Why is the Roman legion better than the phalanx?
The author’s main points in favor of the Roman legion was agility, flexibility and adaptability; whereas, the phalanx had only one-dimensional movement. [i] A one trick horse if you will. Further examination of these main points concerning ancient military unit tactical formations will clarify Cole’s argument.
How did the Roman legion defeat the Greek phalanx?
Polybius on the Macedonian Wars gets into some of the nitty gritty, but basically the gist is that during the Samnite Wars, the Romans found that their phalanxes were being beaten by the Samnite light infantry and cavalry, who were used to fighting the mountainous terrain of Samnium.
Did Romans have Hoplite?
On the basis of Etruscan representations, it has been widely accepted that the main early Roman infantry type was an armoured hoplite. These hoplite would probably have worn bronze helmets, breastplate and greaves and a round leather or large circular bronze-plated wooden shield.
What was the phalanx weakness?
The major weakness of the phalanx is that it had little to no protection on its sides and rear. Since men were marching forward, and everyone’s spears were pointed in the same forward direction, hoplites were pretty much defenseless on the flanks and rear.
Did the Spartans beat the Romans?
The Laconian War of 195 BC was fought between the Greek city-state of Sparta and a coalition composed of Rome, the Achaean League, Pergamum, Rhodes, and Macedon….War against Nabis.
| Date | 195 BC |
|---|---|
| Location | Laconia and Argolid |
| Result | Victory of the anti-Spartan coalition |
Why did hoplites become obsolete?
They finally met their match against the tough and regimented legionaries of the Roman Empire. This army was conscripted and invented tactics such as siege engines and skirmishers to outmanoeuvre the phalanx, rendering the hoplite obsolete.
Why did medieval armies not use Roman tactics?
The Roman way was very expensive. For most of its existence Rome had a standing army, which was disciplined and capable of those formations. But Rome was a large relatively centralized empire with a significant tax base.
Did Spartans use phalanx?
The Spartans were different: they were professionals, trained in arms and in maneuver. Their phalanx was composed of regiments, and the regiments of companies, and so on, each commanded by an officer. This professionalism allowed their phalanx a degree of maneuverability which they put to good use at Mantinea.
Did the Spartans invent the phalanx?
Traditionally, historians date the origin of the hoplite phalanx of ancient Greece to the 8th century BC in Sparta, but this is under revision.
Did Vikings fight the Romans?
Although a confrontation between them would have been an epic battle for the ages, the Vikings and Romans never fought each other. Through its military conquests, the Roman Empire expanded as quickly as its mighty armies could mow down enemy soldiers and march through newly conquered lands.
Did the Spartans use the phalanx?
Spartan Military Innovations. The hoplite phalanx, however, consisted of specially-armed infantry. They all wore bronze body armor, helmets, bronze shin guards, and all carried shields.
Did the Romans use phalanx?
The Romans had originally employed the phalanx themselves but gradually evolved more flexible tactics. The result was the three-line Roman legion of the middle period of the Roman Republic, the Manipular System. Romans used a phalanx for their third military line, the triarii.
Could the Spartan hoplites defeat the 1000 Roman legionaries?
So yes, the 1000 Spartans hoplites might be able to defeat the 1000 Roman legionaries. However, all this would mean is that the remnants of these 1000 Spartan hoplites would end up facing a new Roman army a couple of weeks later. So whilst Sparta might win the battle, Rome would almost definitely win the war.
Are hoplites and legionaries meant to be different classes?
Luckily, since hoplites and legionaries are both classes of heavy infantry meant to fight others of their ilk, there should be no large deviation of tactics from how they’d normally fight. On to the proceedings…
How hard would it be to fight a hoplite?
Hoplites in general are tough to fight especially if they use geography to their advantage like Thermopylae Spartan hoplites though are quite different, they are out of the world insane hoplites. And could take any Roman with a sword out.
Are there any modern equivalents of Greek hoplites?
Greek hoplites and the type of Roman legionaries that are most prominently known to the modern world were not contemporaries. However, in keeping with the spirit of the question, let’s use the soldiers of the Marian reform, which are the ones that are most ingrained in modern consciousness.