Maniple System

  • The Maniple System was the organisation and tactics used by the Roman Legions between 315-107 BCE, when it was replaced by the Cohort System.
  • The Punic Wars (264-146 BCE) against Carthage were fought using the Maniple System.

The Samnite Wars (343-290 BCE)

  • The Maniple System was introduced under the Roman Republic in 315 BCE, during the Samnite Wars (343-290 BCE).
  • It was a system used by the Samnites, and subsequently adopted by the Romans, until the Marian Reforms of 107 BCE.
  • Up to then, the Romans had been using the Greek style Hoplite Phalanx System.
  • But the hilly terrain of the Samnites put the less flexible Phalanx system at a disadvantage.
  • At the Battle of the Caudine Forks in 321 BCE, an entire Legion was forced to surrender, after which the Romans adopted the Maniple System.

The Maniple Structure

  • The Legion
    • Each Legion consisted of approximately 6,000 men divided into 60 Maniples.
    • The Legion was divided into three lines which were offset diagonally for greater mobility, which was an improvement over the Phalanx System.
  • The Maniple
    • Every Maniple was separated from the next by a gap of one Maniple.
    • Each Maniple consisted of two centuries of 60 men each, paired into a Maniple of 120 men and lined up into three ranks of 40 men.
  • The Century
    • The smallest unit of the Maniple was the century, consisting of approximately 60 to 80 men.
  • The Soldier
    • Each soldier had a six foot square fighting gap between himself and the next soldier, to allow him to swing his sword.

The Three Lines

  • The Manipular Legion was divided into three lines:
    • Hastati (2,400 men)
      • The First line: 20 Maniples of Hastati, each with 120 men.
      • New recruits and youngest soldiers.
    • Principes (2,400 men)
      • The Second Line: 20 Maniples of Principes, each with 120 men.
      • More experienced soldiers.
    • Triarii (1,200 men)
      • The Third Line: 20 Maniples of Triarii, each with 60 men.
      • Senior and very experienced soldiers.
      • The Triarii would squat or kneel, to avoid being caught up in the early stages of the battle.

The Tactics

  • The Velites
    • In front of the Legion would be a group of approximately 1,000 Skirmishers or Javelin Throwers called the Velites.
    • They were not formed into units, but were attached to each Maniple of Hastati, Principes and Triarii.
    • They wore virtually no armour, but acted as a screen for the Legion.
    • Once having thrown their javelins at the enemy, they would retreat behind the lines of the Hastati.
  • The Hastati
    • The Hastati formed the First line of the Legion.
    • If the Hastati encountered serious resistance they could fall back through the Maniple lines, leaving the Principes to confront the enemy.
  • The Principes
    • The Principes formed the second line of the Legion.
    • If the Principes were unable to hold off the enemy, they could also fall back through the lines and leave the experienced Triarii to confront the enemy.
  • The Triarii
    • The Triarii formed the Third and Final line of the Legion.
    • However, to fall back on the Triarii would only happen if the Battle was going very badly.
    • The Latin phrase Ad triarios redisse meaning ‘to fall back on the Triarii’, came to mean ‘to be in desperate straits’.

Additional Troops

  • Velites:
    • 1,000 light skirmishers armed with Javelins, attached to each of the 60 Maniples.
  • Cavalry:
    • Equestrian Romans.
  • Auxiliaries:
    • Cavalry as well as Infantry, from the Allies of Rome.

Wars won using the Maniple System

The Cohort System (From 101 BCE onwards)

  • Eventually the Maniple System was replaced by the Cohort System during the Marian Reforms (107-101 BCE).

Sources

 

Posted in .