The Roman Army in the 3^rd Century BCE

The Roman army of the age of the 1^st and 2^nd Punic Wars can be broken down to its basic units:

1 contubernium = 8 men + tent, mule, millstone, pot

1 century = 10 contubernia = 80 men + 1 centurion commander

1 maniple = 2 centuries (~ infantry company) = 160 men, commanded by the senior centurion

In the Late Republic, from the time of the consulships of Marius (ca. 100 BCE), the centuries replaced the maniples as the basic military units:

1 cohort = 6 centuries = 480 men

1 legion = 10 cohorts = 60 centuries = 4800 men

Attached to each legion: an auxiliary of ca. 4800 men, including engineers, artillerymen, siege craftsmen, service and support units, light cavalry, laborers.

Each maniple of 160 men, two centuries, deployed as a small, independent phalanx of 20 men across and eight men deep, with each man five feet from the next and each maniple laterally separated from the next. Maniples in each line were stagged, thus covering gaps and creating a quincunx or checkerboard formation, able to attack in any direction or deflect any assault. This approach allowed maniples greater manoueverability, for they could coordinate attacks or feints together, or operate independently. Thus, The Roman army could now deploy surprise as an element and commanders would keep maniples in hidden positions, often on the flanks, and bring them around against the enemy.

Hastati and Principes: younger soldiers carrying two javelins (one light, one 4' and heavy), short thrusting sword or gladius Triarii: veterans with spears, held in reserve