The Five Troop Types in the Army of the Roman Republic

In the late 3rd century B.C., the army of theReforms in the late 2nd century B.C., the Roman
Roman Republic was just emerging as aarmy was comprised of five main troop types.
formidable power, as they now controlled theGenerally the youngest and poorest were
Italian Peninsula south of the Po River. The armyrecruited to the Velites. They served as
was now rapidly becoming an offensive warskirmishers in the army and were intended to
machine. What made the army during this periodpepper the enemy with initial Javelin fire. They
so effective?were equipped with swords, javelins, and a small
The biggest contributor was the important trait ofcircular shield (the parma). Velites also covered
being able to adapt and improve. After fightingtheir helmets in wolf skin, to differentiate
with the Greeks and other societies that used thethemselves from the rest of the army.
famous phalanx as their main tactical formation,The main fighting force of the army consisted of
the Romans adapted a more flexible and looserthree main troops: the Hastati, Principes, and
fighting method, which had a distinct tacticalTriarii. The Hastati, named after the thrusting
advantage over the phalanx. Also, the strugglespear they used to carry called the Hasta, were
with Hannibal showed that brilliant generals witharmed with the gladius (Spanish short-stabbing
inferior numbers could crush an enemy of superiorsword), two pila (one heavy and one light), and
numbers with less able generals. Rome realizedcarried an oval shield called the Scutum. All troops
that they needed to superior leadership to be anwore bronze pectoral armor and a bronze helmet.
effective fighting force.However, the Hastati wore tall upright feathers to
The power and effectiveness of the army alsoincrease their apparent height and intimidate the
emanates from the superior fighting force andopposing army.
battle tactics of the army. Until the Marius