DBA Armies

II/56 EARLY IMPERIAL ROMAN 25 BC - 197 AD

This covers the period from Augustus’ reorganisation until the defeat in civil war of Albinus by Septimius Severus. This is the period of the legionary equipped with pilum, now shorter gladius sword, semi-cylindrical rectangular shield, iron helmet and lorica segmentata banded iron corslet that is the popular image of the Roman legionary, although they were not all used universally. Some eastern units may have retained their mail and by the end of the period oval shields were replacing rectangular, firstly in the praetorian guards. Auxiliary equites (cavalry) and pedites (infantry) were regularly recruited and became citizens at the end of their career. They were uniformly equipped and drilled, were armed with short spear, javelins and long swords, had more convenient oval shields bearing regimental patterns, wore mail corslets (probably initially cut down from those previously worn by legionaries of which there were large stocks) and had helmets (initially bronze but quickly replaced by iron). A few alae of otherwise similar contariorum catafractari lancers formed by Trajan and Hadrian were equipped with the long two-handed kontos, had no shields and rode unarmoured horses. Numidians and Moors provided their native javelin-throwing light horse. Archers were mostly easterners depicted in long tunic, mail and acorn-shaped helmet. Symmachiarii were German or British irregulars. Dromedarii camel men were first raised by Hadrian and used as border scouts. The elephant and camels brought by Claudius when he invaded Britain were too few to be included here. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, The Roman Army at War 100 BC-AD 200 A. Goldsworthy, The Long Year AD 69 K. Wellesley, The Roman Legions Recreated in Colour Photographs D. Peterson, Imperial Governor G. Shipway (novel), The Provincial Governor J. Scott (novel), Year of Four Caesars H. Nield (novel).

II/56 — Early Imperial Roman Army 25 BC - 197 AD

List: 1 x General on horseback (Cv) or on foot (4Bd), 1 x equites (Cv), 4 x legionaries (4Bd), 3 x auxiliary pedites (4Ax), 1 x equites (Cv) or pedites (4Ax) or archers (4Bw or Ps), 1 x Numidians or Moors (LH) or symmachiarii (3Wb) or slingers (Ps) or gladiators (3Bd), 1 x lancers (3Kn) or horse archers (LH) or bolt-shooters (Art) or dromedarii (LCm)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: (II/22a or II/22b or II/22e and/or II/44) or II/28b or II/47d or II/51