Roman Battle Tactics

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
  • Patreon | historiacivilis...
    Donate | historiacivilis...
    Merch | historiacivilis...
    Mailing List | historiacivilis...
    Twitter | historiacivilis...
    Website | historiacivilis...
    Music is Beethoven's Sonata 8, 'Pathetique' - II. Adagio cantabile, performed by Daniel Veesey

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,9 тис.

  • @Bazuzeus
    @Bazuzeus 8 років тому +9268

    Triarii : "Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually dies young"

    • @omg_look_behind_you
      @omg_look_behind_you 8 років тому +695

      There are old sell-swords and bold sell-swords, but there are no old, bold sell-swords.
      -Brown Ben Plumb

    • @1EpicCarlDude
      @1EpicCarlDude 8 років тому +5

      +Bazuzeus sam fisher lol

    • @ashaelplum5604
      @ashaelplum5604 8 років тому +8

      +Bazuzeus they had better moral better training and the best equipment

    • @18ps3anos
      @18ps3anos 8 років тому +30

      +Anarchist o war They had because they were veterans of battles where they had worse equipment

    • @ashaelplum5604
      @ashaelplum5604 8 років тому +6

      they were hardly ever used,and were given top of line stuff. and if it got destroyed they would replace it.

  • @dannyphan7682
    @dannyphan7682 9 років тому +6755

    Tries strategies on Rome 2 Total War:
    Our men are running from the battlefield.

    • @thingonometry-1460
      @thingonometry-1460 8 років тому +1506

      A shameful display!!!

    • @lukejohnson6415
      @lukejohnson6415 8 років тому +630

      +Danny Phan THIS IS A SHAMEFUL DISPLAY

    • @lukejohnson6415
      @lukejohnson6415 8 років тому +614

      +Danny Phan OUR MEN FLEE THE FIELD OF BATTLE!!!!!1!!!111!!

    • @xtiann442
      @xtiann442 8 років тому +397

      LOL the TW guys are here again

    • @UberMenschNowFilms
      @UberMenschNowFilms 8 років тому +417

      +Danny Phan That's because all TW battles are mosh pits. In reality, those situations almost always led to confusion and panic.
      Apparently CA doesn't understand discipline and formation. Whether or not a unit runs away is based on casualties and the status of the general, according to CA.

  • @horophim
    @horophim 6 років тому +2457

    It's come to the triarii...
    Losely translated, send the spacemarines

    • @pqbdwmnu
      @pqbdwmnu 5 років тому +60

      So the romans were the first to make it to space

    • @plumeater1
      @plumeater1 5 років тому +21

      @@pqbdwmnu *Nazi Vikings

    • @ECHOFOXTROT289
      @ECHOFOXTROT289 5 років тому +30

      * send the Spartans II

    • @MichaelSmith-ij2ut
      @MichaelSmith-ij2ut 5 років тому +12

      I prefer to Winly translate, thank you.

    • @ercansisman745
      @ercansisman745 4 роки тому +29

      For the Emporer brother

  • @xedack437
    @xedack437 8 років тому +2170

    6:08 "Let's go back to the battle of the trebia river, if you recall" haha, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I do not, in fact, recall

    • @ayylmao8563
      @ayylmao8563 8 років тому +12

      it was when Rome invaded Carthage

    • @leedo2502256
      @leedo2502256 8 років тому +121

      +Supreme Onii-Chan it was actually when Carthage invaded Rome (well Roman territory)

    • @ayylmao8563
      @ayylmao8563 8 років тому +17

      Close enough xD never knew much roman stuff but im still learnin

    • @RacinZilla003
      @RacinZilla003 8 років тому +95

      It was when the forces of House Arryn rescued the Romans from the genius military Commander: Ramsay Bolton

    • @omgOWNT69
      @omgOWNT69 8 років тому +10

      He was there, his father was a triarrii god damnit

  • @matthiasnagorski8411
    @matthiasnagorski8411 3 роки тому +305

    I forgot the name of this channel, so I typed in "Rome Squares" into the search bar and it popped up.
    Third selection from the top.
    Works for me.

    • @Zarafin
      @Zarafin 3 роки тому +19

      Those damn Roman squares! They destroyed Carthage.

    • @OldBaas
      @OldBaas 2 роки тому +15

      Brand recognition, Historia Civillis does it well

    • @DayneandtheStars
      @DayneandtheStars Рік тому +2

      ​@@Zarafin Hanno II and his greed destroyed Carthage 😂 Rome should have erected golden statues of the carthaginian aristocrat throughout the city

    • @MonsieurChapeau
      @MonsieurChapeau 4 місяці тому

      Lol

    • @MonsieurChapeau
      @MonsieurChapeau 4 місяці тому +1

      Hannabal was a genius who was betrayed by his own senate. History was almost nearly completely different.

  • @Dalipsingh111111
    @Dalipsingh111111 4 роки тому +1234

    "The Triarii were so rarely used..:"
    Me, trying to recruit them in Rome Total War: "Damn you, Marius!!!"

    • @AscentofTrollbane
      @AscentofTrollbane 4 роки тому +27

      But the Marian Reforms mad baller ass troopies.

    • @mustafaamin9516
      @mustafaamin9516 4 роки тому

      Facts

    • @5ynthesizerpatel
      @5ynthesizerpatel 4 роки тому +16

      you can keep recruiting them as long as you haven't researched Cohort Organisation

    • @gronndar
      @gronndar 4 роки тому +83

      @@5ynthesizerpatel In Rome 1, when any of the Roman factions builds Imperial Palace, Marian Reforms begins and you can't recruit old school anymore.

    • @bloodgoa139
      @bloodgoa139 4 роки тому +4

      It has to be an imperial palace IN ITALY aswell

  • @dweliq2993
    @dweliq2993 8 років тому +1029

    Where are the incendiary pigs?

  • @TheGreatMoonFrog
    @TheGreatMoonFrog 7 років тому +731

    Me earlier "I don't need to watch this video, I've seen plenty on battle tactics...ah whatever I'll watch it." "The romans first used phalanxes" *mind explodes*

    • @berghesein
      @berghesein 4 роки тому +27

      Italy and Greece are the best thing that could ever happen

    • @joevenespineli6389
      @joevenespineli6389 4 роки тому +6

      @@berghesein Would replace Italy with Rome but sure that'll do.

    • @Aloysius2113
      @Aloysius2113 4 роки тому +23

      he said the phalanx was the first system Rome adopted, not that they were the first to use it.

    • @TheGreatMoonFrog
      @TheGreatMoonFrog 4 роки тому +1

      @@Aloysius2113 yes I know, although I see how the way I wrote it is a little up in the air.

    • @alimertc
      @alimertc 4 роки тому +9

      @@Aloysius2113 "they first used it" not "they were first to use it"

  • @ethanalspencer7294
    @ethanalspencer7294 3 роки тому +59

    Imagine sending wave after wave against the Roman wall you're facing, finally thinking you've felled their experienced reserve lines only for *yet another* line of men to march up, each of them absolutely scarred, calloused looking mofos who have seen more battles than you've seen new years. It's come to the Triarii.

  • @DaveCoenDrGM
    @DaveCoenDrGM 9 років тому +496

    I think I know where you might have seen that mention about Triarii demanding to be put to the fight. In compiled works of Niccolò Machiavelli. Aside of world-famous "Prince" he made a fairly lengthy analysis of tactics, strategy and problems with morale. Large portion was dedicated to Romans IIRC.

    • @lucasblaise11
      @lucasblaise11 5 років тому +11

      He said the ROMANS were more virtuous than the famously austere Spartans...

    • @jackattack9118
      @jackattack9118 5 років тому +2

      Dave Cöen .

    • @CThyran
      @CThyran 4 роки тому +29

      @@lucasblaise11 The Spartans have nothing on the Romans.

    • @HMASbogan
      @HMASbogan 3 роки тому +3

      @@CThyran That's why he's comparing them

    • @pottyputter05
      @pottyputter05 2 роки тому +1

      @@jackattack9118 ya, the Spartans were far more brutal and crazy than Rome ever thought of being and that's saying something.

  • @duesalbladesinger7900
    @duesalbladesinger7900 8 років тому +530

    Ah, the phalanx. Fantastic for defense, fucking awful for attack.

    • @rileytheflamingwookiecooki5646
      @rileytheflamingwookiecooki5646 8 років тому +15

      +Duesal Bladesinger Unless the unit marches towards an un-organized enemy unit.

    • @duesalbladesinger7900
      @duesalbladesinger7900 8 років тому +16

      Riley The Flaming Wookie Cookie True, but even then it's rather slow, so even unorganized units would be able to get out of the way or around the phalanx.

    • @rileytheflamingwookiecooki5646
      @rileytheflamingwookiecooki5646 8 років тому +18

      Duesal Bladesinger True, not very effective unless you're protecting a narrow path or the phalanx can stretch across the entire battlefield. Although the Roman's managed to improve upon the Phalanx with their "Testudo".

    • @SantomPh
      @SantomPh 8 років тому +52

      +Duesal Bladesinger Alexander the Great saw this weakness and made some changes to the traditional phalanx.
      He made the phalanx a tight, slow moving unit that lumbered towards the front line as his other units moved about. He had mercenaries stationed in front and behind the blocks to shoot arrows and throw spears. He made the sarissas longer so they could deflect missiles.
      Alexander also established a second line of mercenaries behind his phalanxes to avoid flanking. He also had cavalry from Theassaly to guard his left flank (he was on the right himself).
      When he entered eastern Persia he integrated elephants into his army, so the phalanx groups had to be smaller.

    • @duesalbladesinger7900
      @duesalbladesinger7900 8 років тому +19

      MrNotadream You forgot the "Jon Snow" at the end.

  • @kvarnerinfoTV
    @kvarnerinfoTV 8 років тому +306

    In fact main reason for the Marian reforms wasn't the one you stated. Main reason was that soldiers went on campaigns for years and their farms were neglected, their families destroyed...etc.
    That was the main reason for professional army.

    • @manuelmigoya2109
      @manuelmigoya2109 7 років тому +96

      things never have only one cause. Both are true.

    • @navy2af
      @navy2af 5 років тому +20

      @@manuelmigoya2109 Tell that to House...

    • @Laotzu.Goldbug
      @Laotzu.Goldbug 5 років тому +3

      @@navy2af lmao

    • @mrookeward
      @mrookeward 4 роки тому +14

      @@manuelmigoya2109 When the cohort came into being, it was after (most of) the traditional 'civilised' enemies were already defeated and Rome faced another round of fresh menace from Gaul and Germany in the west and Parthia in the east. Protracted service lead to professional armies and that lead to cohorts.

    • @AudieHolland
      @AudieHolland 3 роки тому +49

      Rome's first armed forces were civilians turned soldiers to defend their own territory - or capture the neighbouring one.
      The different soldier classes mirrored the different classes in their society.
      Velites - lightly armed skirmishers were recruited from the poor citizens who still could afford to buy the gear required
      Hastati - the younger citizens with enough cash to buy a helmet, breastplate, sword, shield and javelins.
      Principes - the more mature citizens with more money to buy better equipment
      Triarii - combat veterans who had seen many battles and had enough money to buy the most expensive gear
      Now I wonder myself, what if you were a mature citizen but rather poor? Would you still have fight with the Hastati? Probably.
      Roman logic about serving to defend Rome: if you had a stake in the Roman state, however small, you were obliged to invest in military gear, do the training and go on campaign.
      The poorest class, who had no money, didn't have any obligation to fight because they couldn't afford the gear. And the state was not going to provide it for them at time in history.
      *Main reasons for the Marian Reforms IMO:*
      *1.* Roman citizens were mostly farmers who had to return to their farms for the harvest - prolonged campaigns caused these farmers to lose their property because it was neglected, not producing any income because little farming was done and many of poor farmers were bought out by the big corporations/ wealthy Roman citizens who were also of the Senatorial class and who created big superfarms out of their 'collection' of acquired estates (Latifundia);
      *2.* The class of disposessed poor Romans without money had become so big and was growing every day (see 1.) that the ruling class was thinking, why not give them a chance to fight and gain glory and riches, while also if they died it was no big loss to Rome - anyway with them in the army, they were removed from the streets and alleys (begging, stealing from decent Roman citizens, etc.)
      *3.* After serving their full 20 year term (it varied) in the legions, veterans were settled in conquered lands if land was available - this had several advantages: these former poor Romans would not be returning to Rome, by settling them in conquered territory they were accellerating the colonization efforts and if there were enemy infiltrations or rebel uprisings, militias could recruit quite a few veteran soldiers from the Roman colonists;
      But as many people who have read a bit of Rome's history, there never was enough conquered land to settle all veterans, a major issue for Caesar and for which he fought on the Senate floor. The wealthy Romans, most from the senatorial class, would also reserve the best land for themselves, increasing their own wealth and power even more. The rich were getting incredibly richer, the poor were forced to join the legions for a chance at a better life or remain on the streets and in the slums, relying on free bread and games to survive.
      All this also explains why the Roman armed forces, following the Marian Reforms, had little to no feelings of loyalty to Rome itself. Rome had a bargain with these new kind of soldiers - get rid of the poor by making them fight on a far away front and if they lost or won, most times they would never return to Rome. In my opinion, it's not that the new type of Roman soldiers were greedier, it's just that looting enemy posessions was their only opportunity to improve their own living standards.
      Some less informed people might think, why not get a job on one of those big superfarms or Latifundia instead of risking your life by going to war?
      Rome's superwealthy didn't have paid workers on their lands. On these superfarms, masses of slaves were forced to do back breaking work.
      Being a house slave in Rome was a super cushy job compared to the former and even a gladiator had better prospects than a slave on a superfarm.

  • @Squige137
    @Squige137 9 років тому +833

    Now looking for a 'Its come to the Triarii' T-shirt.

  • @OneOnOne1162
    @OneOnOne1162 7 років тому +132

    The most impressive example of what was said in the end of the video about Rome's adaptability is probably back when it was fighting Carthage. It built a navy out of nothing and rebuilt it several times (I believe). They also turned sea battles into land battles to suit their strengths.

  • @johnkoestler0624
    @johnkoestler0624 7 років тому +232

    A self-sufficient army like the Cohort should not happen to a country for the long-term stability. If the central government allows a troop to be self-sufficient, maybe it would relieve it's financial burden and let the troop fight more effectively for a while. But after the war, you'll find the troop is no longer controlled by you but the generals, which is as known as warlords.

    • @MrTorchwoodify
      @MrTorchwoodify 7 років тому +157

      Spoiler alert: Guess what happened to Rome next.

    • @johnkoestler0624
      @johnkoestler0624 7 років тому +18

      Marius happened~~

    • @beersmurff
      @beersmurff 7 років тому +47

      More like Mister C and his crossing of the Rubicon.

    • @lllowelll
      @lllowelll 4 роки тому +18

      Yeah thats why the praetorians later became the king makers.

    • @ipudisciple
      @ipudisciple 3 роки тому +12

      You’re assuming essentially instant communications. When it took a week to get a message to or from your army, you can’t effectively control your army anyway.

  • @masterluxu1
    @masterluxu1 3 роки тому +89

    It has been an honor and a privilege to have been here all this time and watched you create the Roman series on this channel.
    It’s by far my favorite experience on UA-cam. And something I won’t forget any time soon.
    Thank you for all your hard work and dedication my friend.
    SPQR

  • @cheekybum1513
    @cheekybum1513 9 років тому +207

    1:03 Ghost Grey dot illusion, hey!

    • @BooBooBlueBerry
      @BooBooBlueBerry 8 років тому +4

      +Daythem Kaverous Holy shit I did not notice that.

    • @thedahakha
      @thedahakha 8 років тому +1

      +Daythem Kaverous I was just about to say that ;p

    • @TheAlps36
      @TheAlps36 6 років тому

      HERMANNNNNN!!!!!!!

    • @eliad6543
      @eliad6543 5 років тому

      His videos are infested with these :D

  • @bukay5861
    @bukay5861 8 років тому +221

    "not to scale due to the fact human life is finite and we are all going to die one day"

    • @FraserSouris
      @FraserSouris 6 років тому +12

      No U “My OCD trumps human mortality “

    • @lenny_1369
      @lenny_1369 4 роки тому +1

      ...edgy

    • @bukay5861
      @bukay5861 4 роки тому +10

      @@lenny_1369 dude i made this comment 4 years ago i have no fuckin idea what i was on lmao I think i mighta been quoting something

    • @NickSayre
      @NickSayre 4 роки тому +17

      @@bukay5861 You were sharing what the freeze-frame joke is at 7:50 :)

    • @billytheripper4
      @billytheripper4 7 місяців тому

      Bump

  • @godlike6067
    @godlike6067 3 роки тому +22

    I don’t think I’ll ever understand why UA-cam has recommended me this but I’m happy about it

  • @glennboeckx4300
    @glennboeckx4300 5 років тому +73

    This is why I greatly respect romans. They might just be the most pragmatic, get-your-shit-together of the ancients. The greeks did a great job thinking about ideas and the romans about making things happen both very important.

  • @Krylov223
    @Krylov223 8 років тому +47

    I'd love to see more information on the engineering techniques of the army, and how they pulled off such massive projects in such short time.

    • @JohnDobak
      @JohnDobak 3 роки тому +10

      Everyone works. Don't stop until it's done. You'd be surprised how much 10,000 guys can accomplish when they're following orders.

    • @Dervitox
      @Dervitox 2 роки тому

      @@JohnDobak and being slaves dying of overwork

    • @Cynsham
      @Cynsham Рік тому

      You’d be surprised how much you can build when you’ve got 10,000 slaves working on it and “fair labor standards” are nonexistent in the time period

  • @mattpask5594
    @mattpask5594 8 років тому +5411

    lmao, how many people came here to pick up better battle tactics and strategies when playing Rome: Total War?

    • @Flash244MCGaming
      @Flash244MCGaming 8 років тому +350

      nah, for that game just put skirmishers up front and infantry behind them

    • @wassupjg
      @wassupjg 8 років тому +27

      yep

    • @MCWren
      @MCWren 7 років тому +65

      Matt Pask
      Rome 2 actually

    • @strawberyyicecreamdream216
      @strawberyyicecreamdream216 7 років тому +78

      Well, Total War in general but yes.

    • @Atlas-pn6jv
      @Atlas-pn6jv 7 років тому +107

      Matt Pask I play Attila: Total War. The air was filled with smoke and blood.

  • @jackmccormack2681
    @jackmccormack2681 9 років тому +147

    Rome total war memories.

  • @liammccarthy9388
    @liammccarthy9388 6 років тому +18

    Obviously this doesn't go into crazy detail but I'm always blown away at how much history from this time has been recorded and how we know all of this stuff

  • @Pellaeon159
    @Pellaeon159 8 років тому +318

    What I learned is... Romans were really fond of man nipples. history is fascinating.

  • @God-ch8lq
    @God-ch8lq 3 роки тому +13

    this video helped me a lot in age of empires 2
    specifically, ive been setting up my units in a cohort system, with cavalry, ranged, melee, siege weapons and even multiple workers, on multiple occasions ive constructed fortifications in the middle of a battle to great success, exampe given: setting up wooden walls to protect a trebuchet

  • @AshlynOne
    @AshlynOne 11 місяців тому +3

    Mic quality jumpscared me. You have been at this a long time...
    I am very happy to see how popular you've gotten! :D Your hard work has paid off!

  • @patavinity1262
    @patavinity1262 3 роки тому +12

    "I've always like this saying because it has a meaning that's unique to Roman culture"
    Actually there are very strong parallels between this and Napoleon's guard. When the time came to 'send in the Guard', it meant shit had hit the fan. But at the same time, they were the ones you could rely on to get things done.

  • @samiamrg7
    @samiamrg7 5 років тому +11

    Another important part of the Cohort system was that it allowed any able male to join the military instead of restricting recruitment to Rome’s upper classes who could afford to buy their personal equipment themselves.
    This meant that Rome could more easily raise new armies even in the middle of a war or after major losses because they didn’t have to wait a generation for a new crop of upper-class men to be born. They could recruit from the masses of urban poor that had accumulated in Rome and throughout the empire.

    • @anderskorsback4104
      @anderskorsback4104 2 роки тому +1

      That's really a feature of the recruitment system, not the organizational system. In theory, it would have been entirely possible to continue with the maniple system, let recruits work their way up from hastati to triarii while using state-provided equipment. There were iirc even times during the 2nd Punic War when that was indeed done.

  • @somewony
    @somewony 9 років тому +107

    Will you be doing a video on Byzantine battle tactics too?

  • @Trepur349
    @Trepur349 8 років тому +137

    I use to always find the Minaple system to be stupid because I thought you'd want to use your best soldiers first to take control of the battle early.
    But then I played Civilization 4 and it made me reverse that the decision. In Civ 4 I always attack with the least experienced units first and my logic was it gives less experienced soldiers more opportunities to accumulate experience and increases the likelihood of your best men surviving the battle.
    I think the logic applies relatively well to real armies.

    • @barontv450
      @barontv450 8 років тому +4

      Nice story

    • @4tunedf8
      @4tunedf8 8 років тому +41

      pawns at the front for a reason

    • @Reignor99
      @Reignor99 8 років тому +33

      Noobies at the front, if they survive, promote them.
      Veterans at the front wasn't the Roman way, but it was the Spartan way. Spartans had their best troops in the front.
      It's an interesting contrast considering both armies excelled in the ancient world.

    • @mohamudmohamed9808
      @mohamudmohamed9808 7 років тому

      Trepur349 s

    • @flynn659
      @flynn659 7 років тому +43

      +Trepur349
      Also if the more experienced at front and they route or get killed in battle, that would be bad for the soldiers at the back with less experiance and just witnessed their best men being taken out by the enamy forces. Not good for moral

  • @Tyrkia123
    @Tyrkia123 9 років тому +40

    Please more videos like this on different nations. Maybe more videos on Romans on things like how the troops trained.

  • @MrYesman43
    @MrYesman43 9 років тому +336

    Great video but you should get a new microphone if you can

    • @Willytheleaf
      @Willytheleaf 9 років тому +13

      ***** Doesn't sound like a microphone problem but a signal chain problem. It sounds like this is recorded at the same sample rate as an AM radio broadcast. Learning to record a voiceover in an audio workstation at a higher sample rate might be a better option. I don't know though, he might be recording with a gaming headset or something, and in that case, at least get a good USB mic like a Blue Yeti... You can find a good one used for sure.

    • @ivanatpr
      @ivanatpr 9 років тому +18

      ***** I'm listening on quality headphones and his voice is crystal clear to me. Maybe you have a more sensitive ear than me, but I figured I'd let you know since it could also be some audio issue on your end.

    • @DaveCoenDrGM
      @DaveCoenDrGM 9 років тому +8

      Will Mountain Great points. Plus it might just as well be a problem with UA-cam. My friend and I made few tutorial videos for our students and the end result was bad. To put it mildly. After many tries we gave up and just asked students to give us pendrives and we will return them with records, since they were a lot better before UA-cam black box did something.

    • @xyon9090
      @xyon9090 6 років тому +8

      It was 2015 and the Channel was still growing back then.

  • @GreveElof
    @GreveElof 9 років тому +16

    Not to mention that the Marian reforms enabeled the proles and plebs to join the army; whereas before only people with ownership of a farm could join in and you had to pay for your own equipment.
    The Marian reforms made it so that the ranks were easily filled with new recruits, the state payed the soldiers and payed for their weapons and equiptment.

  • @MCWren
    @MCWren 7 років тому +92

    But a cohort wasn't just a giant man nipple.

  • @Blitzkrieg1012
    @Blitzkrieg1012 9 років тому +69

    Great Video I love the Rome stuff

  • @blazemacarthur3555
    @blazemacarthur3555 8 років тому +4

    I cannot express with English terminology how much I love your style with these illustrated narratives!
    I highly urge that you don't stop. For anything.

  • @cheekybum1513
    @cheekybum1513 4 роки тому +5

    I’ve used the “its come to the triarii” phrase so much since I first watched this so many years ago

  • @MudderFukker-m6g
    @MudderFukker-m6g 6 років тому +5

    The combination of some of the most brutal warfare tactics and Beethoven piano sonata is sublime.
    Great work. I especially enjoyed your vids on JC’s campaign through Gaul. Will contribute when I can soon.

    • @Un1234l
      @Un1234l Рік тому

      ​​@@geekzombie8795
      Sounds like an implausible theory, sorry to say. Even way back further in the mid 2000s we had people uploading HD content and HD audio captured using HD capable equipment. If you find those videos the audio quality is still very good due to the original bitrate being very good. It's primarily on the channel uploaders who many lacked the equipment or technical knowhow to have better audio, especially back then. Poor microphones or software capture settings for example.
      Also, for this video, most classical music are in the public domain, so they wouldn't be subjected to any degradation due to copyright prevention or detection if any such system DOES exist.
      I could be wrong though and would be surprised if what you suggested is true. But the facts so far point to your idea not being plausible.

  • @jonsknows5471
    @jonsknows5471 7 років тому +1

    This channel is seriously one of the best I have come across. Saturday, wake up, coffee and watch Historia Civillis! Thank you!

  • @jodofe4879
    @jodofe4879 3 роки тому +22

    The video is missing the final step in (Western) Roman military organization. The cohort system was very independent and self-sufficient which often served the Romans well, but in the long term this led to problems with loyalty. Soldiers were loyal to their commanders rather than the state, and their independence and military backing allowed military officers to play a major, often destabilizing role in politics. With the legions being unreliable, the Roman state began to rely more and more heavily on its auxiliaries (who were recruited from foreign volunteers and other non-citizens). Furthermore, the Roman Empire at this point had grown to a massive size and had largely stopped expanding. But its long borders still needed defending, and the ability to quickly coordinate a response to an incursion was paramount.
    So Rome transitioned to an army that was highly mobile, with specialized formations designed to conduct a defense in depth against enemy invasions. The first line of defense were the Limitanei, who were stationed directly on the border. They were relatively lightly equipped, but could respond to any enemy action very quickly. If a more serious threat emerged that the Limitanei alone could not contain, the second line of the Comitatenses would be mobilized. They were organized on a regional scale in large formations and were not as mobile as the Limitanei, but much better equipped to handle major threats and large-scale warfare. If an enemy would ever manage to break through the Limitanei and defeat the Comitatenses, he would come face to face with the third line of the Palatini. These were former palace guards and elite troops. They were organized in the same manner as the Comitatenses, but were more experienced and highly paid soldiers. They were deployed alongside the Comitatenses to face the most serious threats to Roman territory.
    Together, the Comitatenses and Palatine made up the field armies of the late Empire, and aside from defence could also be mobilized to fight civil wars or to conduct invasions into enemy territory. The Limitanei formed the frontier armies which rarely ventured far from their border fortresses. This prevented the problem that Rome had earlier where civil wars drew so much soldiers away from the frontier that it became really vulnerable to foreign invaders and raiders.

  • @spaghettiking7312
    @spaghettiking7312 2 роки тому +2

    Something inspiring is how many views and likes this video has despite how awful the audio quality is. It shows that you can start from no where and still succeed.

  • @sundowner8326
    @sundowner8326 7 років тому +525

    So has anybody else come here from "korean riot police use ancient roman tactics" whilst wondering what those tactics were?

  • @Ironarcher13
    @Ironarcher13 8 років тому +64

    Does anyone notice how the Phalanx gives off an optical illusion of grey dots in between each square?

  • @Prometosermejor
    @Prometosermejor 8 років тому +50

    This video does not explain the late roman (192-476 AD) tactics. BTW it is good.

    • @dotcom3987
      @dotcom3987 5 років тому +22

      The only roman tactic after 200 ad was hiring barbarians while the "romans" sat in the cities having sex, wine, bread and being scared shitless.

    • @histguy101
      @histguy101 4 роки тому +23

      I'm not really seeing the racism, but anyways...
      You guys are all wrong. The late Roman army was every bit as tough, disciplined, and effective as earlier times, and was never "all mercenaries."
      The early imperial army was comprised of over 50% auxiliary troops. The late army was no different. The late Roman Army was also 2-3 times larger than in earlier times, and they campaigned on multiple fronts every year.
      And the army of Aurelian, or Constantine was unstoppable.

  • @NetGhoul666
    @NetGhoul666 8 років тому +2

    Imagine a Triarii annoying his Commander with "Please let us fight! Please please please please please please please please please" until he's like "FINE. Just this once. Now stop begging, for Mars' sake, shut the fuck up."

  • @Angel33Demon666
    @Angel33Demon666 8 років тому +47

    Ahhhhh, the Sonata Pathetique...

    • @canaryco-op
      @canaryco-op 8 років тому +1

      What ?

    • @Angel33Demon666
      @Angel33Demon666 8 років тому +13

      The background music in this video is the 2nd Movement from Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique.

    • @Eurodance_Groove
      @Eurodance_Groove 8 років тому +1

      +TheusZeusDeus Shut up... You more on...

    • @Angel33Demon666
      @Angel33Demon666 8 років тому +1

      ***** I disagree.

    • @Eurodance_Groove
      @Eurodance_Groove 8 років тому +2

      *****
      What are you saying ? You say stupid things: a legion had more or less 5000 / 7000 men + some few "auxilia" troops !!! 300 000 / 700 000 is a modern army !!!

  • @Stitchwitchstitch
    @Stitchwitchstitch 4 місяці тому

    You are an excellent teacher! For real! I think you break things down terrifically, and the pauses allow space to grasp things. Thanks!

  • @FearOurSkillz1
    @FearOurSkillz1 9 років тому +1

    I have to be honest hear, this channel is amazing. Julius Caesar is somebody I enjoy reading about and look up to him in some ways. Your video on his greatest military victory at the Battle of Alesia was spot on. Best part was that it was not lengthy and boring in the form of a lecture. You were able to provide the information in a direct, yet intriguing way. I enjoy these videos, and props for spending time on making them.

  • @shardliveactionroleplaying1113
    @shardliveactionroleplaying1113 9 років тому +6

    Rome the series brought me here. Was not disappointed!

    • @TheJamie1103
      @TheJamie1103 8 років тому +1

      +Shard Live Action Roleplaying god im seeing you everywhere...

  • @t1mmy13
    @t1mmy13 7 років тому +1

    ONE MILLION! Congratulations so much!

  • @odanneloconnor6814
    @odanneloconnor6814 8 років тому +25

    Hello there! Can I make Hungarian subtitle for your videos? i have already translated some lines, still working on it. Would you give your permission for it?

  • @gammarays666
    @gammarays666 9 років тому +1

    You've been a big help to me, now I understand how every battle underwent. I hope you create more of this.

  • @blacktee31
    @blacktee31 6 років тому +6

    "The mandiples were just too damn small now." I laugh so hard when a serious and formal video uses informal casual language especailly curse words. The little things that make my day.

  • @samuleinen
    @samuleinen 2 роки тому +1

    I find myself watching these time and time again.

  • @dBradbury
    @dBradbury 9 років тому +3

    I may or may not have watched every single one of your videos after watching this. Subscribed - I'll see about helping out on Patreon too. Keep up the good work!

  • @BillHimmel
    @BillHimmel 7 років тому +2

    This ability to learn and develop, to create and improve is what I admire so much about the Romans!

  • @Novous
    @Novous 6 років тому +7

    4:00 No mention of Velites?! BLASPHEMY

  • @dukeman7595
    @dukeman7595 6 років тому +1

    Man I was told of this channel today and really have enjoyed it. Love the graphs.

  • @SoleMan117
    @SoleMan117 8 років тому +28

    "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, or the most intelligent: it is the one most adaptable to change."
    --Some guy who thinks he's Charles Darwin

  • @Warrior1Spartan
    @Warrior1Spartan 7 років тому +2

    I think everybody who's seen "300" kinda gets the general idea of a phalanx, but thanks for going more in depth with it!!!

  • @ranyag5274
    @ranyag5274 7 років тому +73

    It would be cool if you make a video about Chinese battle tactics during Qin Shi Huang Di's time

    • @jonseilim4321
      @jonseilim4321 7 років тому +5

      Vincent Pataray hell fucking yes

    • @Em-yd9jn
      @Em-yd9jn 6 років тому

      Vincent Pataray That army got wiped out? Send the 4th one in!

    • @J3diMindTrix
      @J3diMindTrix 4 роки тому

      Or Sun Tzu

    • @raidang
      @raidang Рік тому

      @@Em-yd9jn so basically Roman army type?

  • @21April853BC
    @21April853BC 8 років тому +1

    I really enjoyed this video. I've been a Roman enthusiasts since I was a child. Thank you for posting!

  • @lucianofiore7378
    @lucianofiore7378 8 років тому +3

    The main issue with the Cohorts in my personal opinion is that by removing the variable from the army you make it easier to be planned against. By having perfectly identical units, you only need to figure out how to take down one and the rest could easily crumble with it as they are simple a copy of the other. (I know its not actually this simple because Legionary spam but its the principle behind it)

  • @danieljohnson9949
    @danieljohnson9949 3 роки тому +1

    Of course this is in my recommended right after i pre-ordered Rome Total War Remastered

  • @ChrisPaschek
    @ChrisPaschek 8 років тому +3

    There's a bunch missing, like Velites in the manipular system, the role of cavalry is shortened a lot (maybe better, considering the quality of roman cavalry), and auxiliaries, but shortened to the point - I like your description a lot!

    • @matthewsteele99
      @matthewsteele99 6 місяців тому

      Leves, Rorarii, and Accenssi in the early manipular system too

  • @Jesusandbible
    @Jesusandbible 3 роки тому +1

    A basic tactic of Von Manstein in Russia in WW2 was that less experienced troops were at the back of the Russian army, so he drew the attackers forward and smashed through the back of their army decimating it, so keeping good troops at the back is not as bad as it sounds. But let's face it, the Hastati had more energy.

  • @nortechico69
    @nortechico69 8 років тому +59

    DONG...

    • @KarstenOkk
      @KarstenOkk 8 років тому +1

      +Ineta Life floppy dongs

    • @soph1823
      @soph1823 6 років тому +2

      Ineta Life is that a reference to vsauce

    • @Nestoras_Zogopoulos
      @Nestoras_Zogopoulos 6 років тому +1

      do online now guys

  • @phantom5101
    @phantom5101 4 роки тому

    I’m so happy you got a better mic

  • @reinatr4848
    @reinatr4848 5 років тому +7

    HC: Maniples were just too damn small now. Against the hill people of central Italy, one maniple here and one maniple there can make all the difference in the world. But now, armies were huge, and a single maniple here or there was kind of irrelevant.
    Battle of Tigranocerta: Am I a joke to you?

  • @shinderbinderful
    @shinderbinderful 8 років тому +1

    Plz make more of these, great videos come back!

  • @GoranXII
    @GoranXII 8 років тому +37

    No mention of the Auxilia?

    • @michaelrichter3199
      @michaelrichter3199 7 років тому +1

      Matthew Marden that was more of a marching stance, not a fighting one

  • @RamRam.720
    @RamRam.720 8 років тому +4

    I've been using Triarii as shock infantry this whole time...

    • @Eurodance_Groove
      @Eurodance_Groove 8 років тому

      +MrRamram720 I like Rome Tot War but it is impossible to use real tactics used from ancient Roman Armies and other cultures specilities like Celts or Egiptian Chariots Troops (at least not in an organized way as I would like to... To be more adherent to the real historical events for example)... Most of the time each Total War battle in EACH total war game or "episode" can be won just by using the most expensive and not balanced troop choice available in your roster: just create an army with at least half of it made by this and the victory is almost assured !!! You cannot use the checkered scheme of the Roman Legions nor the Hit and Run tactics used by the Celts' Hordes (Chariot Deployed troops and / or Ambushes formed by archers and spearmen held at the same time !!!)

    • @jn-hj6bq
      @jn-hj6bq 8 років тому

      They are used against cav...

    • @Eurodance_Groove
      @Eurodance_Groove 8 років тому

      *****
      No way--- never seen a "Quinquex Acies" tactic nor a real Romanic Legion deployment in Rome 2 !!!
      Thrust me !!!

  • @niculescuteodor4785
    @niculescuteodor4785 9 років тому +5

    Wow, I have yet to see a military lesson as entertaining and thorough as this one. Keep this up man! Great job! You've just earned another subscriber. I look forward to see more videos from your channel. :D

  • @RyanAustinDean
    @RyanAustinDean 7 років тому

    This channel is freaking awesome.

  • @suhaiqal
    @suhaiqal 8 місяців тому +6

    wolves be using maniple formation

  • @TeddyParker
    @TeddyParker 3 роки тому +2

    First video with his upgraded microphone (chef's kiss...)
    Somebody needs to find a way to edit the audio of his older videos to clean out the warble and fish bowl effect...

  • @silvertheelf
    @silvertheelf 5 років тому +2

    Why would they replace spears with the shorter less aggressive sword? Just use a smaller spear until swords are longer.

  • @michaelpisciarino5348
    @michaelpisciarino5348 5 років тому +3

    Roman Battle Systems
    (1) *The Phalaynx System* (0:37)
    - Taken From Greece
    - Tough but Slow
    - One Giant Straight Line of Spears
    - Not Ideal on Mountainous Terrain
    (2) *Maniples* (2:35)
    + Checkerboard Pattern
    + Flexible
    + Swords and Shields
    (A) Hastati (3:29)
    - Young and Inexperienced
    Frontline
    + Sword and Shield
    + also Javelins
    (B) Principes (4:17)
    + Older Veterans, More Experienced
    + Swap out with Hastati
    (C) Triarii (4:39)
    + The Oldest/Most Experienced
    + The Elite Veterans
    + Last Resort ("It's come to the Triarii)
    - The guys got impatient, really wanted to fight
    (3) *Cohort System* (6:53, 7:20)
    40 Manipoles -----> 10 Cohorts
    + Mobile + Self-Sufficient
    Sub-Commanders
    9:40 So What?
    + PRAGMATISM

  • @blundy1
    @blundy1 3 роки тому

    "Killed, captured, or driven off."
    Or, y'know... just wandering off to the nearest village before it was over.

  • @arbuziasty
    @arbuziasty 7 років тому +4

    Everyone playin' "Rome Total War" knows that :)

  • @christopherg2347
    @christopherg2347 7 років тому +5

    "We are the Romans. Your life as it has been is over. Your culture will adapted to serve us. Your defensive capabilities are unable to withstand us. Lay down your arms and await integration. Resistance, is futile."

  • @go1988
    @go1988 9 років тому +1

    Very interessting video, thank you very much!

  • @TheArabsolga
    @TheArabsolga 9 років тому +60

    You could just Allahu Akbar...

    • @TheArabsolga
      @TheArabsolga 9 років тому +8

      ***** Well i'm not wrong... A suicide bomb could easily kill dozens of soldiers at once...

    • @adityowahyunugroho1958
      @adityowahyunugroho1958 9 років тому

      shut the fuck of

    • @TheArabsolga
      @TheArabsolga 9 років тому +34

      Adityo Wahyu Nugroho You spelled "up" so wrong... Like, you didn't even get a single letter right...

    • @TheArabsolga
      @TheArabsolga 8 років тому +10

      ***** Super effective!

    • @silentkilleratm3999
      @silentkilleratm3999 8 років тому

      +Plato I am sorry but this conversation is stupid. You guys know they didn't had explosive back then right?? It was the people in China that invented the explosive so taking that into consideration, means that they first would have to invade Asia, then learn how the explosive worked, then figure out how to use it in battle! Considering this, means that the Romans earliest could have used this tactic when they had established they're empire which would render this tactic pretty much useless to even adapt to they're army! Plus where would you find a person who would be willing to blow himself up just to take some soldiers with i mean, you would really have to be on shrooms or being very dedicated to the cause of what they had to do!

  • @matiasfransen
    @matiasfransen Рік тому +1

    Das Klima der Rocky Mountains ist für das Bergland typisch. Die Durchschnittstemperatur beträgt rund 6 °C. Mit 28 °C ist der Juli der heißeste Monat, der Januar mit −14 °C der kälteste. Der Jahresniederschlag liegt bei schätzungsweise 36 cm.
    Die Sommer in den Rocky Mountains sind mit 15 °C und 15 cm Niederschlag warm und trocken. Im Juli gewittert es durchschnittlich 18 Stunden. Besonders im August führen die Gewitter oft zu Waldbränden.

  • @harmacist6623
    @harmacist6623 4 роки тому +3

    "Our men are running from the battlefield!"
    Me: *"Listen here you little shit..."*

  • @richardarmstrong9770
    @richardarmstrong9770 5 років тому +16

    Narrator: This video was selected by a vote from my patreon.
    Me: I love democracy

  • @KingZando
    @KingZando 6 років тому +2

    “It’s come to the Triarii.” Love it

  • @Elektrycerz1
    @Elektrycerz1 8 років тому +8

    0:49 omg the dots!!!

  • @timrobinson513
    @timrobinson513 6 років тому +1

    I really want to know how medieval armies managed them selves. How were the soldiers paid, kept track of, organised? Was there a rank structure in place for the commoners? We hear loads about roman tactics and logistics but very little about the post roman world.

  • @OneofInfinity.
    @OneofInfinity. 6 років тому +3

    "ad triarios redisse" or another definition for: ooh poop.

  • @rogersledz6793
    @rogersledz6793 2 роки тому

    Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

  • @orionmelton3226
    @orionmelton3226 8 років тому +34

    I'd love to know where you get this information. Not accusing you about being wrong about anything. I just feel like I've been blindly following people who talk about history. Hope I'm not offending you. I just wanna make sure I don't fall into the same trap that I did with the History Channel.

    • @orionmelton3226
      @orionmelton3226 7 років тому

      Brechstange Schraubenschlüssel und Handschuhe
      lol

    • @sigerson5425
      @sigerson5425 7 років тому +1

      Orion Melton you can check them in every specialised history book, as well as wikipedia. My history teacher taught me this stuff when I was in second grade.

    • @orionmelton3226
      @orionmelton3226 7 років тому +6

      Sigerson
      I have trust issues when it comes to school history books. I also don't really trust Wikipedia. History research should be a little more in depth than that in my opinion. So many misconceptions about various parts of history have come about because of inaccurate and highly biased non primary sources.

    • @sigerson5425
      @sigerson5425 7 років тому +5

      Orion Melton I'm sorry, I didn't mean school history books, I meant -specialised history books-. The three-lines strategy is very well known, as well as the cohort one. You can hate Wikipedia, but there're sources there, check them out.

    • @orionmelton3226
      @orionmelton3226 7 років тому

      Sigerson
      Alright. That seems reasonable.

  • @PhilippeCarphin
    @PhilippeCarphin 8 років тому +1

    The animation style, I just absolutely love it!

  • @trombonista92
    @trombonista92 8 років тому +28

    Interesting fact, the cohort is mentioned in the chorus of the Italian national anthem today , even more interesting fact, i just discovered the spellcheck in chrome recognizes the word cohort

    • @Zamolxes77
      @Zamolxes77 8 років тому +14

      +trombonista92 cohort is an English word as well, imported from latin. "I was attacked by a cohort of his goons"

    • @SantomPh
      @SantomPh 8 років тому +9

      Cohort is a common English word. It can describe a common year or set of years in school (eg 2015's cohort of students being all the students in school at that time).
      Armies are the same- a cohort is now commonly called a platoon or brigade.

    • @ShadowFalcon
      @ShadowFalcon 8 років тому

      +SantomPh
      Not exactly.
      As I understand it, cohorts were entirely self sufficient.
      Not only were they fighting units, but they were engineers and logistical units on top of that.
      Today we have specialized units to deal with combat, logistics and engineering. We don't tend to mix it up (just like we don't make army soldiers fly CAP for bombers).

    • @RiverCaracas
      @RiverCaracas 8 років тому

      +SantomPh wow platoons and brigades are entirely different and not at all an equivalent or successor of the cohort. one is about 30-60 men, the other is typically 1-3000 (depending on the army). A cohort was around 500 men, making it more equivalent to a rump (understrength) battalion. If you meant to say that these are the smallest tactical units of today, that would also be inaccurate, as the squad or fireteam are the basic tactical units of a modern army fighting your typical low-intensity war.

    • @alganhar1
      @alganhar1 8 років тому

      +trombonista92 It is also a word used a great deal in biology, especially Ecology or Population studies where a Cohort is a group of individuals that were born in a particular time period. Fish born during the 2015 mating season for example would be the 2015 Cohort. For organisms with multiple mating events one would use either the whole year or part of the generational length.

  • @CleversonSantos
    @CleversonSantos 6 років тому

    I have seen this video many times and I dont get tired...

  • @silverwiskers7371
    @silverwiskers7371 5 років тому +2

    if only I could time travel to that past with what I know now, "I'd be Cesar the great" I'd make 1 battalion a fearce guerilla hit and run on the far flanks

  • @systemofafox6487
    @systemofafox6487 9 років тому

    i cant believe i barely discovered your channel, loving all your content.

  • @gabriel300010
    @gabriel300010 8 років тому +73

    Ill use this now. it has come to the triarii. all the time. do you think this comment sucks? has it come to the triarii?

    • @febbra2
      @febbra2 8 років тому

      +gabriel ferraz dude, please, don't...

    • @gabriel300010
      @gabriel300010 8 років тому +3

      why? is it that bad? has it come to the triarii?
      just trollin ya

    • @charlesxll7925
      @charlesxll7925 8 років тому

      +gabriel ferraz xDD

    • @reinforcer9000
      @reinforcer9000 8 років тому +4

      you're using it wrong, because when in rome...

    • @TheDragonKing444
      @TheDragonKing444 8 років тому +3

      do as the Greek do. SHIT

  • @htf5555
    @htf5555 7 років тому +1

    i love watching this. Rome getting stronger with every challenge