Manda's (Amachan) Republican Roman Warband

The Republican Roman manipular army consits of many units. At the time of the Pyrrhic war it was mostly still transitioning from the older Greek-style phalanx system to the Roman manipular system. They had already fully gone over to the triplex acies formation, but some of the old equipment and ideals still were around. This is why you will see some differences between this Republican army and the one you’d see during the Punic wars that most people would be familiar with.

Polybius is a good source, probably the best, for how the Republican army was structured, however he was enlisted in the legion during the early 2nd century BC. The Pyrrhic war was during the early 3rd century BC, 282-275BC. There is roughly a 100 years in between. Dionysios of Halikarnassos is probably our best source for the Pyrrhic wars. However I am using the Roman Republican Legionary 298-105 BC from Osprey as my source and it credits Polybius and other traditional sources a lot.

The hastati will pretty basic fair; gladius, scutum, 2 pila and either no armour or a pectoral plate for armour. These will be made from Aventine Miniatures RR31, RR32 x2 and RR33 and will be on square 20x20mm bases to get them to form a tight formation. For the tunics I will be using Vallejo Model Air Aged White (71.132), the rest of the colours will be as described before.

SAGA

In SAGA they will just be basic warriors and I am planning on making 16 of them.

The principes will be slightly different as Dionysios of Halikarnassos described them as still wielding spears. So they will be armed with a hasta (spear), they will have the newer scutum (as opposed to the hoplon) to show this transition of the legion and will be wearing lorica hamata (iron mail shirt). These will be made from Aventine Miniatures RR291a, RR292a and RR293a and will be on square 20x20mm bases to get them to form a tight formation. For the tunics I will be using Vallejo Model Air Aged White (71.132), the rest of the colours will be as described before.

SAGA

In SAGA these will also be basic warriors and I’m planning on making 12 of these.

Excerpt from Dionysios of Halikarnassos (20.11.2)

τοὺς τοῖς ἱππικοῖς δόρασιν ἐκ διαλαβῆς ἀμφοτέραις ταῖς χερσὶ κρατουμένοις μαχομένους συστάδην καὶ τὰ πολλὰ κατορθοῦντας ἐν ταῖς μάχαις Πρίγκιπας Ῥωμαῖοι καλοῦσιν.
Those who fight in close combat with cavalry spears grasped by the middle with both hands and who usually save the day in battles are called principes by the Romans.

The models I use won’t be holding a spear in the middle with both hands as described above, but will be using a spear like hoplites do, but with a scutum instead.

The triarii will really be old style, very much equipped like Greek hoplites. They will be equipped with a hasta (spear), hoplon and either wear a bronze cuirass or a large muscled pectoral plate. These will be made from Aventine Miniatures RR10 & RR12 with some head swaps and will be on square 20x20mm bases to get them to form a tight formation. The tunics they wear will be painted Vallejo Model Color Flat Red (70.957) to make them look even more different. The wood on the inside of the hoplon would mostly be painted and for this I will use the random die chart mentioned before. The rest of the colours will be as described before.

SAGA

in SAGA they will be normal hearthguard and I am planning on making 8 of them.

If you were expecting velites to be used as levy, you’re a bit ahead in time. Velites didn’t replace these leves until late 3rd century BC and we’re in the early part of that century. The leves will be armed with javelins and may wear a helmet, that’s about it. These will be made from Aventine Miniatures RR003 x2 & RR004 and will be on 25mm round bases to represent the loose formation these would have been in. For the tunics I will be using Vallejo Model Air Aged White (71.132), the rest of the colours will be as described before.

SAGA

In SAGA they will be levy armed with javelins and I’m planning to make 12 of them.

The eques will be mounted on horses and wear a mail shirt. They will be armed with a hasta (spear) and carry a large round shield. They will be made from Avantine Miniatures RR43 x4 and will be based on 50x25mm pill shaped bases.

SAGA

In SAGA they will be mounted warriors and I will be making 12 of them.