Title: Roman infantry tactics - Wikipedia
Headings: Roman infantry tactics
Roman infantry tactics
Contents
Evolution
Roman Infantry of the Roman Kingdom and Republic
Roman infantry of the Late Republic and Early Empire
Roman Infantry of the Late Empire
Manpower
Equipment and training
Equipment
Individual weapons, personal equipment and haulage
Artillery package
Training
Organization, leadership and logistics
Command, control and structure
Military structure and ranks
Force structure
Rank summary
Logistics
Battle
Initial preparations and movement for battle
Deployment for combat
Layout of the triple line
Maneuvering
Formations
Combat
3-line system advantages
Flexibility
Mixing of a continuous front with interval fighting
Line spacing and combat stamina
Post-deployment commands
Siegecraft and fortifications
Besieging cities
Field fortifications
Infantry effectiveness
Roman infantry versus the Macedonian phalanx
Versus Pyrrhus
Notable triumphs
Battle of Cynoscephalae
Battle of Pydna
Other anti-phalanx tactics
Versus Hannibal's Carthage
Roman infantry versus Gallic and the Germanic tribes
Barbarian armies
Early Gallic victories
Tactical performance versus Gallic and Germanic opponents
Gallic and Germanic strengths
Gallic and Germanic weaknesses
Gallic and Germanic chariots
Superior tactical organization: victory of Caesar at the Sambre River
Persisting logistics strategy: Gallic victory at Gergovia
Roman infantry versus mobile and guerilla warfare in Hispania
Victory through attrition
Resource tactics
Roman infantry versus cavalry
Tactical problems of fighting cavalry
Successful tactics
Decline
"Barbarization" of the heavy infantry
Changes in the legions
The mobile forces approach
Disadvantages of the mobile reserve strategy versus the "forward" policy
Twilight of the hard-core infantry
Assessment of the Roman infantry
Central factors in Roman success
See also
References
Citations
Sources
Primary sources
Secondary sources
External links

Content: This approach included a tendency towards standardization and systematization, practical borrowing, copying and adapting from outsiders, flexibility in tactics and methods, a strong sense of discipline, a ruthless persistence that sought comprehensive victory, and a cohesion brought about by the idea of Roman citizenship under arms – embodied in the legion. These elements waxed and waned over time, but they form a distinct basis underlying Rome's rise. Some key phases of this evolution throughout Rome's military history include: Military forces based primarily on heavy citizen infantry with tribal beginnings and early use of phalanx-type elements (see Military establishment of the Roman kingdom)
Growing sophistication as Roman hegemony expanded outside Italy into North Africa, Greece and the Middle East (see Military establishment of the Roman Republic)
Continued refinement, standardization and streamlining in the period associated with Gaius Marius including broader-based incorporation of more citizenry into the army, and more professionalism and permanence in army service
Continued expansion, flexibility and sophistication from the end of the republic into the time of the Caesars (see Military establishment of the Roman Empire)
Growing barbarization, turmoil and weakening of the heavy infantry units in favour of cavalry and lighter troops (see Foederati)
Demise of the Western Empire and fragmentation into smaller, weaker local forces. This included the reversal of status of cavalry and infantry in the Eastern Empire. Cataphract forces formed an elite, with infantry being reduced to auxiliaries. Roman Infantry of the Roman Kingdom and Republic
A phalanx
A depiction of the Maniple Formation
The earliest soldiers of the Roman army were hoplites. Census data from the Roman Kingdom shows that the soldiers were Hoplites in a Phalanx. Cavalrymen went into battle with their torsos bare. The legion of the Early Roman Republic was divided into 30 120-160 men strong maniples organized into 3 lines of 10 maniples.