| In the span of over 700 years of the Roman | | | | their roman pilum pointing up at about a forty-five |
| Empire, perhaps the most important changes that | | | | degree angle. The line of men behind them placed |
| allowed for expansion and domination came when | | | | their shields on top of the first lines' at a slight |
| the imperial Roman army came into being. Here | | | | slant. They would have their pilum ready to throw |
| are some of the new formations that they | | | | at the approaching cavalry. This was very |
| implemented after the reforms. | | | | effective as horsed do not willingly charge into a |
| The Wedge was also a very important tactic | | | | solid wall of shields and spear points. |
| used by the Romans. Small or large groups of | | | | Instead, the horse would probably come to a halt |
| Legionnaires could form a triangle, and then use | | | | before the line, leaving the legionnaires free to |
| the point to break and open a hole in the enemy's | | | | throw their pilum and massacre the enemy.The |
| lines. Troops inside the triangle would also help | | | | last tactical arrangement was called the Orb, and |
| reinforce and effectively create a solid "spear | | | | was used as a last stance defensive formation. If |
| point" to breach the enemy. It was very | | | | any number of soldiers was separated from the |
| important in battles to be able to disrupt and | | | | rest of the army, or else they became |
| break enemy formations, for it could very well be | | | | surrounded by the enemy, they would form a |
| the difference between victory and defeat.A | | | | tight circle with officers and archers in the center |
| skirmishing formation was also a very effective | | | | and legionnaires on the outside. This required a |
| tactic implemented by the Romans. The normally | | | | highly trained and disciplined army at the individual |
| tight lines of men would space and stagger | | | | level, as this was formation often took place with |
| themselves to effectively increase the apparent | | | | a small group of soldiers during the heat of |
| size of the unit, sometimes covering as much as | | | | battle.The equipment and armor saw very |
| twice the space as a normal cohort would. This | | | | important upgrades. They used segemented |
| tactic was very useful when they need to make | | | | armor, called lorica segmentata, roman helmets |
| quick attacks and retreats, or when marching | | | | saw a total overhaul that allowed for more |
| over rough terrain. It also let friendly troops fall | | | | effective protection, and their weapons were |
| back easily through the lines if needed. | | | | altered to be more effective. But perhaps the |
| The repel cavalry stance was extremely | | | | some of the most important changes came in the |
| effective and devastating to enemy cavalry. This | | | | form of new battle formations that made the |
| only required two lines of men. The first line of | | | | Roman war machine so affective. In the following |
| soldiers would kneel down and interlock their large | | | | paragraphs we will explore some of these tactics. |
| scutum shields to form an impenetrable wall with | | | | |