Smith, William: A smaller dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (London, 1871)

EXERCITUS.

EXEKCITUS.

First Period. Servius Tullius. The legion
of Servius is so closely connected with the
Comitia Centuriata that it has already been
discussed in a former article [Comitia], and it
is only necessary to repeat here that it was a
phalanx equipped in the Greek fashion, the
front ranks being furnished with a complete
suit of armour, their weapons being long
spears, and their chief defence the round
Argolic shield (clipeus).

Second Period. The Great Latin War,
b.c. 340. Our authority for this period is
Livy (viil, 8). The legion in b.c. 340 had
almost entirely discarded the tactics of the
phalanx. It was now drawn up in three, or
perhaps we ought to say, in five lines. The
soldiers of the first line, called JIastati, con-
sisted of youths in the first bloom of manhood
distributed into 15 companies or maniples
(manipuli), a moderate space being left
between each. The maniple contained GO
privates, 2 centurions [ccnturiones), and a

CZZ3 UZD O

standard bearer (vexillarius) ; two thirds
were heavDy armed and bore the scutum or
large oblong shield, the remainder carried
only a spear (hasta) and light javelins [gacsa).
The second line, the Principes, was composed
of men in the full vigour of life, divided in
like manner into 15 maniples, all heavily
armed (scutati omnes). The two lines of
the Hastati and Principes taken together
amounted to 30 maniples, and formed the
Antcpilani. The third line, the Triarii, com-
posed of tried veterans, was also in 15 divi-
sions, but each of these was triple, containing
3 manipuli, 180 privates, G centurions, and 3
vexillarii. In these triple manipuli the vete-
rans or triarii proper formed the front ranks ;
immediately behind them stood the Eorarii,
inferior in age and prowess, while the Ac-
ccnsi or supernumeraries, less trustworthy
than either, were posted in the extreme rear.
The battle array may be thus represented.
The fight was commenced by the Eorarii, so

I [ j [ " 15 Manipul:
|_| I_| of Hastati

15 Manipuli
of Principi*.

Triarii
proper

D - ! _ _ _ ,_, ,_ ,-, f 15 triple

Rorarii .--, i---1 , L M„i.iil

□

called because the light missiles which they
sprinkled among the foe were like the drops
which are the forerunners of the thunder
shower, who, running forwards between the
ranks of the antepilani, acted as tirailleurs ;
when they were driven in they returned to
their station behind the triarii, and the battle
began in earnest by the onset of the hastati;
if they were unable to make any impression
they retired between the ranks of the prin-
cipes, who now advanced and bore the brunt
of the combat, supported by the hastati, who
had rallied in their rear. If the principes
also failed to make an impression, they re-
tired through the openings between the
maniples of the triarii, who up to this time
had been crouched on the ground (hence
called subsidiarii), but now arose to make
the last effort (whence the phrase rem ad
triarhs rcdisse). No longer retaining the
open order of the two first lines, they closed
up their ranks so as to present an unbroken
line of heavy-armed veterans in front, while

Manhuli o!
Tnani.

_! I_l I--1 J

the rorarii and accensi, pressing up from
behind, gave weight and consistency to the
mass,—an arrangement bearing evidence to
a lingering predilection for the principle of
the phalanx, and exhibiting, just as we might
expect at that period, the Roman tactics in
their transition state. It must be observed
that the words ordo, manipulus, vexillum,
although generally kept distinct, are through-
out the chapter used as synonymous. Livy
concludes by saying, that four legions were
commonly levied, each consisting of 5000 in-
fantry and 300 horse. We must suppose that
he speaks in round numbers in so far as the in-
fantry are concerned, for according to his own
calculations the numbers will stand thus :—
Kastati - - 15 X GO =900
Principes- - 15 x60 = 900

Triarii, &c. - 15X3XG0 = 2700
Centuriones - - - - =150
Vexillarii - - - - = 75

4725