| Rome's history is vast and glorious in military | | | | just getting hot. If the first two lines of soldiers |
| terms. From the 3rd century b.c. into the 3 | | | | failed, the third lined of defense, the Triarii, took |
| century a.d. the military machine of the Roman | | | | on the battle. An old Roman saying was "It came |
| legions was almost unstoppable (yes, they had | | | | to the Triarii..." meaning it came to the bitter end, |
| their bad defeats but overall they had successful | | | | and the battle would be decided very shortly. The |
| campaigns). This article takes a look at the early | | | | Triarii bore heavy spears and armor, and they |
| Roman period in the 3rd and 2nd century b.c. | | | | were the oldest and most seasoned soldiers of |
| The Roman army had three major unit types on | | | | the Roman army. They would either make or |
| the battle field with two missile troops and one | | | | break the battle if it came to them. |
| main type of cavalry unit. The three foot soldiers | | | | The two missle troops types were the Velites |
| were the Hastati, Principes, and Triarii. The Hastati | | | | and Archers. The Velites were a skirmishing |
| were the youngest group and least experienced in | | | | soldier and they threw javelins at the enemy |
| the army. Their armor was not quite as good as | | | | before the real battle took place. They would |
| the other two soldier types. The Hastati were the | | | | then retreat between the lines of soldiers when |
| first line of attack or defense in any army. If | | | | the enemy got too close. The archers bore |
| they wavered, were destroyed, or else were | | | | regular bows and fired arrows as support to the |
| routed, the second line of defense would take | | | | main army. The only main cavalry unit that the |
| over - the Principes. The Principes boasted better | | | | early Roman army had were the Equites. While |
| armor and weapons, and were considered a | | | | they didn't wear soldier Roman armor, the lack of |
| heavy troop type. They were more seasoned | | | | it made them very quick on the battle field. They |
| veterans of the army and were often older in | | | | were used to run down routing troops or used as |
| age. They served as support troops for the | | | | quick attacks from behind. |
| Hastati and often joined the battle when it was | | | | |