Disappearance of velites

[Ross Cowan]

I'm not a philologist, but isn't it more likely that an unusual term gets changed to a more ordinary one, rather than the other way around? And certainly milites is more common than velites.

Good point, but I think Harmand's suggestion is attractive when the apparent velites are followed by levem armaturam. The order for a general clamor suggests the whole army, i.e. milites (post- and antesignani) and light armed, rather than just one of the battle lines.

R