01-02-2007, 11:24 PM
I have seen this term time and again, and it seems to cause considerable discussion. I am not well versed in the niceties of the various texts, but this seems to be the situation:
- Some of the evidence seems to indicate these men are some sort of more mobile or flexible troops, associated with the term "light infantry".
- Some of the evidence suggests these troops were armoured in a way generally similar to other soldiers, and they could function as an elite force in major battles.
It occurs to me that these two bodies of evidence are not necessarily contradictory. "Light" infantry can mean unarmoured, missile troops who rely on hit and run; but this doesn't have to be the case.
Consider the late 18th century and early 19th century armies of Europe. These armies had regular infantry, grenadier elite shock units, and light infantry. The equipment was almost identical for these three types: muzzle-loading smoothbore muskets (a few light infantry units had rifled muskets, but the French voltigeurs used smoothbores like most light units) and socket bayonets. A few special regiments still had swords (i.e. the Highland Scots of the British army). The grenade was still in existence, but little used on the battlefield. The differences were primarily in the men and their training, but the differences were considered real by soldiers of the day. In theory, any man with a musket and bayonet could fight in any role, and certainly the roles were not entirely separate.
Might it be the same with the Romans? Antesignani might have the same basic gear as other soldiers: helmet, scutum, pilum, gladius, armour; but these might have been literally lighter - a smaller scutum, a pilum of lighter wood, and so on. They could have been specially trained to fight in a more open order, and do it better and longer than others. Specialty units do tend to develop a special feeling of superiority and higher morale, which might make them more formidable fighters in spite of lighter gear. (This is true of parachute units in WWII.) The skins on their helmets is associated with velites, but also standard bearers - the bravest of the brave.
It is possible that a "lightly" equipped man is also an elite soldier, that might be assigned the hardest of tasks.
- Some of the evidence seems to indicate these men are some sort of more mobile or flexible troops, associated with the term "light infantry".
- Some of the evidence suggests these troops were armoured in a way generally similar to other soldiers, and they could function as an elite force in major battles.
It occurs to me that these two bodies of evidence are not necessarily contradictory. "Light" infantry can mean unarmoured, missile troops who rely on hit and run; but this doesn't have to be the case.
Consider the late 18th century and early 19th century armies of Europe. These armies had regular infantry, grenadier elite shock units, and light infantry. The equipment was almost identical for these three types: muzzle-loading smoothbore muskets (a few light infantry units had rifled muskets, but the French voltigeurs used smoothbores like most light units) and socket bayonets. A few special regiments still had swords (i.e. the Highland Scots of the British army). The grenade was still in existence, but little used on the battlefield. The differences were primarily in the men and their training, but the differences were considered real by soldiers of the day. In theory, any man with a musket and bayonet could fight in any role, and certainly the roles were not entirely separate.
Might it be the same with the Romans? Antesignani might have the same basic gear as other soldiers: helmet, scutum, pilum, gladius, armour; but these might have been literally lighter - a smaller scutum, a pilum of lighter wood, and so on. They could have been specially trained to fight in a more open order, and do it better and longer than others. Specialty units do tend to develop a special feeling of superiority and higher morale, which might make them more formidable fighters in spite of lighter gear. (This is true of parachute units in WWII.) The skins on their helmets is associated with velites, but also standard bearers - the bravest of the brave.
It is possible that a "lightly" equipped man is also an elite soldier, that might be assigned the hardest of tasks.
Felix Wang
