INFANTRY

Even in the early Republic the Roman army had supplemented its strength with auxiliary troops. In the earlier limes these were primarily specialist troops fulfilling roles in which Roman citizens - better utilized as legionary infantry - were unskilled. The best-known early auxiliaries were archers from Crete, and slingers from the Balearic Islands.

In addition to such specialist troops, by Imperial limes there were cohorts of regular infantry, equipped and organized in Roman fashion. No doubt the vast new resources of manpower brought about by the Empire’s territorial expansion afforded the opportunity to supplement the infantry branch with a new class of soldier. Auxiliary infantry, less valuable than citizen legionaries, performed the arduous duties of border surveillance and quelling minor incursions. This left the legions as consolidated, strategic reserves to be deployed only for real emergencies or major campaigns.

Perhaps over-emphasised in some texts, the supposedly ‘lighter’ equipment of atailia versus legionaries suggests that auxiliary infantry served in a light infantry role. .Some may well have done; but experiments with reconstructed equipment do not tend to bear this out completely. An authentically-replicated mail shirt (‘typical’ lsl-2nd century bt)dy armour of the auxiliaries) is heavier than a legionary’s laminated iron cuirass. The auxiliary’s oval shield is only slightly lighter, its greater height compensating for the greater width of the legionary scutum.

It is possible that the differences in equipment were deliberate, so that the legionary was better armed and equipped to ensure success against the non-citizen auxiliaries in the event of revolts against Roman rule (which did happen on occasion). This may also explain why auxiliaries were never organized in units larger than l. OOO-man cohorts (even this was rare. .500 being more common); and also why the auxiliaries were not equipped with the devastating offensive pilum. As for auxiliary infantry employment as scouts and flank guards, this may only have been becau. se they were more expendable, and their loss less important in the ambushes and encounter skirmishes inseperable from these kinds of duties.

-Auxiliary troops were generally non-citizens from the conquered provinces, who after 25 years’ service in the army would receive the coveted Roman citizenship. Their sons would then have the right to enlist in the legions. In this way, the ethnic make-up of the legions changed from essentially ‘Italian’ to a diversity probably not unlike that seen in the racial make-up of the modem reconsimction groups seen in these pages.

Above: An auxiliary archer, probably recmiied from an Ea. ilem province as suggesled by his conical helmcr. HLs composilion bow is one of several types known lo have been in use. This one is made of wooden layers backed by animal sinew; a more complicated version was made from glued sections of animal horn.

Opposite: Mid-lsi century AD auxiliary infantry who form a detachment as pan of the Ermine Street Guard (Lenio XX) in England. This view illustrates a typical auxiliary shield design based on one portrayed on Trajan's Column, as well as the inside, showing the handgrip and wood strip reinforcements. Note the simple hasia (spear).

Above & right: (Detail of the Auxiliary Infantry 'B' helmet worn by a member of Cohors Ull Vindelicorum. a German group representing auxiliaries who frequently conduct displays with Lenio Xllll. The original on which this bronze replica is based was found in the Rhine at Mainz, like so many other helmets depicted in this book. Its simple design and laek of crest mounts are the reasons this helmet has been elassified as auxiliary rather than legionary equipment.

Top left: Rear view of an auxiliary, showing Ihc nxrthod of carrying Ihc shield, and the dagged-edge mail shin and shun breeches punrayed in sculptural sources, notably Trajan's Column.

I.«fl: For tho. se who think that lung sideburns and moustaches among re-cnaciors of the Roman army are unauihcniic, this photograph of an original 1st century AD Roman ponrail husi is included... Mrxiem facial hairstyles are. of course, discouraged in most groups, who would rather ponray the typical than the unusual.

Above and opposite; An auxiliary infantryman of the early 2nd century AD. so dated by his Auxiliary Infantry ‘C hcIrtKl. similar to those depicted on Trajan's Column. Ttiis lone auxiliary is part of Legio VI Vicirix's group, to show the various troop types in the Roman army besides ibe legionaries which the group depicts With Ihc introduction of crossed metal reinforces in the early 1st century AD. legionary helmets also lacked any visible means to affix a crest: hut this helmet is believed to have belonged to an auxiliary due to its simple construction and bronze material. Most legionary helmets of this dale arc generally considered to have been made of iron. Bronze is a more expensive metal, but cheaper to work into a helmet; some examples were 'spun' on a lathe from annealed bronze sheet.