Roman Archers - typical formations?

[Howard Fielding]

Is there a good source with information as to how the archer auxilia were deployed? Assuming cohort strength with six centuries, would they be in line of centuries, or stacked like a legion cohort?

[Duncan Head]

The only reference I can think of is Arrian's Order of Battle against the Alans, which has auxiliary foot-archers forming a ninth rank behind an eight-deep legionary formation rather than deploying on their own. Vegetius also mentions armoured archers deploying in the rear behind the legionaries. Perhaps the conclusion is that in pitched battles the archer cohorts were not usually deployed independently?

[Howard Fielding]

Reserved for sieges, defense of fortifications, or used in the navy?

[Duncan Head]

Well, no - just mixed in with the other infantry.

[RichardC]

That rather begs the question of why have separate auxillia cohorts rather than have archer cohorts within the legion structure or even integrated within the regular legionary and auxillia cohorts.

Given in earlier periods the use of velites and then in at least the early imperial period locally raised skirmishers would some auxillia cohorts act in that role?

[Jim Webster]

That rather begs the question of why have separate auxillia cohorts rather than have archer cohorts within the legion structure or even integrated within the regular legionary and auxillia cohorts.

I would suggest it may have been more to do with training and maintenance of equipment than combat. Having a specialist unit of archers, with composite bows and the need for a certain length of arrow could well make maintenance easier. You'd have one team of bow makers and repairers with the chance of having at least a couple of craftsmen, rather than having to split your maintenance men between five or six cohorts.
The archer cohort could obviously defend their fort as well as any other cohort, and when deployed they could then be added to other cohorts etc as necessary

[Duncan Head]

Plus recruitment; most of the archer cohorts were originally recruited from traditionally bow-using peoples, and units like the Syrian archers are thought to be unusual in that they continued to recruit from their original provinces even when recruited elsewhere. This is obviously easier to maintain if a substantial unit is stationed together.

[aligern]

Blood of the Provinces by Haynes has IIRC  a chapteron the likelihood of auxilia being recruited from an original area such as Syria . The results of looking at the epigraphy suggested that linkage was probably not maintained. Interestingly the author suggests that a religious cult brought from the foundation recruitment area may well have been maintained even with recruits from the new home of the unit.
Roy

[Jim Webster]

Blood of the Provinces by Haynes has IIRC  a chapteron the likelihood of auxilia being recruited from an original area such as Syria . The results of looking at the epigraphy suggested that linkage was probably not maintained. Interestingly the author suggests that a religious cult brought from the foundation recruitment area may well have been maintained even with recruits from the new home of the unit.
Roy

I can see the religious cult continuing. It would be part of the identity of the unit and new recruits would buy into it to become part of theunit

[Erpingham]

Blood of the Provinces by Haynes has IIRC  a chapteron the likelihood of auxilia being recruited from an original area such as Syria . The results of looking at the epigraphy suggested that linkage was probably not maintained. Interestingly the author suggests that a religious cult brought from the foundation recruitment area may well have been maintained even with recruits from the new home of the unit.
Roy

I can see the religious cult continuing. It would be part of the identity of the unit and new recruits would buy into it to become part of theunit

For Romans, having good relations to the gods associated with context would be important.  So, the local minor deities, the Imperial cult, deities with a personal or family connection and any gods specifically related to the unit's well being and good fortune could all be in the mix.

[Jim Webster]

Blood of the Provinces by Haynes has IIRC  a chapteron the likelihood of auxilia being recruited from an original area such as Syria . The results of looking at the epigraphy suggested that linkage was probably not maintained. Interestingly the author suggests that a religious cult brought from the foundation recruitment area may well have been maintained even with recruits from the new home of the unit.
Roy

I can see the religious cult continuing. It would be part of the identity of the unit and new recruits would buy into it to become part of theunit

For Romans, having good relations to the gods associated with context would be important.  So, the local minor deities, the Imperial cult, deities with a personal or family connection and any gods specifically related to the unit's well being and good fortune could all be in the mix.

Yes, keeping on good terms with the God who is related to the unit would strike men as entirely sensible

[RichardC]

Thanks, fascinating comments.

The logistical and training requirements driving organisation rather than tactical use makes sense for the 90% of army life that was between active wars.

However it does mean that archery support would be common only in larger multi-unit forces, rather than police actions of 1-3 cohorts.  It perhaps also would drive the need for army level training to integrate the use of the various unit types on the battlefield.

So frustrating how little we know for sure versus can make educated, informed guesses about