*

Recent Topics

Author Topic: Numeri and cunei command structure?  (Read 1797 times)

Offline WuZhuiQiu

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1202
Numeri and cunei command structure?
« on: 19 May 2014, 07:12:18 PM »
A modelling question has prompted these historical questions:

If numeri and cunei would have been commanded by centurions, might there have been some additional Roman elements to their command structure?

Also, might there have been some parallel native or barbarian command structure, much as in the pre-independence Indian Army?

Moroever, if the Roman centurions spoke Latin, and the native or barbarian warriors spoke their own language, how would they have bridged the linguistic gap? Might the assigned centurions have been chosen from among descendents of Romanized people of the same cultural group? Might a native or barbarian sub-commander who spoke both languages have transmitted the centurion's orders?

Thanks in advance for any insight!




Offline Mad Doc Morris

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1813
  • Olympus speaketh?
Re: Numeri and cunei command structure?
« Reply #1 on: 20 May 2014, 07:25:17 AM »
Simple answer: We don't know. :D

Not so simple answer: There's obviously a lack of formalisation. Whatever the reason, Roman administration had no need for that. So we might assume that 'irregular' units, which were mustered just for a certain (set of) campaign(s), were left to their own devices in terms of organisation. Most likely there had to be some kind of spokesperson (or a number thereof), acting as a contact for Roman administration. But this could well be limited to overall command; on average the Romans seemed to have a lot of trust in their confidants, once these had been exposed and accustomed to Roman culture (Arminius is a well-known if somewhat bad example).
The terms "numerus" and "cuneus" don't help either, since these were apparently used to describe, well, 'informal' formations of regular soldiers as well, i.e. a number (numerus!) of troops from different units mixed together.
There's one piece of evidence – which I remember – mentioning a Roman legionary centurion in charge of – apparently – foreign troopers. But the composition of these troops is unclear at best, and the purpose of their assembly was construction work not actual warfare.
In essence, there's no evidence for an 'in-depth' Romanisation of irregulars. In terms of modelling, that's liberating I guess. ;)

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
3 Replies
1817 Views
Last post 24 November 2008, 05:47:32 PM
by Modhail
10 Replies
2653 Views
Last post 25 May 2011, 05:50:12 AM
by zizi666
8 Replies
6940 Views
Last post 06 August 2015, 10:18:30 AM
by cuprum
2 Replies
1646 Views
Last post 18 January 2014, 08:10:32 AM
by King Tiger
35 Replies
6218 Views
Last post 19 February 2014, 07:36:09 AM
by carlos marighela