GoRome
Military
By: Clara Madureira
"Ok, I know Rome had a great army, conquered lots of land, etc., etc. But why would I visit a site about military? How can I have fun with it??" That's what a possible traveler named Freddy Bhani e-mailed us from GoRome. I am responsible for the military, so I felt obligated to answer this question. Here are the Top 5 sites about army in Rome, that are fun and very interesting.
Generals Meeting
You may be one of the few lucky people to be in Rome in the Meeting Day, a military generals meeting, which just happens once a month. The generals usually discuss about the army hierarchy, payments and punishments. On the top of the army hierarchy is the commander in chief, the emperor. After him the highest level is the general, followed by the centurion who commands the century (group of legionaries and soldiers). The lower levels are formed by the legionaries (a high level soldier), the normal soldiers, and last the auxiliaries, non-citizen men who helped to defend frontiers. The auxiliaries can become a citizen after 25 years of service.
The generals also discuss how to punish, reward, and pay each level. For example, auxiliary was punished more and a centurion could earn five times more than a normal legionary. So if you come here, you can try to influence the generals decision! Don't like the way the generals treated their soldiers? So travel back in time and speak up!
The generals also discuss how to punish, reward, and pay each level. For example, auxiliary was punished more and a centurion could earn five times more than a normal legionary. So if you come here, you can try to influence the generals decision! Don't like the way the generals treated their soldiers? So travel back in time and speak up!
Army Museum
There are military museums all around the world, but have you visited one in ancient Rome? There you can check out their catapults, the rewards the soldiers won, and their "battle kits". Every legion had around 60 catapults. But just a few are still intact, by all the years that have passed. Traveling with GoRome you can see, and touch actual ones. The legionaries, a high level soldier, won rewards when they did a great job. It would be amazing to see all the medals and crowns, huh?! What about wearing a soldier's armor for just $230?? They include a javelin, shield, sandal, sword, woolen tunic, helmet, shoulder plates, dagger, body armor and groin protection. Just take a picture and you'll be the only one in the office that have already seen one!!!
Polybius' 6th Book - Invitational Signing
Who doesn't love to read? But a POLYBIUS book... Polybius was a Greek guy, but he had great admiration for Rome, and wrote a series of books called Histories about Rome! Well, he had more than a reason to love Rome, Rome is awesome! His is about to launch his 6th book, about military. He talks about the military camps a lot, since the roman camps were so unique. You can learn more about military camps inside the actual camp, but the type of information given by Polybius is especially important. He explains the camps "psyshological power", something just few notice. The camps were huge, could fit 2 legions, allied troops and cavalries, so the soldiers felt more protected, so they were braver, and the size also intimidated enemies. The army had nice place to sleep, so they feel better about needing to fight in a war, because some beds were even better than their own. Sleeping well also made they fight better. Something that we, people from the "future", just discovered after reading his books was the Roman Battle Practices. For example, instead of marching during the night, they started earlier in the morning and stopped earlier in the evening. By your travel tickets now! You will learn a lot there, plus, you will get your book signed by polybius, what few years ago people thought to be imposible! This may be your only chance!
Military Camps
Rome had really great military camps. One of the best in the ancient world! But now, they are in ruins. You should take the chance to see one, with actual Romans working! One of the first things the tourists see is the soldier's discipline. All of them obey their chiefs. The Roman Army had a great sense of togetherness, organization and team work, thing our society has been losing. Why don't you bring your kids to learn with them? After all, kids are the future! Another thing it’s really amazing to what is the army training their formations and strategies. In a war, they know which formation to make by trumpets signals. One of their most famous formations is the Tortoise Formation, the one in the picture above. The soldiers hold their shields over their heads and bodies, and that make a strong wall. So strong that horses and vehicles can drive over. One of their strategies that some armies still use today is the one in which the Romans wait the enemies to attack. The Romans wait for their enemies next to a narrow avenue. When the enemy army is close, the Romans attack, the whole army at once. So the army tries to escape by the avenue, dropping their weapons to run faster, and then face something: No outlet. So then the Romans just need to face a panicked, disarmed army. Smart, those soldiers! They were well trained, instead of just strong. They know how to observe, when to attack. If I were you, I would certainly go see them!
Julius Ceasar and Octavius Augustus Speech.
Everybody has heard about those two great emperors, those two great men from Rome, Julius Caesar, Rome's first emperor, and Octavius Augustus - Julius nephew- who united Rome and conquered lands. They get together and make a speech once in 2 months. They always change subjects, but they always include the army organization, and a little piece of their life, which obviously includes their military life. Roman army had an organization that was different, but close to ours. Actually, we have learned from them. They had legions, and each legion had 10 cohorts, and each cohort was sub dived into groups of 80 men and a small cavalry. Can you imagine how big it was? Julius Caesar started his military life in Asia and end up as the first emperor of Rome. He was a great emperor, but he ruled a disunited, chaotic empire, and was assassinated by some senators. But, please don't tell this to him, when you travel back he will be happy and alive. Because if you tell him he will be killed maybe he can stop it, and it would change the past, and changing the past would change the future! Octavius Augustus, his nephew, became the emperor after him, since Julius didn't have any sons. Octavius was the first emperor to unite Rome, and he conquered a lot of lands. He put down rebellions, and also revenged his uncle death. Wow! Rome's 2 best emperors, together, making a speech! Who wouldn't love to watch?
I'm sure you would like to visit all these sites, Freddy Bhani!!
Contact Info
Clara Madureira - Head of the Departament of Military in GoRome. Graduated from Harvard, Pro Historian.
[email protected]
1-800-MILI-TARY
[email protected]
1-800-MILI-TARY
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