06-18-2007, 10:21 PM
Quote: The last mention of the Velites is for Crassus's army in Plutarch. You can see paragraph 20 and 25
I agree that 1st cent. BC legionaries could act as light infantry if required, but how can you be sure that the light troops at Plut. Crass. 20.1 are legionary velites? Allied troops could be described as velites or armed like them (cf. Sallust, BJ 105.2). Frontinus, Stratagems 2.3.17, on Sulla's battles in Boiotia in 86 BC, seems to be the last clear reference to velites, but Harmand suggests that 'velites' was a copyist's error for 'milites', i.e. soldiers:
"In the battle against Lucius Sulla [86 BC], Archelaus placed his scythe-bearing chariots in front, for the purpose of throwing the enemy into confusion; in the second line he posted the Macedonian phalanx, and in the third line auxiliaries armed after the Roman way, with a sprinkling of Italian runaway slaves, in whose doggedness he had the greatest confidence. In the last line he stationed the light-armed troops, while on the two flanks, for the purpose of enveloping the enemy, he placed the cavalry, of whom he had a great number.
To meet these dispositions, Sulla constructed trenches of great breadth on each flank, and at their ends built strong redoubts. By this device he avoided the danger of being enveloped by the enemy, who outnumbered him in infantry and especially in cavalry. Next he arranged a triple line of infantry, leaving intervals through which to send, according to need, the light-armed troops and the cavalry, which he placed in the rear. He then commanded the postsignani, who were in the second line, to drive firmly into the ground large numbers stakes set close together, and as the chariots drew near, he withdrew the line of antesignani within these stakes. Then at length he ordered the velites and light-armed troops to raise a general battle-cry and discharge their spears. By these tactics either the chariots of the enemy were caught among the stakes, or their drivers became panic-stricken at the din and were driven by the javelins back upon their own men, throwing the formation of the Macedonians into confusion. As these gave way, Sulla pressed forward, and Archelaus met him with cavalry, whereupon the Roman horsemen suddenly darted forth, drove back the enemy, and achieved victory."
