Army of the Roman Republic
Subtitle: From the Regal Period to the Army of Julius Caesar
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 332
ISBN-13: 9781783463794
Subjects: Rome, army; Rome, history, military
Description: From the moment its last king was expelled (traditionally in 753) the Roman Republic had to fight for its very survival. Centuries of almost continuous warfare saw Rome's armies evolve in response to a wide variety of threats which were met with mixed fortunes though always with ultimate success. As defence of the homeland turned to territorial expansion, Roman forces also had to adapt to sustained campaigns in varied terrain and climates, not to mention the changes in the Roman republic itself. Michael Sage traces the development of the republic's army from its foundation (having first set the context of their regal antecedents), down to the time of its most famous leader, Julius Caesar. The transition from clan-based forces, through the 'Servian' levy and the development of the manipular and cohortal legion is examined along with the associated weapons, tactics and operational capabilities. We see how the legions shaped up against the challenges of successive enemies from the Celts and Samnites, the Carthaginians and the hitherto-dominant Hellenistic armies based on the Macedonian-style pike phalanx.