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Weaponry and Tactics of the Ancient Roman Legionaires
in battles for many centuries
A requirement for this system to be effective was space. Gone were the days of the Greek phalanx where soldier after soldier was closely “interlocked” with the shield next to him, a veritable wall of muscle with the sole purpose of flattening the opposition with some temporary thrashing thrown into the mix. The Romans were skilled not only as a group but as individuals and they needed space to be effective with their particular weapons.
To defend against missile attacks, the legionaries developed a tactic known as the testudo, or “tortoise,” in which an advancing maniple would position their shields so that the ones on top overlapped each other and the ones surrounding the men stood right next to each other. The resulting assembly resembled that of a turtle’s shell and was strong enough for a horse and cart to drive over.3 During a siege, the testudo was also a method of gaining access to the enemy's entrances with the risk to the advancing troops minimized. The slight curvature of the shields allowed visibility, and therefore, mobility for the approaching ranks.1
Tactical ingenuity, adaptability and discipline all contributed to the successfulness of the Roman legions. The combination of individual skill with established, group obedience provided the notion of unity among soldiers and faithfulness to generals. Such loyalty would shape the political climate of Rome in the centuries to come and eventually lead to its downfall. Nevertheless, when it was successful, the Roman Legion, and its legionaries, was a testimony to the glory of Rome.
Endnotes:
1 Featherstone, Donald, Warriors and Warfare in Ancient and Medieval Time (Great Britain, 1997) p.74
2 Le Bohec, Yann, The Imperial Roman Army (London, 1994) pp.
3 Mellersh, H.E.L., Soldiers of Rome (Great Britain, 1964) pp.38, 114, 156-157
4 Parker, Geoffrey, Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare (United Kingdom, 1995), pp. 45-46