I.

arms; since it was exhausted by a single dis- CHAP. charge, at the distance of only ten or twelve paces. Yet when it was launched by a firm and skilful hand, there was not any cavalry that durst venture within its reach, nor any shield or corslet that could sustain the impetuosity of its weight. As soon as the Roman had darted his pilum, he drew his sword, and rushed forwards to close with the enemy. His sword was a short welltempered Spanish blade, that carried a double edge, and was alike suited to the purpose of striking or of pushing; but the soldier was always instructed to prefer the latter use of his weapon, as his own body remained less exposed, whilst he inflicted a more dangerous wound on his adversary. The legion was usually drawn up eight deep; and the regular distance of three feet was left between the files as well as ranks +. A body of troops habituated to preserve this open order, in a long front and a rapid charge, found themselves prepared to execute every disposition which the circumstances of war, or the skill of their leader, might suggest. The soldier possessed a free space for his arms and mo tions, and sufficient intervals were allowed, through which seasonable reinforcements might be introduced to the relief of the exhausted combatants. The tactics of the Greeks and Macedonians

C 3

* For the legionary arms, see Lipsius de Militia Romana, l. iii,

c. 2-7.

+ See the beautiful comparison of Virgil, Georgic. ii. v. 279. M. Guichard, Memoires Militaires, tom, i. c. 4. and Nouveaux Memoires, tom. i. p. 293---311. has treated the subject like a scholar and an officer.

I.

CHAP. cedonians were formed on very different principles. The strength of the phalanx depended on sixteen ranks of long pikes, wedged together in the closest array *But it was soon discovered by reflection, as well as by the event, that the strength of the phalanx was unable to contend with the activity of the legion†. Corda.

Cavalry.

The cavalry without which the force of the legion would have remained imperfect, was divided into ten troops or squadrons; the first, as the companion of the first cohort, consisted of an hundred and thirty-two men ; whilst each of the other nine amounted only to sixty-six. The entire establishment formed a regiment, if we may use the modern expression, of seven hundred and twenty-six horse, naturally connected with its respective legion, but occasionally separated to act in the line, and to compose a part of the wings of the army. The cavalry of the emperors was no longer composed, like that of the ancient republic, of the noblest youths of Rome -and Italy, who, by performing their military service on horseback, prepared themselves for the offices of senator and consul; and solicited, by -deeds of valour, the future suffrages of their -countrymen. Since the alteration of manners

and

* See Arrian's Tactics. With the true partiality of a Greek, Arrian

read, her chose to describe the phalanx, of which he had

the legions which he had commanded,

+ Polyb. I. xvii.

Veget, de Re Militari, I. ii, c. 6. His positive testimony, which might be supported by circumstantial evidence, ought surely to silence those critics who refuse the Imperial legion its proper body of cavalry.

I See Livy almost throughout, particularly xlii, 61,

I.

and government, the most wealthy of the equés- CHAP. trian order were engaged in the administration

of justice, and of the revenue*; and whenever they embraced the profession of arms, they were immediately intrusted with a troop of horse, or a cohort of foot. Trajan and Hadrian formed their cavalry from the same provinces, and the same class of their subjects, which recruited the ranks of the legion. The horses were bred, for the most part in Spain or Cappadocia. The Roman troopers despised the complete armour with which the cavalry of the east was encumbered. Their more useful arms consisted in a helmet, an oblong shield, light boots, and a coat of mail. A javelin, and a long broad-sword, were their principal weapons of offence. The use of lances and of iron maces they seem to have borrowed from the barbarians.

Y

The safety and honour of the empire were Auxiliaries principally intrusted to the legions, but the po licy of Rome condescended to adopt every useful instrument of war. Considerable levies were regularly made among the provincials, who had not yet deserved the honourable distinction of Romans. Many dependant princes and communities dispersed round the frontiers, were permitted, for a while, to hold their freedom and secu

rity

*Plin. Hist. Natur. xxxiii. 2. The true sense of that very curious passage was first discovered and illustrated by M. de Beaufort, Republique Romane, 1. ii. c. 2.

+ As in the instance of Horace and Agricola. This appears to have been a defect in the Roman discipline; which Hadrian endeavoured to remedy, by ascertaining the legal age of a tribune. See Arrian's Tactics.

I.I

CHAPO, Prity by the tenured of military service. Even select troops of hostile barbarians were frequently compelled or persuaded to consume their dan-gmen gerous valour in remote climates, and for the benefit of the state. All these were included under the general name of auxiliaries; and howsoever they might vary according to the difference of times and circumstances, their numbers were seldom much inferior to those of the legions themselves + Among the auxiliaries, the bravest and most faithful bands were placed under the command of præfects and centurions, and severely trained in the arts of Roman discipline; but the far greater part retained those arms, to which the nature of their country, or their early habits of life, more peculiarly adapted them. By this institution, each legion, to whom a certain propor-1. tion of auxiliaries was allotted, contained within itself every spe every species of lighter troops, and of missile weapons and was capable of encountering every nation, with the advantages of its respecArtillery, tive arms and discipline §. Nor was the legion destitute of what, in modern language, would be styled a train of artillery. It consisted in ten military engines of the largest, and fifty-five of out tab of albigen vasm aí anots No seu eis tilt svisado you wh Spitroqorq ni Juskovarg stuur smas *Such in particular was the state of the Batavians. Tacit. Germania, 29. redt Loudt geci on.

a smaller

+ Marcus Antoninus obliged the vanquished Quadi li and Marcomauni to supply him with a large body of troops, which he immediately sent into Britain... Dion Cassius, 1. Ixxi.* **

Tacit. Annal. iv. Those who fix a regular proportion of as many foot, and twice as many horse, confound the auxiliaries of the emperors, with the Italian allies of the republic.

§ Vegetius, ii. 2. Arrian, in his order of march and battle gainst the Alani.

I.

a smaller size; but all of which, either in an CHAP. oblique or horizontal manner, discharged stones and darts with irresistible violence.ballgm

ment,

The camp of a Roman legion presented the Encampappearance of a fortified city As soon as the space was marked out, the pioneers carefully levelled the ground, and removed every impediment that might interrupt its perfect regularity. Its form was an exact quadrangle; and we may calculate, that a square of about seven hundred yards was sufficient for the encampment of twenty. thousand Romans; though a similar number of our own troops would expose to the enemy a front of more than treble that extent. In the midst of the camp, the prætorium, or general's quarters, rose above the others; the cavalry, the infantry, and the auxiliaries, occupied their respective stations; the streets were broad and fectly straight, and a vacant space of two of two hundred feet was left on all sides, between the tents and the rampart. The rampart itself was usually twelve feet high, armed with a line of strong and. intricate

the

per

The subject of ancient machines is treated with great knowledge and ingenuity by the Chevalier Folard (Polybe, tom. ii. p. 233-290.) He prefers them in many respects to our modern cannon and mortars. We may observe, that the use of them in the field gradually became more prevalent, in proportion as personal valour and military skill declined with the Roman empire. When men were no longer found, their place was supplied by machines. See Vegetius, ii. 25. Arrian, one SM + Vegetius finishes his second book, and the description of with the following emphatic words : 1 Universa quæ the gue belli genere necessária esse creduntur, secum legio dequoque bet ubique portare, ut in quovis loco fixerit castra, armatam faciat civitatem." Closed dow,exorsqm. ft olda qauk 2 di anitagsV & ins!Ads tear

in