Question regarding the Auxilia

[Gladius Hispaniensis]

Ave
I know that at some point the Romans were recruiting archers from Crete but IIRC this was during the principate if I am not mistaken. Prior to that does any one know where archers were recruited from in the Republican Roman Army? Thanks in advance.

Imad

[D B Campbell]

does any one know where archers were recruited from in the Republican Roman Army?

Crete! (And Africa and the East.) See, e.g., Caesar, Gallic War 2.7 for Numidian and Cretan archers.

[Pompieus]

Check Livy xxiv.30 which describes Marcellus' campaign in Sicily in 214 BC:

"It so happened that the leading troops in the column were 600 Cretans, who had served under them
(Hippocrates and Epicydes) in Heronymus' army and were under an obligation to Hannibal for their
liberation,with other Roman auxiliaries, after being taken prisoner at Lake Trasimene."

Apparently, (?) the Republic was employing Cretan mercenaries at least as early as 217 BC.