Just browsing through the forum pages and I see a reasonable amount of stuff about line relief in Roman armies. I am intrigued about thoughts regarding line relief of non-Roman armies and in particular what we might class as 'tribal' or 'irregular' or 'warrior'
As added context I am more interested in the early through to late Imperial Roman and early medieval period(s) than say Hellenistic/classical or high Medieval.
Did it exist at the 'line' level or was it more 'unit' level?
Thoughts?
An interesting thought.
I am not aware of any literary evidence for it, but am equally aware that my knowledge of the literary evidence is not exactly comprehensive, to put it mildly. I do think it fair to say that Greek and Roman authors are not necessarily comprehensive or comprehending in their descriptions of the methods of warfare of their opponents.
However, if one thinks about how the members of a war band might behave in the course of a battle, the possibility of replenishment of the forward ranks as men fall or retire wounded is not far fetched. A lot will depend on motivation. If the brawny lads who jeered at your puny muscles in the past and boldly pushed into the front to show off their pectorals start falling down or falling back, what do you do? You might decide that it is a good time to head off for a cup of tea yourself, or you might think that here is a chance to show those 'heroes' what a humble man with pluck can do, especially if your home, your cattle and your wife are at stake.
I doubt if this could be said to amount to line relief in the Roman sense. There is no line of triarii equivalents, as far as I know, for men to fall back behind to gather their breath and steel themselves to continue the conflict while others take their place on the front line. However, since we have never seen a Roman army in action, it is hard to fathom how exactly their system worked in the press of combat. Falling back - or advancing through the front line(?) during a lull in fighting would be possible, but less so when hairy savages are in your face with spears, axes or what have you. And, if Romans could take advantage of lulls in combat to reorder their lines, why not others?
this is my thought process and especially when such armies faced other armies that did do line relief over time must have learned and adapted their 'systems'
humans are humans and they get tired, scared, hungry etc regardless of background and training (to a lesser or greater extent!). It may only be 'simple' line relief ie there's a gap...fill it on an individual soldier basis but I am intrigued
Exactly what went on inside units in battle outside the Classical period before the Renaissance isn't well well recorded in my experience. You might consider the Eastern Romans (aka Byzantines) and what they thought. I think it's in the Strategicon that helpfully informs us that, if you close up to locked shield order, people like medics can no longer move about among the ranks. Implication therefore, in normal order, some movement was possible/expected. We might also consider the observation (perhaps exaggerated) that the Saxons at Hastings were so closely packed, the dead and wounded were held in position until the line moved, when they fell down. Which implies this was not the normal state of affairs.
If we look at the evidence for shieldwall fighting, we note that people have a place in a formation which they are expected to keep, and you certainly have seasoned fighters at the front, also rans behind. Guessing, if a fighter went down, the man behind (probably another fighter) stepped up and extraction of wounded was done by the common herd. These could probably keep the formation solid, throw stuff and kill any wounded the band advanced over, but once you started needing to put them in the fighting line because you run out of experienced fighters, things were getting a bit hairy.
But, as I say, while not a complete unknown, this stuff isn't as well recorded as we might like.
exactly so i guess I am asking the hive mind whether we take the very simple mechanism that is almost instinctive or do we explore whether there were more complicated versions either at line level or unit level
Line relief implies multiple lines, and the earliest mention of those is 496BC, when the Latin League attempted to restore Tarquinius Superbus to the throne in Rome:
QuoteAs Postumius was drawing up his men and encouraging them in the first line [prima in acie], Tarquinius Superbus, though now enfeebled by age, spurred on his horse with great fury to attack him; but being wounded in the side, he was carried off by a party of his own men to a place of safety. In the other wing also, Aebutius, master of the horse, had charged Octavius Mamilius; nor was his approach unobserved by the Tusculan general, who also briskly spurred on his horse to encounter him. And such was their impetuosity as they advanced with hostile spears, that Aebutius was run through the arm and Mamilius struck on the breast. The Latins received the latter into their second line [in secundam aciem]. – Livy: 2.19.
I think everyone knows my take on line relief by now (a hypothesis that nobody agrees with but nobody refutes ::)). It does require a modicum of organisation and was probably beyond the ability of a tribal army. The Romans didn't invent it but copied it from the Latins after they dumped the Etruscan phalanx. I don't know of anyone else using it.
If we ignore the eastern Romans (who were not non-Romans in military terms), the question is, do we have much evidence of armies in multiple lines in the Early Middle Ages?
Multiple cavalry lines, or cavalry lines with an infantry support line, seem common enough. The Normans at Hastings had two infantry lines and a cavalry line. But we might read this as a skirmish line in front of an infantry line. Whatever, clearly, the bits in front ended up behind the rear parts, which suggests the lines replaced each other.
If we move on to The Standard (High Medieval but still not late, so permitted by Dave's parameters), the English have two infantry lines and the Scots three. However, the battle didn't pan out to allow any organised replacement of one line by another, so we can't draw much from it.
Quote from: Erpingham on July 23, 2024, 10:01:34 AMWe might also consider the observation (perhaps exaggerated) that the Saxons at Hastings were so closely packed, the dead and wounded were held in position until the line moved, when they fell down.
Ghastly flashbacks to playing hooker in a rugby scrum... :(
Quote from: Erpingham on July 23, 2024, 12:48:01 PMIf we ignore the eastern Romans (who were not non-Romans in military terms), the question is, do we have much evidence of armies in multiple lines in the Early Middle Ages?
Multiple cavalry lines, or cavalry lines with an infantry support line, seem common enough. The Normans at Hastings had two infantry lines and a cavalry line. But we might read this as a skirmish line in front of an infantry line. Whatever, clearly, the bits in front ended up behind the rear parts, which suggests the lines replaced each other.
If we move on to The Standard (High Medieval but still not late, so permitted by Dave's parameters), the English have two infantry lines and the Scots three. However, the battle didn't pan out to allow any organised replacement of one line by another, so we can't draw much from it.
Interesting. I don't know much about Mediaeval dispositions, but cavalry in Antiquity had files spaced quite far apart, which would allow for countermarching and one body of cavalry passing through another. Skirmishers passing through infantry was certainly a thing - psiloi through hoplites, etc. Seems it could be done well or badly:
QuoteThere should be intervals within the ranks, so that, when the light-armed troops have discharged their weapons while the enemy is still advancing, before the two armies come to close quarters, they may about-face, pass in good order through the centre of the phalanx, and come without confusion to the rear. For it is not safe for them to go around the whole army, encircling the flanks — since the enemy would quickly anticipate them in this manoeuvre, coming to close quarters and intercepting them on the way — nor is it safe for them to force their way through the closed ranks, where they would fall over the weapons and cause confusion in the lines, one man stumbling against another. - Onasander, Strategikos: 19.1
QuoteI don't know much about Mediaeval dispositions, but cavalry in Antiquity had files spaced quite far apart, which would allow for countermarching and one body of cavalry passing through another.
I'm not sure where it is covered in detail. Early/High Medieval cavalry probably manoeuvred in a looser formation (Clifford Rogers suggests four feet between files). But a tighter stirrup-to-stirrup formation was also used for charging. Cavalry fighting seems to have been more fluid than we sometimes imagine, with the individual conrois and their parent squadrons fighting their own battles. Co-ordinated formation fighting was probably the reserve of the pros, like the Templars. So, I suspect that conrois moved between rather than through each other, leaving a scatter of displaced individuals scanning the field trying to find where their standard had gone to rally on it.
Zama has Hannibal, whilst not practising line relief, at least forming up in three lines of infantry with an apparent expectation that, unless the Romans collapsed quickly, they all might end up engaged at some point.
One problem might be that, of the armies and battles of the classical period on which we have some (maybe even vaguely accurate!) information, other than the Romans not many civilised nations fielded forces that might have lent themselves to line relief. Hellenic and Hellenistic phalanxes, for example, are arguably seeking endurance, cohesion and solidity by another route, namely the phalanx itself.
Quote from: DBS on August 27, 2024, 03:10:39 PMZama has Hannibal, whilst not practising line relief, at least forming up in three lines of infantry with an apparent expectation that, unless the Romans collapsed quickly, they all might end up engaged at some point.
One problem might be that, of the armies and battles of the classical period on which we have some (maybe even vaguely accurate!) information, other than the Romans not many civilised nations fielded forces that might have lent themselves to line relief. Hellenic and Hellenistic phalanxes, for example, are arguably seeking endurance, cohesion and solidity by another route, namely the phalanx itself.
The best explanation for the three lines at Zama is that Hannibal was not intending line relief, but disposed his troops to
look like a triplex acies and fool Scipio into thinking he intended a straightforward frontal assault. The fact that the third line of veterans was 200 yards behind the other lines argues against it being used for support. Most likely Hannibal intended to do what he did best: use the third line to gift-wrap the legions
a la Cannae whilst the first two lines were gradually giving ground (hence the 200 yard gap). But for this to work he needed cavalry superiority and one can theorize that he thought he had it, since the Massinissa had not yet arrived at the Roman camp when Hannibal's spies checked it out, arriving the next day. Only at the deployment did Hannibal realise he had been duped and had no choice but to cancel his envelopment plan and go for a frontal assault after all - which went badly partly because his lines had no idea of how to fall back through each other since they hadn't had time to train for it (the Carthaginian levies) or weren't in the right formation for it (the veterans).
Not the best explanation, just your explanation- which entirely depends on continuous line of battle.
There are other explanations.
But also, there are other styles of war. Classical Greeks didn't when hoplites dominated because they didn't fight battles lasting long enough, for example.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 06, 2024, 06:50:39 AMThe fact that the third line of veterans was 200 yards behind the other lines argues against it being used for support.
True, but if your expectation is that the lines in front will get defeated and run whatever you do, then you don't want your veterans too close, or they're likely to get swept away in the rout.
You want the first two lines to be speed bumps, not a launch ramp...
Quote from: Cantabrigian on November 09, 2024, 09:56:44 AMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 06, 2024, 06:50:39 AMThe fact that the third line of veterans was 200 yards behind the other lines argues against it being used for support.
True, but if your expectation is that the lines in front will get defeated and run whatever you do, then you don't want your veterans too close, or they're likely to get swept away in the rout.
You want the first two lines to be speed bumps, not a launch ramp...
Line relief doesn't work like that. The system is predicated on one line falling back through another
before it routs. The supporting line must immediately take up the slack which means it has to be directly behind the line in front.
That is only accurate if you accept a single line of battle.
It's only one interpretation, and it is not supported by the presence of units and formations, or pretty much any modern research.
Quote from: Mark G on November 10, 2024, 09:28:15 AMThat is only accurate if you accept a single line of battle.
It's only one interpretation, and it is not supported by the presence of units and formations, or pretty much any modern research.
Fine. Let's see the modern research. We'll need a separate thread though.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 09, 2024, 02:17:34 PMLine relief doesn't work like that. The system is predicated on one line falling back through another before it routs. The supporting line must immediately take up the slack which means it has to be directly behind the line in front.
I don't think anyone disagrees that Hannibal wasn't expecting to do line relief as you use the phrase. But given that, there is another possible explanation for his deployment which I gave - you can't assume that the only possible explanation was that he was intending to encircle the Romans.
Though personally, I have a lot of sympathy for the idea that he was hoping to encircle them if he could. The guy does have a track record.
The fact that Hannibal did not intend a multi-line frontal fight is clear from the way his troops behaved. When the battle did become a frontal fight they had no idea what to do. The Gauls were veterans from his Italian campaigns and by this time fought as drilled troops. The Carthaginian levies however had joined his army only a few days earlier and had been recruited just a short time before that. Hannibal had had no time to train them in line relief or anything else. When the Gauls fell back they expected to pass through the levies - who did not let them through - and a fight broke out between Gauls and levy troops.
My take is that Hannibal never expected the levies to do anything other than act as window dressing, helping simulate a triplex acies arrangement. Tactically, he had no use for them as anything else.
The veterans in the rear were certainly drilled for any tactic and should have been able to execute the line relief manoeuvre (open order files letting the front line through then immediately doubling to intermediate order files) but they did nothing of the sort. What were they there for? They were too far away to act as a supporting line and did not act as one when the levies broke. If they had been in open order with file gaps 4 feet wide the retreating levies and Gauls would have had no trouble passing through. But if they were in intermediate order with no file gaps, ready to form two columns (which requires intermediate order) and march around the Romans to their rear, then they could not let anyone through and did not do so. It all fits.
Sadly I have no video footage or multiple eyewitness accounts besides what we read in the sources to confirm this, so I suppose the Doubt will continue to reign supreme.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 11, 2024, 08:57:23 AMIf they had been in open order with file gaps 4 feet wide the retreating levies and Gauls would have had no trouble passing through. But if they were in intermediate order with no file gaps, ready to form two columns (which requires intermediate order) and march around the Romans to their rear, then they could not let anyone through and did not do so. It all fits.
Sounds like my old paper I wrote for Slingshot back in the 90's (??).
If we are going to do Zama again (separate or here), we should be aware it has been discussed before. For example
http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=903.0
Although this was 11 years ago, so it may not include the modern studies referenced by Mark G. I note Duncan references Steven's article, which he states was in Slingshot 241.
Add : The main sources for the battle are in the Battles section of the forum
http://soa.org.uk/sm/index.php?topic=907.msg5900#msg5900
11 years ago! Need to change our name to the Society of Fossilised Geriatrics.
I had a look at Zama in my line relief article (how many years ago was that published?). We could discuss it again, but all the relevant data has been covered and arguments thrashed out. I did a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ7ExvFhJk0) on it a few years back. Might be of some interest.
Justin, we have done this with you too many times.
We have presented evidence and arguments in thread, which you did not understand.
I have sent you journal articles setting it out directly, which you do not understand.
We have recommended books which you have not understood.
You view all combat cinematically, if you cannot see a Hollywood action film of the descriptions in your mind, you just fail to understand what is presented. I suspect you prefer YouTube to books too.
That is a conceptual failure on your part, not a lack of evidence supporting a contrary position.
So you have an opinion, others have different opinions - let debate proceed on that basis, but drop all the "only best description" hyperbole.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 11, 2024, 08:57:23 AMThe Gauls were veterans from his Italian campaigns and by this time fought as drilled troops.
Really? What's the source for that? The Gauls and Ligurians are usually, I think, regarded as survivors not from Hannibal but from Mago's army in Liguria, which the Romans had demanded be recalled. But I can't immediately recall what the source is for that view, either.
Quote from: Mark G on November 11, 2024, 08:27:08 PMJustin, we have done this with you too many times.
But on the other hand, think what a boring forum it would be if we all agreed.
A moderator point. Disagreement is fine, differing opinions are fine. Always, though, aim your disagreement at arguments and not people. Everyone, I hope, sees the forum as a learning opportunity (though we may not all want to learn so much film, TV and pop trivia ::) )
Quote from: Duncan Head on November 11, 2024, 09:26:23 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 11, 2024, 08:57:23 AMThe Gauls were veterans from his Italian campaigns and by this time fought as drilled troops.
Really? What's the source for that? The Gauls and Ligurians are usually, I think, regarded as survivors not from Hannibal but from Mago's army in Liguria, which the Romans had demanded be recalled. But I can't immediately recall what the source is for that view, either.
My bad. Been a while since I looked at Zama. I don't have access to my home PC so let me wait until it's functional. I'd like to have a look at those Gauls. How long were they in Carthaginian service before Zama? Do we presume they were undrilled impetuous warband at the battle or were they more disciplined than that?
Quote from: Mark G on November 11, 2024, 08:27:08 PMJustin, we have done this with you too many times.
We have presented evidence and arguments in thread, which you did not understand.
I have sent you journal articles setting it out directly, which you do not understand.
We have recommended books which you have not understood.
You view all combat cinematically, if you cannot see a Hollywood action film of the descriptions in your mind, you just fail to understand what is presented. I suspect you prefer YouTube to books too.
That is a conceptual failure on your part, not a lack of evidence supporting a contrary position.
So you have an opinion, others have different opinions - let debate proceed on that basis, but drop all the "only best description" hyperbole.
I'm willing to see all that evidence again. Created a new thread for the purpose. ;)
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 08:33:47 AMI'd like to have a look at those Gauls. How long were they in Carthaginian service before Zama?
During the summer of 205 BC, Livy (28 46 7) has Mago sail from Minorca to Genoa in Italy. In 203 BC, Mago is defeated by the Romans. So, not long in Carthaginian service. I just cannot buy the idea of Gauls wanting to leave Italy for Africa. Something about the involvement of the Gauls in any Carthaginian army does not smell right for me, and I believe is a fabrication of Alimentus.
Quote from: Monad on November 13, 2024, 09:47:23 AMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 08:33:47 AMI'd like to have a look at those Gauls. How long were they in Carthaginian service before Zama?
During the summer of 205 BC, Livy (28 46 7) has Mago sail from Minorca to Genoa in Italy. In 203 BC, Mago is defeated by the Romans. So, not long in Carthaginian service. I just cannot buy the idea of Gauls wanting to leave Italy for Africa. Something about the involvement of the Gauls in any Carthaginian army does not smell right for me, and I believe is a fabrication of Alimentus.
Two years is long enough to get some decent drill under one's belt. The Gauls may have been mercenaries rather like the Spanish, prepared to fight Rome anywhere rather than submit to it.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 11:39:33 AMTwo years is long enough to get some decent drill under one's belt. The Gauls may have been mercenaries rather like the Spanish, prepared to fight Rome anywhere rather than submit to it.
The Gauls don't need to go to Africa to fight the Romans, because they were already fighting the Romans and would for some years.
Quote from: Monad on November 13, 2024, 12:16:38 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 11:39:33 AMTwo years is long enough to get some decent drill under one's belt. The Gauls may have been mercenaries rather like the Spanish, prepared to fight Rome anywhere rather than submit to it.
The Gauls don't need to go to Africa to fight the Romans, because they were already fighting the Romans and would for some years.
Not in Italy. By that time the Romans had conquered Cisalpine Gaul and any Gauls who didn't want to submit to Rome had to get out.
Quote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 12:46:08 PMQuote from: Monad on November 13, 2024, 12:16:38 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 11:39:33 AMTwo years is long enough to get some decent drill under one's belt. The Gauls may have been mercenaries rather like the Spanish, prepared to fight Rome anywhere rather than submit to it.
The Gauls don't need to go to Africa to fight the Romans, because they were already fighting the Romans and would for some years.
Not in Italy. By that time the Romans had conquered Cisalpine Gaul and any Gauls who didn't want to submit to Rome had to get out.
Although some changed their allegiance once Hannibal had arrived and demonstrated what he could do.
Quote from: Denis Grey on November 13, 2024, 01:08:58 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 12:46:08 PMQuote from: Monad on November 13, 2024, 12:16:38 PMQuote from: Justin Swanton on November 13, 2024, 11:39:33 AMTwo years is long enough to get some decent drill under one's belt. The Gauls may have been mercenaries rather like the Spanish, prepared to fight Rome anywhere rather than submit to it.
The Gauls don't need to go to Africa to fight the Romans, because they were already fighting the Romans and would for some years.
Not in Italy. By that time the Romans had conquered Cisalpine Gaul and any Gauls who didn't want to submit to Rome had to get out.
Although some changed their allegiance once Hannibal had arrived and demonstrated what he could do.
That's earlier. By 205BC the Romans had re-established control over northern Italy. Hannibal was rotting the south and could do nothing about it.
Paddy Griffiths "The Viking Art of War" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Viking-Art-War-Paddy-Griffith/dp/1853672084?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tb7gnNDzvdpMX8BWgSf4NBPdfIXWHJ2fom5piZ_5U2xWeWP3J2O9UPJpFu4GF76TJCEJl4xSARhFDMhPxdpWVgek5EHU7fK4cm12aocm8nUOVLRS67a3I5ck9ayJREQp-eKSPYqPdwM3er75kpOOdyJeNGwXcLKrrfNXLXfYKQEjvxVwJHW7zsIQ1iuSNBENyMgMqKHdAy9hPGGAtD1zcEGmzC10J6pZKsuk61dEPno.o3C-oo8ZzleCWYZ1HvwovyPQG9hnXVfE4F67ipE5G_4&dib_tag=AUTHOR) examines some of the detailed mechanisms used by irregular troop types, particularly the role played by berserks and other highly motivated individuals.
It may be useful to this discussion.