Article on Roman Skirmishing

[Prufrock]

This article was mentioned on the Lost Battles group as being of possible relevance.

"The 'Face of Roman Skirmishing'," Historia: zeitschrift für alte geschichte Vol. 64, No 3, 2015, pp. 263-300.

Has anyone been able to get hold of it?

[Duncan Head]

No, though you can buy it at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/fsv/histori/2015/00000064/00000003/art00001?crawler=true

https://orca.cf.ac.uk/29039/1/2012andersaophd.pdf appears to be a 2011 thesis from which the 2015 article may in part derive.

[Prufrock]

Many thanks, Duncan.

[Dangun]

One line from the thesis was:
"we gave no eyewitness accounts of the combat for our period (263BC - AD235)." (p. 7)

Is that true?

And is Polybius considered an eyewitness, or not?

[RichT]

Actual quote: "In addition, since we have no eyewitness accounts of the combat for our period apart from Caesar's commentaries, there is a significant dearth of evidence on the matter".

Just before someone says "What about Caesar!"

Polybius as an eyewitness - depends what of. Of any of the combats, in particular pitched battles, in his Histories, no. Of fighting of some sort (particularly skirmishing), probably yes. It's not totally clear in Anders' thesis what 'the combat' is in this case (light infantry, heavy, or all?). Broadly speaking it's probably a fair statement.

[Dangun]

Just before someone says "What about Caesar!"

Well corrected...

Polybius as an eyewitness - depends what of. Of any of the combats, in particular pitched battles, in his Histories, no.

Interesting. I don't know either way, but I seem to remember that it has been suggested otherwise on this forum.

[RichT]

Polybius as an eyewitness - depends what of. Of any of the combats, in particular pitched battles, in his Histories, no.

Interesting. I don't know either way, but I seem to remember that it has been suggested otherwise on this forum.

Well he was at the sack of Carthage, if that counts as 'the combat'. Accompanying Scipio, it's a fair assumption he saw the Roman army in action. But beyond that is I think unknown (at least, it's unknown to me). We don't know what he might have seen or done in the period before his Roman exile. I think opinions differ how much personal military experience he had. At any rate, I don't think any of his combat accounts, aside from the sack of Carthage, are eyewitness accounts (so far as I know).

[Dangun]

Josephus would have to be an exception.

[Yin Shao Loong]

A very interesting and useful reference. Thanks, Aaron and Duncan.