a century is the only tactical unit (tactical in modern understanding of course), so it'd be possible to use those ranks to indicate seniority. Camp Prefect could also be seen as a Regimental Sergeant Major or a praporshchik.

  • @julianna4573

    @julianna4573

    2 жыл бұрын

    im in my humanities class rn, and we have to take notes on this video. thank you king

  • @milopezusmc

    @milopezusmc

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@lewisirwin5363 Okay. Here goes my version of military ranking. Lol Legionnaire = Private Decanus = Corporal Optio = Sergeant (Top enlisted for purposes of this ranking system) Centurion = Lieutenant I Cohort Centurions = Captain Cohort Leads = Major Primus Pilus = Lt. Colonel Camp Prefect = Colonel Thick ST = Brigadier Legate = General

  • @1Heirborn
    @1Heirborn6 жыл бұрын

    The organisation of the Roman legion always seemed ridiculously advanced for its time. The discipline was so incredible!

  • @lukesmith1818

    @lukesmith1818

    Жыл бұрын

    Don't forget religiosity. They believed that they descended from Romulus, a demigod. They also had tactics like the devotio to inspire zeal

  • @snickerdoodle7877
    @snickerdoodle78778 жыл бұрын

    "Primus pilus" translates to "first spear."

  • @akatsukami9578

    @akatsukami9578

    8 жыл бұрын

    And, of course, "camp prefect:" in Latin is _praefectus praetorio_...a more common translation being "praetorian prefect" :)

  • @TotalHeadShot

    @TotalHeadShot

    8 жыл бұрын

    I believe this is something of a misconception and the more accurate translation of primus pilus is more akin to "first rank"

  • @snickerdoodle7877

    @snickerdoodle7877

    8 жыл бұрын

    +TotalHeadShot Except that "pilus" actually literally means "spear..."

  • @snickerdoodle7877

    @snickerdoodle7877

    8 жыл бұрын

    +TotalHeadShot Unless we're talking connotation..?

  • @TotalHeadShot

    @TotalHeadShot

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Snickerdoodle No. The word pilum meaning spear probably developed independently of the term primus pilus meaning first rank from the same root word pilus meaning hair. Not connotation, it would simply have meant that to Romans at the time.

  • @HailAnts
    @HailAnts8 жыл бұрын

    And they were all commanded by Bigus Dickus!

  • @DrewskiTheLegend

    @DrewskiTheLegend

    8 жыл бұрын

    Haail theaser!

  • @nulnoh219

    @nulnoh219

    8 жыл бұрын

    And his wife incontinentia Buttocks.

  • @Nico-bd4cg

    @Nico-bd4cg

    8 жыл бұрын

    And his cousin white virgin seeker

  • @m16fermy

    @m16fermy

    5 жыл бұрын

    if i go back in time im making that a thing

  • @WildBillCox13

    @WildBillCox13

    5 жыл бұрын

    To hear them talk, each was issued his own bigus dickus.

  • @Heckler456
    @Heckler4568 жыл бұрын

    Primus Pilus Past their Prime. Primus Pilus Past their Prime. Primus Pilus Past their Prime.

  • @HistoriaCivilis

    @HistoriaCivilis

    8 жыл бұрын

    +HecklerSC2 Sometimes I've just gotta sneak something in for my own personal amusement.

  • @rugbyjames1

    @rugbyjames1

    8 жыл бұрын

    What era of the Roman Empire does this structure apply to and did it change?

  • @roryokane5907

    @roryokane5907

    8 жыл бұрын

    +James Mann roughly from 100BCE to about 300CE. The enlarged first cohorts were introduced in the 60s AD though if memory serves, but the basic structure of eight men to a contubernium, ten contubernia to a century, six centuries to a cohort (with each pair of centuries mimicking a maniple of the three lines of the Republican legion of old (look at the titles of the centurions within a cohort and the names of the hastati and principes are preserved)), and ten cohorts to a legion did not vary hugely from the time of Caesar, fifty years after Marius' reforms, to the reforms of Diocletian in the twilight of the 3rd century AD. Mind you, the auxiliary troops that supported the legions changed a hell of a lot in that time - mostly under Augustus who established independent regular cohorts of foot troops (including slingers and archers) and alae of cavalry (later including horse archers, lancers, cataphracts, and a unit of camels established by Trajan).

  • @oscaruhlir7352

    @oscaruhlir7352

    6 жыл бұрын

    Historia Civilis what's your opinion on Simon Scarrow Silver eagle serie?

  • @Leisurelee53

    @Leisurelee53

    6 жыл бұрын

    Historia Civilis I like to imagine this position consisted entirely of men like R Lee Ermey. 60% hardass, 30% know how, 70% goddammit soldier stop counting on your fingers and toes and man your post!

  • @lanzelloth
    @lanzelloth6 жыл бұрын

    0:28 they're called accountibilibuddies

  • @JingleJangle256

    @JingleJangle256

    3 жыл бұрын

    The US Army calls them “Battle Buddies” and the Air Force calls them “Wingmen”.

  • @noxhiduro6067
    @noxhiduro60678 жыл бұрын

    Please do a video about the auxiliary units

  • @JojoWolfcat

    @JojoWolfcat

    8 жыл бұрын

    YAS!

  • @cpob2013

    @cpob2013

    8 жыл бұрын

    well, there really wasnt a uniform structure for auxiliaries, they were different from each culture

  • @0hn0haha

    @0hn0haha

    8 жыл бұрын

    Exactly, it'll be fun vid to watch! Probably many parts, and long... so we have to kowtow to HC so that he, in his grace and might, would make us these videos.

  • @hazzmati

    @hazzmati

    8 жыл бұрын

    its like asking do a video about cultures, just as there are cultures there are auuxiliary units its too many you need to be more specific

  • @noxhiduro6067

    @noxhiduro6067

    8 жыл бұрын

    I would be more interested in the command structure of these units and if their leaders were of senatorial class or equestrians. Now specifically I think the cavalry would be cool to topic for a video.

  • @blockmasterscott
    @blockmasterscott8 жыл бұрын

    I like how you kept putting down the thin striped tribunes and said they were a bit of a joke even in their own time lol!

  • @HistoriaCivilis

    @HistoriaCivilis

    8 жыл бұрын

    When I figured out that they were basically just rich kids working as summer interns for the Army I was like "oh I hate these guys."

  • @Telsion

    @Telsion

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Historia Civilis me too XD

  • @Deukish

    @Deukish

    7 жыл бұрын

    Of course there are plenty. Unless you were from the true elite among the Senate and could bribe your way to position, being a thin-stripe was the most common first stepping-stone in your career.

  • @SuperOctimusprime

    @SuperOctimusprime

    7 жыл бұрын

    The funny thing is this still goes on today to some extent in the UK. Simply being a university student gets you the rank of Officer Cadet in the Army or Air Force and even honourary Midshipman (a commissioned rank) in the Navy. Means I get privileges like eating in the officers mess and stuff just because I made it into higher education XD

  • @Telsion

    @Telsion

    7 жыл бұрын

    Artorius nicely done XD

  • @EVEMASTER99
    @EVEMASTER998 жыл бұрын

    Ah the engineers and the people who do maintenance. Getting no glory for over 2000 years, but without them the army couldn't function. I think not counting them is doing a disservice, they counted them, you can tell just by the grouping names.

  • @Iarlen

    @Iarlen

    8 жыл бұрын

    I think he didn't count them not only because they weren't fighting agents, but because maybe they were slaves rather than willing men.

  • @taan1424

    @taan1424

    8 жыл бұрын

    As far as I know, every romal legioner was expected to be able to build fortifications, roads and stuff, being engeniers themselfs, much like modern (or rather 20th century) soldiers. So, servants he mentioned probably were just that-servants, nothing more.

  • @VintageLJ

    @VintageLJ

    8 жыл бұрын

    In the Roman army, many of the soldiers themselves carried out the building of roads, forts and perhaps wagons. Logistics lines likely weren't part of the legion.

  • @dynamicworlds1

    @dynamicworlds1

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Just Randomdude Correct. The Roman army was about 80% combat engineers and 20% servants. This served multiple function: 1-enabled all soldiers to be able to construct bridges, siege-works, fortifications, etc 2-forced discipline, built teamwork, and prevented a mindset of "digging? I'm above such menial work" that seeps into many martial societies 3-kept the soldiers busy during peacetime. This is actually huge because it means your trained soldiers don't turn to banditry when there's no war 4-if you've a standing army that's not doing anything, you basically have a supply of labor for infrastructure construction that you're already paying for (meaning effectively free roads, aquaducts, etc) 5-greatly reduced the logistical footprint of the army, reducing cost and travel times (it wasn't uncommon for professional armies to have a baggage train the size of the army) Without making full use of these advantages, the Roman army would have been far less effective and far more expensive

  • @dukeman7595

    @dukeman7595

    6 жыл бұрын

    DynamicWorlds: That's right and exactly what our military should be doing today, the wall for instance.

  • @swift1535
    @swift15358 жыл бұрын

    MUH LEGIONS!

  • @imperatorcaesardivifiliusa2158

    @imperatorcaesardivifiliusa2158

    8 жыл бұрын

    MUH LEGIONS VARUS!!

  • @ekin4260

    @ekin4260

    8 жыл бұрын

    GIVE THEM BACK

  • @EcsMurphy

    @EcsMurphy

    8 жыл бұрын

    Ahhh I loved the tuteoberg forrest video

  • @coolpeacemakerjustcoolpeac7907

    @coolpeacemakerjustcoolpeac7907

    8 жыл бұрын

    OH VARUS... QUINTILIUS VARUS GIBE ME BACK MAH LEGIONS!1!1

  • @dariuso2657

    @dariuso2657

    7 жыл бұрын

    Where are the legions Varus? We want the legions, Varus. Bunny said you were good for it. Where are the fucking legions, shithead? Don't fuck with us. Your wife owes legions to Jackie Treehorn, that means you owe legions to Jackie Treehorn.

  • @sarcasmo57
    @sarcasmo578 жыл бұрын

    This is great. You include things many other videos on the subject leave off.

  • @hanguyen5101997

    @hanguyen5101997

    8 жыл бұрын

    Wow I didn't expect you here lol

  • @hanguyen5101997

    @hanguyen5101997

    8 жыл бұрын

    Btw big fan

  • @sarcasmo57

    @sarcasmo57

    8 жыл бұрын

    Love some Roman history! And thank you!

  • @alienworm1999

    @alienworm1999

    6 жыл бұрын

    sarcasmo57 just found your channel from this comment and your cooking narration is hilarious

  • @Yeldur
    @Yeldur8 жыл бұрын

    You're by far the best historical channel I've watched, glad to see it's not been left to die! Keep up the awesome work man!

  • @johannesvontreuenfels924

    @johannesvontreuenfels924

    6 жыл бұрын

    Yeldur metatron skallagrim baz battles and of course lindybeige are also great

  • @Zamolxes77

    @Zamolxes77

    6 жыл бұрын

    It pretty good but not the best. Check out The Great War.

  • @suPerTheBlob

    @suPerTheBlob

    5 жыл бұрын

    tru dat

  • @mr.bluefox3511

    @mr.bluefox3511

    5 жыл бұрын

    *Shadiversity* is a good Channel too, but he forcus more on the Weapon & Structure in the Historical + Fantasy

  • @dorkmax7073
    @dorkmax70735 жыл бұрын

    Modern analogue: Contubernium(squad) of 8-10 led by a Decanus(Sergeant). The contubernium is one of ten in a Centuria(Company) led by a Centurion(Captain) with his trusty Optio(First Sergeant).

  • @ironstarofmordian7098

    @ironstarofmordian7098

    Жыл бұрын

    Exactly. Although the Decanus should be a Staff Sergeant. Its been about 80 years since a buck aergeant ran a line squad, by doctrine.

  • @icefl4re597

    @icefl4re597

    Жыл бұрын

    Legionnaire = Lower enlisted Decanus = Sgt Aquilifer = Company guide (SSgt) Tesserarius = Company Gunny Optio = XO (1st LT) Centurion = Cpt Centurion who leads cohort = LtCol Optio of centurion who leads cohort = Battalion XO (Major) Primus Pilus = Col Camp Prefect = Senior Col waiting for retirement Legate = "General" + Senator (The Romans until Diocletian saw no difference between generalship & politician skill. To them, good general = good politician = good father = good orator) Tribunes = Upper classes, clerks and personal contact of the legate

  • @leiffitzsimmonsfrey4923

    @leiffitzsimmonsfrey4923

    Жыл бұрын

    @@icefl4re597 Culturally tribunes sound like lieutenants to me: they technically outrank most soldiers, but they are young and inexperienced, and would do well to listen to the more experienced soldiers under their command.

  • @icefl4re597

    @icefl4re597

    Жыл бұрын

    @@leiffitzsimmonsfrey4923 They are sons of senators and there due to influence tho. Officers =/ super ultra rich.

  • @ShidaiTaino
    @ShidaiTaino8 жыл бұрын

    8 men one mule. 8 men one tent.

  • @ShidaiTaino

    @ShidaiTaino

    8 жыл бұрын

    8 men 2 slaves.

  • @HistoriaCivilis

    @HistoriaCivilis

    8 жыл бұрын

    "Aw man, stuck on mule duty again."

  • @hindugoat2302

    @hindugoat2302

    7 жыл бұрын

    helpers! top down...

  • @hindugoat2302

    @hindugoat2302

    7 жыл бұрын

    bottom up

  • @reinforcer9000

    @reinforcer9000

    5 жыл бұрын

    8 men 2 cups

  • @ilikecake48
    @ilikecake488 жыл бұрын

    Such a beautiful and interesting system, no wonder they were able to annex so much land.

  • @robertjarman3703

    @robertjarman3703

    3 жыл бұрын

    You could say that for Gaul and a bit of Europe close to the Danube and Dacia, but most Roman territory was conquered during the phalanx or manipule era.

  • @redoktopus3047
    @redoktopus30473 жыл бұрын

    "slept together (not like that)" that's where you're wrong buckeroo.

  • @peterpan23

    @peterpan23

    3 жыл бұрын

    When in Rome...

  • @addebagus3573

    @addebagus3573

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@peterpan23 bang caligula

  • @robertjarman3703

    @robertjarman3703

    3 жыл бұрын

    They didn't allow it while you were an active soldier.

  • @peanutbread8569

    @peanutbread8569

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@addebagus3573 lmao

  • @kruger7796

    @kruger7796

    3 жыл бұрын

    Romans were not greeks.

  • @richardsanchez9190
    @richardsanchez91904 жыл бұрын

    Goddamn. No matter what you gotta hand it to the Romans, only they could make a clusterfuck that actually works really well.

  • @spazmaster1996
    @spazmaster19968 жыл бұрын

    "primus pilus past their prime" try saying that five times really fast

  • @rascallyrabbit717

    @rascallyrabbit717

    5 жыл бұрын

    Some times content creators just can't help themselves

  • @neth7826

    @neth7826

    4 жыл бұрын

    Help I've just summoned the ghosts of dead Roman soldiers

  • @aetu35

    @aetu35

    3 жыл бұрын

    broke my tongue

  • @64wy4x8s
    @64wy4x8s7 жыл бұрын

    So basically, Contubernium = Platoon Century = Company Cohort = Battalion Legion = Brigade

  • @hazelfloof927

    @hazelfloof927

    7 жыл бұрын

    A contubernium would be closer to a squad or section though as they are exactly the same size. A contubernium doesn't have any lower echelon units unlike a platoon which is comprised of multiple squads/sections so it's impossible for a contubernium to be adequate to a platoon.

  • @damianpeterkelly1234

    @damianpeterkelly1234

    5 жыл бұрын

    Dirty D Disagrees you need to think scales. A modern squad in advance to contact (at least in the British army) might cover a front of 100m in usually in 5 pairs. This obviously due to sensible squaddies wanting to be as far away from the obvious target that is the section commander and long arial as favoured to mark targets for snipers everywhere. Or it might be because distributed groups are less vulnerable to automatic weapons and can still communicate easily, either with hand signals or if they have to radio. A conterbanium is not a valid combat unit when you mostly fight with sword and shield and build a front not on fire arcs but bodies hefting shields. Thats why the smallest unit is so big. Even at that size they probably not command the same amount of line as a modern squad. Let alone a platoon

  • @kakadaf3

    @kakadaf3

    5 жыл бұрын

    just wonder how meany pack animals do modern brigade take care of ?

  • @gene51231356

    @gene51231356

    5 жыл бұрын

    A Legion may have been equivalent to a brigade in terms of manpower, but in the ancient world an army of that size was far more impactful than today. A Legion was at least as strategically meaningful as a division, if not a corps. A single Legion could be the occupying force of an entire country-sized province, something which today would require many divisions.

  • @suPerTheBlob

    @suPerTheBlob

    5 жыл бұрын

    lol XD

  • @johndominicamabile
    @johndominicamabile4 жыл бұрын

    I have a theory that the 'primus pilus' (which literally means 'first throwing spear') at some point was responsible for setting the range for the other men. In modern armies it is normal that an experienced squad leader will tell his men not to fire, but that when he starts firing, then they will all fire. Junior soldiers are bad at firing guns to early, it's reasonable they had this same issue with Javelin throwing.

  • @markmcwilliams5165

    @markmcwilliams5165

    4 жыл бұрын

    Primus Pilus does not mean first spear, that is a common mistake. The javelin used by the legions was called a pilum. Pilus was a term applied to the triarii, the most senior men in the legion who made up the third and final line of battle. It seems like a small difference, but consider the English words 'bat' and 'bad', very close, but totally different meanings. Primus pilus means 'chief of the triarii'.

  • @michaeltansey379

    @michaeltansey379

    9 ай бұрын

    @@markmcwilliams5165 I know this is old but Pilus and Pilum are different declinations to the same root word, Pil'us to Pil'um. Pilus is the noun for spear/javelin while Pilum is used when the spear is subject to a verb or posession. It's more like adding the term -que to Populus in SPQR doesn't change the meaning to the word. "Hastatius Pilusque" "Hastatius iacit Pilum"

  • @Taistelukalkkuna
    @Taistelukalkkuna7 жыл бұрын

    I would be interesting to know how legion supplied replacement troops. Read once that one Caesar´s legion was, after decade of campaigns down to 800 men.

  • @markmcwilliams5165

    @markmcwilliams5165

    6 жыл бұрын

    During the republic the Romans did not send new soldiers to replace those lost in a legion. New recruits were enrolled in a new legion. Since legions during the republic were temporary units that were disbanded when the war they were enrolled for ended this was not usually a problem. If a legion became too weak to be an effective unit, it could be disbanded or joined to another weakened legion to form a twinned legion. During the empire, legions became permanent units and loses were regularly replaced.

  • @arturwojciechowicz3124

    @arturwojciechowicz3124

    4 жыл бұрын

    He just drafted men from the whole Italy.

  • @stefanocamoni229

    @stefanocamoni229

    4 жыл бұрын

    Caesar in De Bello Gallico wrote he returned every winter in North Italy for recruitement. So his infantry men was'nt only Latins and Neighbours but also Ligurians, Venetians Cisalpine Gauls. all from north Italy. Heavy cavalry formed by rich Latins and light by Celts, Nubian or Germans too. Archers from Crete. Slingers from Baleari. During the empire they were from Europe, Middle east and north Africa

  • @theharristrain
    @theharristrain8 жыл бұрын

    Fuck me, Historia Civilis

  • @vicerearadmiralfirstclasso5912

    @vicerearadmiralfirstclasso5912

    8 жыл бұрын

    Are you offering or selling?

  • @theharristrain

    @theharristrain

    8 жыл бұрын

    begging

  • @vicerearadmiralfirstclasso5912

    @vicerearadmiralfirstclasso5912

    8 жыл бұрын

    Alex Harris Well, beggars can't be choosers. Here you go. blog.flicks.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/gladys.jpg

  • @romulusnuma116

    @romulusnuma116

    7 жыл бұрын

    killed my boner ):

  • @et496

    @et496

    6 жыл бұрын

    ?

  • @JoaDrath
    @JoaDrath8 жыл бұрын

    I love seeing your videos pop up in my sub box :)

  • @Jamesmsteward

    @Jamesmsteward

    8 жыл бұрын

    Ditto

  • @hamishwoodland7424
    @hamishwoodland74248 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Very informative, and I like the slick graphics

  • @EndOfSmallSanctuary97
    @EndOfSmallSanctuary978 жыл бұрын

    7:36 to 7:40, imagine someone like Caesar saying that to his tribune XD

  • @suPerTheBlob

    @suPerTheBlob

    5 жыл бұрын

    lol XD ;D crying laughing wow imagine that

  • @Salokin92
    @Salokin928 жыл бұрын

    Why were armies in acient times so much larger than armies in the medieval period?

  • @maxgobel7034

    @maxgobel7034

    8 жыл бұрын

    Unity, instead of little kings with little influence there were much larger countries

  • @Walterdecarvalh0100

    @Walterdecarvalh0100

    8 жыл бұрын

    Napoleon realised this, so he made his armies much bigger

  • @JonAtomic

    @JonAtomic

    8 жыл бұрын

    technology

  • @renatoraia4103

    @renatoraia4103

    8 жыл бұрын

    Roman empire was huge so they could recruit many men, during middle ages states were much smaller and were less united so they couldn't reach such numbers.

  • @VintageLJ

    @VintageLJ

    8 жыл бұрын

    Because you needed a shit ton of men to siege out an entire city. Hannibal had 100,000 Men, but even that wasn't enough to siege Rome. In more recent warfare, we can bombard the city to dust without having to build great wooden structures all around the city. As technology increased, and the individual killing power of a soldier increased, the size of armies decreased.

  • @robinkristiansen6578
    @robinkristiansen65788 жыл бұрын

    pls make a video on roman fort construction.

  • @morriganshepard
    @morriganshepard4 жыл бұрын

    I have watched a lot of Legion breakdown videos but most focused on tactics or basic composition. This was a fresh take on the Legion for me and I appreciate it. Solid work bud.

  • @JonasTDK
    @JonasTDK8 жыл бұрын

    I really love these videos. It's always a pleasure when you put a new one up!

  • @GamesplaceBR
    @GamesplaceBR8 жыл бұрын

    Each one of your videos is better than the last, they're becoming more informative, and more fun to watch! Congrats, and keep evolving!

  • @piggeneral1275
    @piggeneral12758 жыл бұрын

    I love your simple presentation style - I click as soon as I see a video in my feed, always a treat.

  • @warrengday
    @warrengday8 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating and enthralling from start to finish. Thank you.

  • @ZerpPickleZiP
    @ZerpPickleZiP5 жыл бұрын

    "and they slept together" "...not like that"

  • @JamesMartinelli-jr9mh

    @JamesMartinelli-jr9mh

    4 жыл бұрын

    Zerp Pickle. Greeks invented sex; Romans invented it with women. hee hee hee

  • @noahhorner231

    @noahhorner231

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah. Now if this was a Greek army of the time period, well...

  • @jayit6851

    @jayit6851

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@JamesMartinelli-jr9mh Curious as to how the Greeks had children then

  • @yuricherkasov

    @yuricherkasov

    4 жыл бұрын

    Not like Greek you mean?

  • @yuricherkasov

    @yuricherkasov

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jayit6851"Diomidus has three children with his wife" - "He always was a fucken pervert"

  • @Morty90152
    @Morty901527 жыл бұрын

    The term decanus is still used in the greek army

  • @vicamu541

    @vicamu541

    5 жыл бұрын

    Dic Anus

  • @50daysago14

    @50daysago14

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@vicamu541 fuck

  • @a.f.nik.4210

    @a.f.nik.4210

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@borntofart yes it is lol

  • @UnitedBrothersNL

    @UnitedBrothersNL

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@borntofart where i went to school the decane was the head of the school and for detention we had to go to the prefect...

  • @physical_insanity

    @physical_insanity

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@UnitedBrothersNL Prefects are as common as herpes in school.

  • @listenherejack
    @listenherejack8 жыл бұрын

    For the glory of Rome!

  • @kekero540

    @kekero540

    8 жыл бұрын

    bring peace with war.

  • @gromosawsmiay3000

    @gromosawsmiay3000

    7 жыл бұрын

    glory of fallen empire....nice joke xD

  • @nahuatl3092

    @nahuatl3092

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Gromosław Śmiały i dont think you know how glory works

  • @jim4671

    @jim4671

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Gromosław Śmiały Shut up! There's A saying about this. "Chicks love Scars and Glory lasts forever. Just look at me, Im still as Glorious as Chuck Norris carrying 4 Tanks and being followed by 2 Naked women Carrying a bed. Only Im Carrying 7 tanks and Am being followed by My beloved Wife and An army to match! GLORY TO MOTHER RUSSIA!

  • @gromosawsmiay3000

    @gromosawsmiay3000

    7 жыл бұрын

    Joseph Stalin by why did you "kill" your beloved wife ?....

  • @ganjiblobflankis6581
    @ganjiblobflankis65818 жыл бұрын

    The senate as the board. Centurions as foremen. Thin stripes as interns. Thick stripes as children of board members. Legate as CEO. The "helpers" would be 0-hours contract agency staff to do the cleaning. Seems awfully familiar...

  • @guilhermefrainer2865

    @guilhermefrainer2865

    8 жыл бұрын

    .

  • @loganmacinnis8675

    @loganmacinnis8675

    8 жыл бұрын

    if you read enough history you realize there aint much new under the sun

  • @WrathOfPhropet

    @WrathOfPhropet

    8 жыл бұрын

    It's only technology that changes. People and societies are the same.

  • @loganmacinnis8675

    @loganmacinnis8675

    8 жыл бұрын

    Neverm0re yep

  • @scolic03

    @scolic03

    8 жыл бұрын

    But there is no military tribune and camp prefect in that equation... No-one gets elected to check the CEO or promoted as a way of balance.

  • @CaringDolphin37
    @CaringDolphin378 жыл бұрын

    My favorite channel!

  • @godofallpenguins001
    @godofallpenguins0018 жыл бұрын

    Dude, your videos are so awesome. Super informative, and interesting, every time. Don't stop what you're doing. I'm glad I found this channel, and I'm excited to see where you take it.

  • @teekaybrown3903
    @teekaybrown39038 жыл бұрын

    I found your channel 3 days ago and I can say you are the best historic channel and one of the best channels IN KZread. I've seen every one of your videos and, wow. Keep it up!

  • @EnlightenedBro105
    @EnlightenedBro1058 жыл бұрын

    Wow amazing video. Ive always wanted to learn about Roman legions in detail.

  • @aliciabaumgartner1406
    @aliciabaumgartner14068 жыл бұрын

    Great channel man! Could you do a vid about the average soldier in a roman legion? Day to day life, responsibilities, social structure of the army, training, career progression of soldier, etc.

  • @maydays123

    @maydays123

    5 жыл бұрын

    Cool man cool

  • @khalidalali351
    @khalidalali3518 жыл бұрын

    Dude I just stumbled upon your channel by sheer coincidence. Amazing video ! I bow to your magnificence sir !

  • @nirvanistu
    @nirvanistu8 жыл бұрын

    Dude just wanted to congratulate you on your awesome work, very well researched and equally well presented.

  • @chantelnadjiwon7585
    @chantelnadjiwon75857 жыл бұрын

    Who would win? one average Roman Centurion with his 100 men OR 1 British Cold war Centurion tank

  • @ImperatorRom

    @ImperatorRom

    7 жыл бұрын

    Humm the first engagement between a Roman Centurion, his 100 men and the tank, I think the Cold War Centurion tank would probably win, the second time however, I think the Romans would seize the tank and use it to reconquer the UK xD lolol Just my opinion however ;)

  • @matthewnickolas4706

    @matthewnickolas4706

    7 жыл бұрын

    It's not hard to defeat the Roman with an unusual tactic wich they never met once... but it is trully chalanging to defeat them twice!

  • @HaloFTW55

    @HaloFTW55

    6 жыл бұрын

    If we include the service crew and the guys protecting the service crew of tank. Then the British.

  • @elzian4975

    @elzian4975

    6 жыл бұрын

    How much ammunition do the British have?

  • @user-ld4qt6ci7b

    @user-ld4qt6ci7b

    5 жыл бұрын

    How much ammo does the tank get and on what terrain do they fight? if the tank has regular amounts of ammo and fuel and they fight in an open plain, the Romans have no chance 99 times out of 100. If they fight in some limited visibility or limited tank mobility terrain, the Romans could always just starve the British out.

  • @petergordon9190
    @petergordon91908 жыл бұрын

    Thin striped Tribunes where drawn from the Equestrian class, not the Senatorial class and often had previous military experience as Prefects commanding an Auxiluary cohort. They where frequently used as sub commanders by the Legate (one or two detatched cohorts) unlike the thick striped tribune who, as you said, was a young man on his first appointment who was more often considered to be a joke by the experienced Centurions.

  • @sikxramm
    @sikxramm8 жыл бұрын

    This is very well put together and very informative, thank you!

  • @tortoisemaster4557
    @tortoisemaster45577 жыл бұрын

    It really says something when petty much all your videos have way more views than you have subscribers, your videos are amazing! I binge-watched most of your videos yesterday, and loved all of them! Keep up the awesomeness, you are just epic.

  • @Melanrick
    @Melanrick8 жыл бұрын

    I have to say, i've got years studying warfare. Ancient, old, new and modern, but never really understood how a legion works, because it is unlike any other system out there! And you are the first historian that explained this in a simple but efficient fashion. I really thank you for this. Really!

  • @thiagodunadan
    @thiagodunadan8 жыл бұрын

    This is one amazing video.

  • @Ratchet4647
    @Ratchet46478 жыл бұрын

    I'm happy to see you're back and uploading regularly ;D

  • @jamiebulteel5130
    @jamiebulteel51308 жыл бұрын

    Always loved how well put together your videos are, keep up the great work! :)

  • @mat4097
    @mat40978 жыл бұрын

    so the two members would basically be todays battle buddies?

  • @alexgomez1621

    @alexgomez1621

    8 жыл бұрын

    Yes except they did't try to get the other into the Shrimpin' business, where there's the shrimp salad, shrimp burger, shrimp with cheese, deep fried shrimp, fresh shrimp, shrimp sandwich...

  • @gabemerritt3139

    @gabemerritt3139

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Alex Gomez jumbo shrimp, popcorn shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew,...

  • @asoongUSMC

    @asoongUSMC

    4 жыл бұрын

    Camp prefect= Sgt Major lol

  • @yesyesyesyes1600

    @yesyesyesyes1600

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@alexgomez1621 shrimp kebap :D

  • @Th3shootist
    @Th3shootist7 жыл бұрын

    that's IT i'm playing total war now... thanks a lot :p

  • @lessthan3997
    @lessthan39978 жыл бұрын

    m8 this is legit my favourite channel do videos whenever you can they're so good

  • @Maribro4
    @Maribro48 жыл бұрын

    This is by far one of my favorite channels ever and is the best Roman history channel on KZread

  • @MooShaka89
    @MooShaka896 жыл бұрын

    That's awesome I was in the US Army we had the tradition of having a "battle buddy" from basic training all the way to the 82nd Airborne and my deployment.

  • @FindTheMasterpiece
    @FindTheMasterpiece8 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful.

  • @mozesimanjuntak4155
    @mozesimanjuntak41558 жыл бұрын

    Simplicity at its best. These videos are lovely insights to history that enrich our present.

  • @123986521
    @1239865218 жыл бұрын

    so glad you are back to making videos

  • @goodshipkaraboudjan
    @goodshipkaraboudjan6 жыл бұрын

    The thin stripe tribunes were in fact far more involved than you suggest. To hold that position they had prior experience commanding Auxilia units. They would also command detached cohorts of the legion, they were more staff officers that the senatorial tribune.

  • @maxcarlyle7137
    @maxcarlyle71375 жыл бұрын

    The Primus Pilus always sounded like a regimental Sgt.Major type position to me..Very interesting to observe how many of these Roman army formations,units and positions have their almost exact modern counterparts,only modernized but still very recognizable..Im also thinking many of the institutional fathers of modern armies and even Generals today(at least the good ones) almost always like to study Caesar,Pompey and Scipio..they even teach that along with Clausewitz at West Point.

  • @jaylene1701
    @jaylene17017 жыл бұрын

    This is the most intelligent and clearest description of the Roman Legion I have found so far. Thank you!

  • @davidfehn6023
    @davidfehn60238 жыл бұрын

    Your videos are among the very best i ever saw on youtube. Concise, simple, elegant and easy to keep. If only you spoke German, then I would not have to talk but you could do my job :-D kudos to you. Keep up the great work!

  • @choppergamer
    @choppergamer8 жыл бұрын

    my god,your channel is great,I wonder why youtube didnt promote this to me. I found your channel after a guy in a lindybeige video comment section said to check you out

  • @imnotryaan
    @imnotryaan5 жыл бұрын

    "Slept together.... not like that." Lmaoooo

  • @Conservative4

    @Conservative4

    2 жыл бұрын

    Not *always* not like that

  • @th3b0yg
    @th3b0yg6 жыл бұрын

    That was really excellent. Nice description and analysis!

  • @srujanpalkar1
    @srujanpalkar18 жыл бұрын

    Love your channel man!!! Keep it up!!

  • @Sam-xd9xt
    @Sam-xd9xt7 жыл бұрын

    1:14 Just like with the minutemen (militia) during the US revolt. Wonder if there more units like this.

  • @SerratedNinja
    @SerratedNinja8 жыл бұрын

    your vids are lit asf

  • @runertje5505
    @runertje55056 жыл бұрын

    I'm linking your video in my Steam review for Rome II Total War, your videos, especially this one reaaally helped me in the game and your content is simply amazing!

  • @bionicallychallenged7290
    @bionicallychallenged72908 жыл бұрын

    Your stuff is really detailed and done very eloquently.

  • @raylast3873
    @raylast38737 жыл бұрын

    So, if the Legate was a Senator, there were always a lot of missing Senators in Rome, right?

  • @Naingwinzaw

    @Naingwinzaw

    5 жыл бұрын

    2 years late answer, but basically yes. I am not familiar with the Late Roman Empire but from the examples we've seen from the late republic and early empire, these command positions if they are in "good" provinces are used to bribe someone into helping you/as a thanks for someone helping you or sometimes when you want to get rid of someone who opposes you for a time when you want to pass some legislation and you send them away. But since Romans elected 10 new Quaestors(lowest ranked senators) every year and some of who would eventually climb to the highest rank, there usually isnt a shortage of Senators unless there is a civil war or a massive military disaster like Cannae or things like plagues.

  • @MasonBryant
    @MasonBryant7 жыл бұрын

    You forgot the banner bearers of all types!

  • @MasonBryant

    @MasonBryant

    7 жыл бұрын

    And the cornicen!

  • @jakehatton2910
    @jakehatton29107 жыл бұрын

    Incredible video, really really helpful and informative, and enjoyable to watch. Thank you!

  • @timkoch95tk
    @timkoch95tk8 жыл бұрын

    Thanks you so much for making videos like this. I'm doing research into Roman military, culture and politics because I want to write a historical fiction and videos like this seriously help.

  • @rickmoser3544
    @rickmoser35446 жыл бұрын

    The 2 dudes are called Battle Buddies lol

  • @Fergus99
    @Fergus998 жыл бұрын

    The cohorts have an optical illusion in lmao

  • @maxgobel7034
    @maxgobel70348 жыл бұрын

    You are so good with this video's! It is clear, easy to understand, and still Gilles with so much information! Thank you so much keep it up!

  • @51TGM71
    @51TGM718 жыл бұрын

    Love your stuff mate, keep up the good work!

  • @suPerTheBlob
    @suPerTheBlob5 жыл бұрын

    Legate, Military Tribune, and Camp Prefect= Triforce

  • @Lazyguy22
    @Lazyguy228 жыл бұрын

    So what about cavalry and archers etc.? How did they fit in?

  • @cpob2013

    @cpob2013

    8 жыл бұрын

    at the end, theres 128 cavalry mostly from the patricians, similar to medevial knights mostly used for patrol, scouting, messaging, and mopping up routed enemies. archers werent really romans themselves, they relied on each man's pilum for ranged combat but archers slingers and most cavalry were auxiliaries from the local allies of rome depending on their own warriors.

  • @leutnantflavian5221

    @leutnantflavian5221

    8 жыл бұрын

    so like the qoute give a cretan a bow and; he is is weigtht worth in silver?

  • @chickenmonger123

    @chickenmonger123

    8 жыл бұрын

    Well sometimes they got their ass kicked for their views on scouts, and archers, and cavalry. We basically only fight militarily from long range, with really good intel, and with high mobility in the modern age, so look how history panned out.

  • @ThePillowXpress

    @ThePillowXpress

    8 жыл бұрын

    In early Rome, they were wealthy citizens that were part of the military. In middle to late Rome, they were the auxiliaries that came from various corners of the empire and foreign lands

  • @dynamicworlds1

    @dynamicworlds1

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Connor O'Brien not only the pillum, but the plumbata as well (basically a weaponized lawn darts also called the barbs of Mars) Those big shields are very resistant to arrows, so it wasn't that big a problem to just walk down the archers on the other side (especially with your troops better armored than your opponents) It makes sense that an army very resistant to arrows would see little value in them.

  • @Tom-qx2hy
    @Tom-qx2hy8 жыл бұрын

    Very well-organized. I like that you mentioned the non-combatants, making each century 100.

  • @ludvikbrodl1001
    @ludvikbrodl10017 жыл бұрын

    I really enjoy your videos, keep it up man!

  • @TheTrixout125
    @TheTrixout1258 жыл бұрын

    0:15 well probably

  • @dexterzplace5553

    @dexterzplace5553

    8 жыл бұрын

    Lol

  • @bentomoswall
    @bentomoswall8 жыл бұрын

    0:16. well. certainly at least occasionally. long campaigns, far from home, no ''spoils'' of war. hurhur

  • @mjpanicali

    @mjpanicali

    8 жыл бұрын

    It is a bottom up system after all...

  • @BiFurDoggy

    @BiFurDoggy

    8 жыл бұрын

    The Roman military has a history of homosexual relationships, so that's not too far-fetched.

  • @katjamacgiollaruaidh2934

    @katjamacgiollaruaidh2934

    8 жыл бұрын

    All militaries do.

  • @CGSRichards

    @CGSRichards

    8 жыл бұрын

    It was a hanging offense to engage in homosexual activities while on campaign. Marius even decorated the soldier who killed his cousin/nephew (don't remember which), an officer, because the man attempted to seduce the soldier, and when rebuffed, rape him.

  • @CGSRichards

    @CGSRichards

    8 жыл бұрын

    It was a hanging offense to engage in homosexual activities while on campaign. Marius even decorated the soldier who killed his cousin/nephew (don't remember which), an officer, because the man attempted to seduce the soldier, and when rebuffed, rape him.

  • @naram07
    @naram076 жыл бұрын

    Really well put together! It baffles my mind everytime I see a video about the Roman military learning how beautifully advanced and complex their society and systems were. If only they survived lol

  • @daham1364
    @daham13648 жыл бұрын

    DAMM , i love these video , they are so interesting and informing , i love the roman republic and its military systems but this opened it up in a whole new and easier way , keep it up man this is great

  • @lolboyboy1
    @lolboyboy18 жыл бұрын

    YESSSSHH!!!

  • @suPerTheBlob
    @suPerTheBlob5 жыл бұрын

    the thin striped tribunes. The poor thin striped tribunes who had no "real responsibilities" let us all take a moment to respect the lowly unappreciated people who wished they had a purpose

  • @deceitdeceitdeceit
    @deceitdeceitdeceit8 жыл бұрын

    this was absolutely awesome, i thoroughly enjoyed it

  • @spewkkake
    @spewkkake8 жыл бұрын

    great video, man. really enjoyed this.

  • @Paulo-py4mm
    @Paulo-py4mm6 жыл бұрын

    Just think that 16 of these legions marched to cannae. Only 2 would survive as prisoners.

  • @TheHomelessDreamer

    @TheHomelessDreamer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Not a one of your statements is accurate. That aside, the Cohort system, as illustrated by this video, was not in place until the Marian Reforms, just over a century after Cannae.

  • @S3thc0n
    @S3thc0n5 жыл бұрын

    "slept together (not like that)" - I wouldn't be so sure about that :b

  • @Theydotheharlemshake
    @Theydotheharlemshake8 жыл бұрын

    Glad your back

  • @larok875
    @larok8758 жыл бұрын

    Your content is greatly underrated right now judging by the view count, keep going!!!!! Your channel will get huge!! Your videos are awesome :)