Battlecry

[tlclark]

If I recall well, Maurice advices only the word 'nobiscum'. Of course, it is intended for 'Deus nobiscum' but it is only one word and easier to control. Moreover, you it's a long word and you can modulate it from lower to higher sound while charging.<br>
We've started to use it for our cuneus<br>
On the other side, saying only 'nobiscum', every soldier ccould imagine Christus, Mithras, Iovis or whoever he liked going in front...<br>

That's very clever. I like it. Kyrie Eleison is very popular among later Byzantine texts across the population. I suspect that more than a few soldiers would have used that. particularly in desperate moments.

[hoplite14gr]

The words IISUS SOTER = Jasus saviur has been mantioned for the troops of Heraklios fighting to recover the Holy Cross from the Sassanides.
The state was at that time more or less cristianized and Greek became the official language.
The word "Theofylaktoi" = guarded by God, is associated with the troops of Basill II , the "Bulgarianslayer". Chanted rythmicaly THE-O-FY-LA-KTOI in repetion is like a preyer and helps infantry maintain formation and possibly morale. Although I belive the Varangian Guardsmen would be closer to "AAARGCH!!" as somebody suggested.
The rythmical chant batle cry possibly survived from ancient Greeks.
Please see the thread Commmands in Greek in the Greek history section for details on that.
Kind regards
Stefanos

[Arthes]

I am now in fact haunted by an image of a bunch of legionaries (Coolus helmets aslant) jabbing their pinkies and index fingers at me shouting 'Yo! Yo! Yo!'* in what I assume we would have to call the Barritus Rap. Just put it down to exhaustion...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I can imagine Tarbicus doing something of the sort....I wonder why.... : :roll: lol:

[Arthes]

The words IISUS SOTER = Jasus saviur has been mantioned for the troops of Heraklios fighting to recover the Holy Cross from the Sassanides.
Stefanos

That means that Ptolemy Soter means Ptolemy saviour.....which I had not realised, something new I learnt today...!
As for soldiers shouting......aaaaarrrrrrrgggggcccchhhhh....was that to cover the fact they would soon as not be shouting.....aaaaarrrrrrrgggggcccchhhh?
Regards
Arthes

[tlclark]

Then there's always ...

"Not the face! Not the face!"

Incidentally. At the battle of bunker hill in the American revolution, the British soldiers were dead silent until they were within spitting difference, then they broke out into hymns...

In FOUR PART HARMONY!!

Now that's nerve.

Travis

[Tarbicus]

I am now in fact haunted by an image of a bunch of legionaries (Coolus helmets aslant) jabbing their pinkies and index fingers at me shouting 'Yo! Yo! Yo!'* in what I assume we would have to call the Barritus Rap. Just put it down to exhaustion...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I can imagine Tarbicus doing something of the sort....I wonder why.... : :roll: lol:

Oi, Madame! :wink:

How did you know?

[Arthes]

I am now in fact haunted by an image of a bunch of legionaries (Coolus helmets aslant) jabbing their pinkies and index fingers at me shouting 'Yo! Yo! Yo!'* in what I assume we would have to call the Barritus Rap. Just put it down to exhaustion...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I can imagine Tarbicus doing something of the sort....I wonder why.... : :roll: lol:

Oi, Madame! :wink:

How did you know?

Just one of those funny instinctive guesses...... :wink: !!!
In fact....it would be a good laugh to end a display with something of the sort....imagine the faces of the audience.... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Peroni]

Josephus writes; (Book 3: Chapter 5)

"Then does the crier stand at the general's right hand, and asks them thrice, in their own tongue, whether they be now ready to go out to war or not? To which they reply as often, with a loud and cheerful voice, saying, "We are ready." And this they do almost before the question is asked them: they do this as filled with a kind of martial fury, and at the same time that they so cry out, they lift up their right hands also".

The cry might be "Nos es paratus! Nos es paratus! Nos es paratus! "


Regards,

[drsrob]

Josephus writes; (Book 3: Chapter 5)

"Then does the crier stand at the general's right hand, and asks them thrice, in their own tongue, whether they be now ready to go out to war or not? To which they reply as often, with a loud and cheerful voice, saying, "We are ready." And this they do almost before the question is asked them: they do this as filled with a kind of martial fury, and at the same time that they so cry out, [size=150:1zu2ksyn]they lift up their right hands also[/size]".

The cry might be "Nos es paratus! Nos es paratus! Nos es paratus! "


Regards,

Could this be the moment depicted in the various 'adlocutio' scenes?

[Alexandr K]

Quote:</em></strong><hr>In one of the numerous battles of the numerous civil wars the Romans indulged into (don't remember which) the combatants, being dressed and armed alike reverted to asking each other the password in order to know whether they faced friend or foe.<hr><br>
<br>
That last is interesting and goes against the theory of the different shields identifying different units! Source?

Jasper</p><i></i>

Well, this isn't exactly what you were talking about, but Josephus (B.J. VI.136-139) writes about a night battle between Romans and Jews, where soldiers (of both sides) blinded by the dark used passwords to distinguish friends from enemies.

Greetings
Alexandr