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St Cuthbert's College - Roman Army training day, VI December


The Imperial Romans were invited to St Cuthberts College by Rob Griffiths, HOD Classics/Latin, to give the students a hands-on experience of the Roman Army. 

Salvete milites, WELCOME TO THE ROMAN ARMY - first you must pass the entry exam: 1. Roman citizen 2. Unmarried 3. Whole body 4. Tall (at least 5'4" unless particulary sturdy) 5. Clean-shaven. 6. Good eyes (how many fingers am I holding up? Remember that V is five in Latin) 7. Basic literacy. 8. Good character. The recruits signed their initials on the wax tablets, tried on a Roman helmet and hefted a gladius sword.

They jointly swore 
the Sacramentum military oath (Repeat after me) “I swear by all the gods that I will obey all orders of my commander and fight to the death for the honour and glory of my emperor and Rome!” 
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a soldier of Rome!
A recruit was dressed as a Roman soldier while we explained the gear: 1. Tunic. 2. Helmet 3. Lorica 4. Balteus (What does a Roman wear under his balteus? His caligae) 5. Cloak 6. Gladius (vs long sword). 7. Dagger (for close combat and cutting up lunch) 8. Pilum 9. Plumbata 10. Dolabra 11. Toilet-stick 12. Cornicen 12. Scutum (fight – shield clash - charge crowd - salutate!)
 
ARMY TRAINING - Year 9 became Legio IX Hispania, the famous "Lost Legion", and Year 10 became Legio X Gemina, "Caesar's favourite legion", split into Cohs I & II, each with their own centurion, optio and signifer.
The new recruits swore a 
personal oath: "We swear to support our comrades and defend each other's lives!”
Training comprised four activities, with reward and punishment based on performance:
1. GLADIUS SWORD TRAINING - on the pell (dressed in the faces of Rome's worst enemies to give better motivation).
2. BALLISTA - and shooting individual manuballistas at a barbarian balloon-head dummy to save Rome!
3. ARCHERY & PILUM - firing against vallum combat-shield formation, and live pilum fire against a straw barbarian.
4. LATIN MILITARY DRILL - with parade shields in formation including convertate wheels, shield-wall charges, and testudo.


Leg X Gemina won the phalera and were saluted victors. The last legion escaped crucifixion instead forced to camp outside the walls wearing unbloused tunics eating horse-feed. The Roman Army is hard, but it is fair. 
Fantastic bunch of students, glorious summer day and great fun!

SUMMARY OF THE FOUR ROMAN TRAINING ACTIVITIES

​1. GLADIUS SWORD TRAINING - pugnate!
 
Going to work on the Pell using the heavy wooden
swords

FIVES - Sword strikes to the sides
1. slash top head
2. slash shoulder
3. slash waist
4. slash thigh
5. stab gut
 
BOX - Cross body blows
1. slash top head
2. slash left shoulder
3. slash right shoulder
4. slash left hip
5. slash right hip
6. stab gut
 
COMBINATIONS - Any Six blows, Stab back of pell,
 Circle pell with ten blows, Try left-handed
Practice strikes and blocks in pairs with the foam
swords

​



                                           -----O-----





2. ARTILLERY BALLISTA - Operate on low power at
three-notches. Aim to pop barbarian's head.
Same with individual manuballistas. 

Ballistam parate - Prepare ballista for firing
Catapultam Torquete - Wind the piece
Sagittam Ponite - Load the piece
Catapultam Dirigite - Aim the piece
Cave! - Look out! (Beware)
Parate - Prepare to fire
Dimittite - Fire!
Tutam Reddite - Secure the piece





                                           -----O-----


​

​
3. VALLUM, PILUM, ARCHERY - Careful supervision
firing live pilums at straw barbarian, form vallum
formation with combat-shields to recieve
dummy-pilum and blunt archery fire.
Instruction in basic archery.
 
Ad vallum - form vallum
Procedite – proceed
Ad vallum - form vallum
Procedite – proceed
 
Pila portate - pick up pilum       
Pila dimittite - put down pilum
Pila inclinate – pila angle ready
Pila iactum parite – ready throw
Pila mittite – throw pilum


​
                                           -----O-----
4. LATIN MILITARY FORMATIONS

1. ASSEMBLY
Ad signa - fall-in
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta portate - pick up shield   
Scuta dimittite - put down shield
Scuta portate - pick up shield   
Ad scuta clinate - turn left 
Ad gladios clinate - turn right
Ad gladios clinate - turn right
Ad scuta clinate - turn left 
Ad scuta Transformate - about-turn 
Ad scuta Transformate - about-turn
Scuta dimittite - put down shield
Laxate - stand at ease
 
2. CHARGE
Ad signa - fall-in
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta portate - pick up shield  
Ad castorum - form shield wall 
Procedite - forward march 
Percutite - charge! 
​Clamate! Make the battle-cry
Consiste - halt  
Pugnate! – Fight! (PRETEND)
Consiste - halt  
Reverte - as you were (back to previous position)
 
3. ORBIS (shields facing out)
Ad orbis - form circle around Signifer
Lungete - close up
Largite - open up

4. MARCH IN SQUARE
Ad signa - fall-in
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta portate - pick up shield  
Ad gladios clinate - turn right
Procedite - forward march 
Ad scuta convertate - Left L-turn file
Ad scuta convertate - Left L-turn file
Ad scuta convertate - Left L-turn file
Ad scuta convertate - Left L-turn file
Consiste - halt  
Ad scuta clinate - turn left 
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta dimittite - put down shield
Laxate - stand at ease
 
5. FORM TWO RANKS – CHARGE!
Ad signa - fall-in
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta portate - pick up shield  
Ad duo - form two ranks
Ad castorum - form shield wall 
Procedite - forward march 
Percutite - charge! 
​Clamate! Make the battle-cry
Consiste - halt  
Mutate! – Change! (WAIT)
Mutate! – Change! (WAIT)
Ad scuta Transformate - about-turn 
Percutite - charge! 
​Clamate! Make the battle-cry
Consiste - halt  
Pugnate! – Fight! (PRETEND)
Mutate! – Change! (WAIT)
Mutate! – Change! (WAIT)
Mutate! – Change! (WAIT)
Ad scuta Transformate - about-turn 
 
6. IN RANK WHEEL – LOOK AT PIVOT
Ad signa - fall-in
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta portate - pick up shield  
Procedite - forward march 
Ad gladios convertate – Right wheel
Ad gladios convertate – Right wheel
Ad gladios convertate – Right wheel
Ad gladios convertate – Right wheel
Consiste - halt  
Intentite - Attention!
Scuta dimittite - put down shield
Laxate - stand at ease

Ad testudinem - form testudo

Picture