![arausio battle map arausio battle map](http://alterling2.narod.ru/Maps/Cimber.jpg)
This would imply that the hastati were traditionally deployed as antesignanii rather than the (then) more common post signanii, as the principes would have done rather better against barbarians (many of the older Roman troops would have already faced barbarians on several other campaigns). The exact details of the battle are not very clear, but what is known is that the Germanic charge carried all before them. So the Consular army would have been anywhere from 45-65,000 strong by the time it confronted the barbarians. As they marched towards Gaul they would have been joined by equally alarmed Celtic tribes in an effort to stem this Germanic invasion, which preferred tackling the Rhone rather than the Alps. This would have given the Romans a number of around 40,000 troops.
Arausio battle map plus#
the Marian reforms), and this merely added to the difficulties of raising a Consular army in haste.Īlthough records are not clear, a Consular army would have comprised of four legions of 4,200 men each (although I think it is a safe assumption that these were swelled to 5,000 men each because of the national emergency) plus an equal number of Allies. This greatly alarmed the senate, which raised the last old style Consular army in great haste and panic.īecause of the enormously unpopular wars in Spain, the Roman army was in a process of "professionalisation" (i.e. These were brushed aside quite easily by the barbarians, who continued their south-westerly march. The Senate was well aware that this barbarian horde was in search of land, not loot, and very wisely refused them negotiations and any concessions, but they seriously under-estimated both their numbers and fighting prowess, so that, despite several skirmishes and raids by Roman troops in 106 BC, less than 20,000 legionaries faced them in Noricum. These would have been joined by other Germanic and also Celtic tribes during their travels south.
![arausio battle map arausio battle map](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hyeNuGkVRs0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Their numbers have been estimated at well over half a million, which may be no great exaggeration, of which c.150-200,000 would have been combatants. These barbarians are thought to have originated from Saxony and "Jutland", and by c.110 BC they had began a great southerly migration. This battle was part of a Senatorial campaign against the Volkerwanderung of the Ambrones, Teutones and Cimbri.
Arausio battle map series#
hastati, principes, triarii, equites, velites, socii, etc.)ī) it is the last major engagement involving a proper "old school" consular armyĬ) it is the first major battle involving a Roman army and primarily Germanic opponents (the earlier Battle of Noreia being more of a series of savage skirmishes that went out of control). The Battle of Arausio was one of the great calamaties of Roman military history but it is also notable for three other reasons, namelyĪ) it is the last major engagement involving an "old school" manipular Roman legion (i.e. Sorry about the lateness of this reply, old boy, but I've only just come accross this thread.