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!
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
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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 |
