Caesar, 'The Civil War' translation request

[Jim Webster]

In the Penguin translation, in the section called 'The Spanish War' section 20 the English says

"At the same time, one morning one of the heavy infantry from the native legion deserted to us... "

Just wondered what the latin was an a more literal translation

Jim

[Duncan Head]

"Eodem tempore mane loricatus unus ex legione vernacula ad nos transfugit"

It's a "loricatus", literally "cuirass-wearer" used presumably to mean "armoured ranker", from a "legio vernacula": this is a not-uncommon term for legions raised from non-citizen provincials.

Similarly the bit a few sentences later,  "At the same period eight heavy-armed centurions deserted to Caesar from a native legion", is "Idemque temporis centuriones loricati VIII ad Caesarem transfugerunt ex legione vernacula".

[Jim Webster]

The legione vernacula I can see, I suspect there was a lot of them about, perhaps camouflaged with retrospective citizenships.

But to have an armoured ranker, or a cuirass-wearer, that must surely indicate the existence of legionaries in the ranks who didn't have armour?

Jim

[Duncan Head]

FWIW, the anonymous author of Bell Hisp also uses "loricatus" in:

S.4: Caesar "sent on ahead some heavy-armed infantry troops — brave soldiers — accompanied by cavalry".
S.13: "the latter begged Caesar to get rid of the heavy-armed troops who had been put in charge of the defence of the town by Pompeius".

I don't think that the use of loricati necessariily implies that there were any non-loricated soldiers in these units, they might merely be being distinguished from light infantry elsewhere in the army.

But then at 12, we have "Postero die ex legione vernacula milites sunt capti ab equitibus nostris duo qui dixerunt se servos esse" — "On the next day two soldiers from one of the native legions were captured by our cavalry: they asserted they were slaves". Is it significant that this time men from a legio vernacula are merely milites, not loricati, or is this just "elegant variation"?

[Jim Webster]

 It's a long long time ago, but I can still remember

In the first edition of WRG Armies and Enemies of Rome we had the legionary of the civil wars, wearing leather armour because there wasn't enough mail for everyone

And the Airfix legionaries http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/review.aspx?id=610  (who later were explained away because armour was painted on )

Given that Pompeius had 13 legions of various sorts and strengths, was there the body armour for everybody easily available in Spain?

Jim

[Duncan Head]

And now d'Amato et al are trying to bring leather armour back...

As far as I can see, there is no great tradition of leather armour in Spain. There is, IIRC, one relief from Osuna that might show quilted armour, though. But a man in leather, and maybe even one in quilt, would surely still be "loricatus".

[Jim Webster]

It's nice to see the Romans keeping up with fashion so long after the fall of the Empire 

My guess is that with the big shield there'd be no armour at all for a lot of men.

Jim

[Andreas Johansson]

Is it significant that this time men from a legio vernacula are merely milites, not loricati, or is this just "elegant variation"?

If he'd meant to distinguish, surely he'd used a less generic term than miles? That's not to say that these men were necessarily loricati too, but if they weren't, Caesar doesn't seem to've been out to emphasize the fact.

[Jim Webster]

When you read that section (which is one of the continuation sections written by AN other) there is a somewhat contemptuous attitude to some of the Pompeian legions, for example


"He had the emblems and standards of thirteen legions, but of those on whom he trusted for support two were natives which had deserted from Trebonius; one was formed out of the Roman colonies in those parts; and a fourth, belonging to Afranius, he had brought with him from Africa; the rest were for the most part made up of fugitives and deserters; in light-armed foot and cavalry we far exceeded him in both courage and numbers."

Jim

[Patrick Waterson]

... the rest were for the most part made up of fugitives and deserters ...

This may explain why a couple of 'milites' in Spanish War 12 (who may conceivably but not necessarily have been captured while foraging without armour) insisted or confessed that they were slaves.