Evolution of Roman Artillery - How Powerful Was It?

[@InvictaHistory]

Check out our latest episode on the history of Roman Fast Food: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGa0q2Nmmrp5a7M

[@manindescript9861]

Historians: There isn't much evidence of artillery in field battles. Total War: Every AI army must have artillery which fires flaming ammunition.

[@DanJimmy]

Medieval 2: The AI shall construct armies of nothing but artillery

[@VL1975]

Total War: Barbarians had artillery.

[@manindescript9861]

@@VL1975 Viking Invasion had Trebuchets!

[@TheSuperhoden]

Lmao

[@ls200076]

oh yeah

[@neutralfellow9736]

Roman arrowtips of ballista bolts are found everywhere across Europe by archaeologists without any evidence of fortification in sight, meaning they were most definitely used in open battles.

[@Radbot776]

Neutral Fellow I think the romans used the ballista as a sort of big sniper device for high ranking officials on the battlefield

[@spaceartist1272]

Phillip Mishkov good point

[@robdahobbit1418]

true, the modern artillery methods are derived in part of roman artillery, for instance when infantry advanced i.e. the opening scene to gladiator, the artillery fired ahead of the infantry, in modern times called danger close and there is a specific term for that procedure but i forget, its been 22 years since my days as a gunner. A lot of times the romans had to make the artillery onsite, they carried plans of all they might need in battle and for incamp.

[@Kosh800]

Most fortifications were wood anyway, so they'd be long gone. I'm not saying you're wrong, just saying that a wooden fortification wouldn't provide much evidence of its existence unless they were able to find the trash pits associated with them. Even then those might be seen as army trash pits.

[@MK_ULTRA420]

@@Radbot776 The ballista was used to break apart enemy formations and fortifications. It wasn't reliably accurate enough to aim for individual targets, especially high ranking officials in the back of enemy lines. Though I'm sure Roman soldiers were daring enough to try it at least once or twice.

[@natsyrte]

Thank you for this video ! As the author of a Master thesis on roman artillery, I am very pleased to see it. I think this video is excellent, and probably the best one on youtube on the subject, and the most precise. I have a few remarks : 9:25 Onagery probably didn't have wheels, since the axle would be too fragile given the strength of each shot. They would break. The designs shown at 9:49 and 16:30 are more realistic, and those days are generally thought to be more correct than the other one. 9:55 Actually, onagers could shoot stones horizontally, and not in an arc, depending on how they tuned the sling strings. Experimental archaeologists seem to have demonstrated it. 10:38 There's a new school of thought (from the 2000's), lead by researcher Aitor Iriarte, who proved that stone throwers actually had "inswinging" arms, and not "outswinging", as seen at that timestamp. Since shooting stones demanded more power, the Greeks put the arms of the weapon in reverse, as shown in the lower left corner of 15:41 (this is the famous Hatra Ballista), where arms protrude in the front of the weapon, and were pulled in the inside. This is now generally accepted in the scientific circles, but relatively unknown by the public (and firmly refuted by amateur researcher Alan Wilkins). Here's a drawing : www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ANCIENT-CATAPULTS-Some-Hy-p-otheses-Ree-xamined-CATAPULTS/672934371c307910fa799dd877e5f27d9ca869a3/figure/2 17:48 Although trebuchets were powerful, and also easier to build, the fact that they were able to destroy walls is also dut to the fact that medieval walls tended to be less high and less wide than the ones from antiquity (that could be ten meters wide of solid stone and gravel). I can provide sources for all of that, if needed. THANK YOU for telling us that artillery was not used to bring down stone walls. It's still a common mistake that we see everywhere (notably in Age of Empires and Total War). Also, where did you find all these beautiful pictures and drawings ? I have a few of them, but not the most artistic ones. I'd be interested to have your sources of illustrations. Thanks again !

[@johnladuke6475]

Awesome comment! Great point about the difference that wall design makes. Trebuchets were around for some time before 1453, but it took gunpowder to put a projectile through the walls of Constantinople.

[@kurtscholz7431]

Thank you. I think there's a design error in your springald ballista which should swing 180°.

[@callumbiasnow4825]

The images remind me a lot of the ones you find in the publisher ‘DK’ illustrated history books (mainly aimed at kids and young teens, but they’re great images). I found one the other day about Vikings (from mid 90’s) and couldn’t put it down. I’m in my mid 30s 😂

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Is your thesis available to read? I would also be interested in further sources. I'm actually working on a paper about how to assemble a trebuchet right now.

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

I think some of those drawings are from John Warry, Warfare in the Classical World. The book had some professional illustrators.

[@ryan7864]

Gladiator opening battle scene is historically impressive up to when the Barbarians engage the Roman front line ... then descends into Hollywood fiction when the Roman Formations disintegrated into chaos. Ridley Scott had an opportunity to display the Discipline of the professional Romans like the opening scene to HBO'S Rome, and failed.

[@geordiejones5618]

There were moments where the Legions broke ranks, but yeah they were usually quick to recover because of their veterans and officers, but just because the propoganda of Rome makes them out to be unflinching doesn't mean they didn't ever break apart in battle.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

*"I Claudius"* See: BBC adapt. '79 Re; R Greaves(?) Novel/Tacitus, is my all time favorite. Sian Phillips as Drucilla (Livia) was one of the best performance I've ever seen.

[@ryan7864]

@@geordiejones5618 Very rare during the time of the Principate. Much like the British Army during the 19th century, a Professional standing Army, lost to a much inferior force, the Zulu's at Isandlwana in 1879. However, the notion that a German horde of undisciplined warriors would break a Roman formation so quickly is hard to buy. But it made the scene look more exciting than the boring rotation of soldiers from the front line to the rear as would have been more likely.

[@luciano9755]

Well, Scott isn't known for staying true to historical accuracy.

[@TorianTammas]

@@geordiejones5618 When you are trained to fight in formation and are a professional soldier which will spent at least 20 years in the army you stay in formation. The point of drill is that you perform under all conditions. So they fight in formation.

[@EtgGhoST]

Can we PLEASE get the finished series for the Evolution of the Roman Legions. You were doing such a good job and I've waited on the completion of this series for years and I'm sure other fans who have been with the channel for the past few years and newcomers too would appreciate it. Edit: sigh looks like we’ll never get the finished series it looks boys :(

[@-Zevin-]

It's been a while since I watched those episodes where did he leave off? Did he ever get to later Imperial Rome and the use of the plumbata? *If not, fun plumbata facts; I started researching them after seeing the plumbata in Atillia Total War and was wondering what this weird dart looking thing was, and why did legionaries use them instead of javelins at that point in history? Well in total war they get it wrong and the troops throw them just like normal javelins but in reality they could be held by the back end and thrown sideways like lobbing a hand grenade, this gives them fantastic range as they are weighted, and with the fins on the back they self stabilize mid air and come strait nose down at a steep angle. Now imagine a entire cohort lobbing plumbata, like a hail of weighted lawn darts showering down directly over head. followed by a direct charge. So as the sky is raining weighted stabilized metal darts and everyone is panicking and holding shields up. The Legionaries smash into the distracted troops. The ultimate one two punch, I can imagine it would have been a terrifying moral shock.*

[@starhawck]

@@-Zevin- He made only one episode. But it's understandable, he had Uni to worry about and now has a job. I'm just surprised i've stuck with him through his Halo days back in 2011 till now.

[@SpitFactsAndThenDontReply]

@@starhawck has a job?

[@dohnjoe4100]

There's not too much to cover in general tactics that hasn't been said already. you already have several options between historia civilis' brief origin of the republican legion, and Strategy stuff's video on roman defensive tatics from Agustus to Justinian, with Kings and Generals getting to the specifics. I do appreciate his style of videos, though.

[@EtgGhoST]

Dohn Joe I could be wrong and not an expert on the subject, but the Roman legionnaires have had a lot of changes in organization, equipment, and tactics( especially with sieges) from 753 bc to 476 ad is a lot to cover especially with the military reforms after the 3rd century crisis but idk I just really would love to see it finished

[@davidliddelow5704]

I think you implied the torsion springs were made of normal rope and this isn't technically true. They used animal sinu ropes which was the same material used to make composite bows, its about the natural material you can use to make torsion springs.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

I'm a Garage Door Installer....I wouldn't have a job if not for those Roman Killing Machines.

[@christosvoskresye]

Or they used human hair.

[@zenebean]

I always wondered how normal rope could be used like that, so I appreciate this clarification

[@Eeranisus]

@@zenebean It could be used

[@johntuffy5721]

mine uses silk kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3qYknpplJiGoNU

[@synthetic221]

I'm a delivery driver and I normally "watch" your videos and others like it while I'm on the road. I've always had a love and interest for history. Last year however while listening to this exact video someone attempted to kidnap me while making their escape from the MPs. I really struggled to watch any historical documentary content and this video in particular since. Today I finished this video. I just wanted to sincerely thank you for all the educational entertainment and for being an unknowing milestone for my the progress I've made in recovering my mental health. Please keep up the good work. Thank you.

[@sologemeni]

someone tried to kidnap you while making their escape from military police? what the fuck? where do you live bro lmao. God bless you homie you'll get over it don't worry about a thing

[@duchi882]

Just imagine if a Trebuchet is launching a Giant Pommel at your Army

[@woodys9841]

Or many small pommels

[@alfrazalam101]

Man was not ment to wield such power!

[@alibouk227]

IT WOULD BE A WEAPON TO END METAL GEAR RIGHTLY.

[@joaqincastro5613]

Isn't that equal to a nuke?

[@PobortzaPl]

Hello, it's string based weapon channel. Today I have here pommel throwing trebuchet. Let me show you its features! MHU-HA-HA-HA!

[@InvictaHistory]

Late night gang sound off!!! (Uploaded this at midnight)

[@ggstartup]

Invicta - a west coaster too? Oorah!

[@InvictaHistory]

@@ggstartup Indeed : )

[@zulkifligumilang3155]

@Invicta can you make a video about Ancient Rome cuisine?

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

it's almost 6AM, you can't go and encourage my awful sleeping habits like this

[@Realkeepa-et9vo]

Joke's on you, it's 10am in Europe

[@carlosc862]

That scene from gladiator was the best. Until the legions engage the enemy and break formation, that is when Hollywood took command

[@MrFrinZy]

@Great White No argument, but can you elaborate?

[@sonnguyenvan1599]

@@MrFrinZy He meant to say that battles, even ones between armies of different military organizations, did not usually dissolve into chaos like what Scott showed. Formations usually broke when the soldiers needed to reorganize themselves or when the battle seemed lost to one side. Very simply, if you find enemies within your ranks, you've already lost. That's why armies stayed in formation.

[@BlaBla-pf8mf]

The archeological finds from the Battle at the Harzhorn in North Germany indicate that the roman army used its artillery to defeat a german army defending a hill in a way that resembles the beginning of Gladiator. Unfortunately there are no literary sources about this battle, except that Maximinus Thrax launched a campaign deep in Germany. Before the Harzhorn finds were dated modern historians didn't even believed that the campaign went so far from the roman border as ancient sources claimed.

[@michaelnash1067]

Excellent words... maybe someone will get a chance to drone over the area and find more.

[@nagmashot]

@@michaelnash1067 the harzhorn battlefield is a huge archeolgy digging side... they found hundrets of balista bolts ... luckely the area was NEVER used for farming and everything was sticking in the ground the same way it hit the ground 2000 years ago... they could remodel accurate the whole battle and locate the points were the balistas were standing. The roman Army of the late roman history was much better equipped and lead than most belived ... this found was eye opening for modern archelogy kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5nGma2Zp7uSrLs

[@karl_fookin_tanner9605]

This channel keep pumping out quality at the speed of light

[@0utc4st1985]

Fun fact, the Eastern Roman Empire was the first to invent the counterweight trebuchet.

[@0utc4st1985]

@@xylem2202 Around 1097 AD en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_inventions#Warfare

[@TheNIK10000]

@@54032Zepol Eastern Romans called themselves Romans. Western europeans created the term Byzantine after the fall of Constantinople.

[@jon_007]

Eastern Romans or Byzantines are Romans.

[@diegobarralez6439]

Supper fun

[@jonbarad1]

To be fair it was invented at the same time in China and by the eastern Romans. Some also say in the middle East. The "normal" trebuchet was definately in China BC

[@darthcalanil5333]

12:27 Titus! Grab the MS and give those Parthians a run for their money! *MS: Machine Scorpion🤣

[@TheRamblingBooth]

You really present your videos as academic essays, and you have the visuals to entertain. I have to say, top tier.

[@austinharris2961]

As a former Artilleryman in the US Army, this was super cool to watch. Live the content always but this one was extra cool dye to the nature in which it connects to my former profession!

[@bryandavis5162]

Hey Invicta, do you know about or have any sources on the medical practices of antiquity and how they would treat wounded soldiers after a battle? What kind of wounds they could/couldn’t treat?

[@je-freenorman7787]

Did they have any mental health programs for ptsd and such? The women that fight in the army now, might need them lol ID-ots

[@xSuperSS]

Ahh yes. The .50cal automatic scorpion

[@youtubeisafascistdictators4829]

You`d spend 50 calories to reload it, thats why the name 50 cal.

[@ztheguy222]

Biden better not take my high capacity catapult

[@leoh3616]

Imagine an automatic or even semi-automatic Scorpio...must have been horrific for the advancing enemy.

[@GuysGuideService479]

With a 50 clip magazine

[@je-freenorman7787]

its a real killer. enjoy the draft

[@chrisdooley6468]

3:45am here in Florida and I’m watching a video about Ancient Roman siege weapons. I see anything about Ancient Rome I click. Thank god no work today though lol

[@joshuaredwan7606]

Same man same

[@darthsidious6753]

In a battle, it's slightly more difficult to just "deploy" artillery on the perfect ground - and the primary issue with artillery is its mobility.

[@50shekels]

Darth Sidious not really. You’ve probably played a bit too much total war there chief

[@Armorius2199]

12:10 Cart Mounted Artillery? More like CHARIOT BALLISTA!

[@natsyrte]

They were called carroballistae, as a matter of fact. It has the same meaning of chariot ballista.

[@diazinth]

@@natsyrte Now i know what to call my motorised artillery in my next Italy run in Hoi4

[@johnladuke6475]

Call them whatever you want, I say Roman tank. Can you mount treads on a chariot? What about on the horse?

[@MISANTHROPE00]

@@natsyrte whoa... I tought that rome total war unit was puré fantasy

[@NL-gn2dl]

Only in GOT the catapults are deployed in front of the infantry lines. John Snow, you know nothing.

[@olliefoxx7165]

John Snow, simp of the North.

[@adrianbundy3249]

Compared to Dany's charge of the Dothraki into an area completely exposed and surrounded - Jon Snow's catapult positioning is positively brilliant generalship.

[@Supadubya]

They WERE Onagers, which need a lot of room to fire- so not quite as bad as you might imagine (artillery like this was useless once battle was engaged- due to their huge inaccuracy, Onagers would kill just as many friendlies through friendly fire if used once the melee began...) You even see the Onagers CORRECTLY being highly inaccurate here. One thing to remember- Game of Thrones ISN'T Earth. So the presence of advanced artillery like Onagers in a "medieval" setting is perfectly plausible there. Some of the kingdoms of Westeros (in particular, The Reach- which had united by 3000 years after the Long Night under House Gardener) had existed for over 5000 years by the time of the show (>8000 years after the long night), plenty of time to develop advanced artillery (in fact, it's the low tech level that is hard to believe- by this point in their history they should have had spaceships- we're talking the equivalent of at least 6000 AD here...)

[@powerist209]

@@adrianbundy3249 Well, they can have them use horse archery...ignoring how hard it is do do archery, let alone on horseback, without childhood training.

[@adrianbundy3249]

@@powerist209 But they're dothraki, they should all be trained with the bow since childhood. Yet in the shows here, you would never know it. But then again, in the books, some of their historical commanders were dumb as a box of rocks, so maybe having dumber leadership is just their way :)

[@BlueSkyCountry]

The Romans actually had a very advanced pre-industrial civilization going. There was the beginning of factory farming and mass production already going on. If they had capitalized and further worked on the Greek inventor Hiro's prototype steam engine and made a working version of it that could power carts and other vehicles, they would have brought the Industrial Revolution into being 2000 years earlier.

[@egoalter1276]

Very unlikely. They had absolutely no need for labojr saving devices.

[@ganhua3715]

Hey man I just wanted to say after I watch some of your video and the way you explain things really impress me and you have earn yourself a new subscriber

[@InvictaHistory]

Yay, welcome aboard!

[@godlucifer8428]

12:16 Rare images of Roman soldiers using Scorpion ballistas Germanic tribes

[@TimHornerWOP]

*colorized*

[@aeroplane-cq5zf]

LMG mounted and loaded!!!!

[@QualityPen]

When you play Civilization as Rome and advance to the modern era.

[@inber]

KZbin’s algorithms got me here. Now I am amazed by the quality of this content.

[@benedictcucumber5113]

My favorite historical movie ever

[@c--563]

I love it !!

[@DOSFS]

Not so historical, but authentic. And my favourite!

[@baptistedelplanque8859]

Any movie with gladiator soundtrack suddenly becomes your favourite historical movie. #gladiatorOSTgoeswitheverything

Khanet Preeteepveruriya authentic in what way? A gladiator never led a revolution to save Rome. The “barbarians” weren’t an unarmored and unorganised rabble. Aurelius was massively loved - but did he say he regretted imperialism? I’ve not read much of his stuff It’s a great movie though, and how they used entertainment to distract “the mob of plebs” was very cool. Also Commodus is obviously based off of the Emperor Caligula. But yeah it’s a brilliant movie - but I would’ve really liked if they actually showed the tranquility of living amongst the Gaulic, Celt, and Gothic Tribes of the time. COMPLETE freedom & being @ one with nature. They were extremely smart and religiously attached to nature - but Hollywood always portrays them as filthy scum.

[@DOSFS]

@ looks authentic, sorry should be more clear. As I said Gladiator isn't historical accurate as the director took more liberty on storytelling.

[@mangyminotaur30]

How powerful was it? > Hairy barbarian gets pinned to the wall by a bolt Pretty powerful I’d say

[@johnladuke6475]

Tis only a flesh wound

[@Legitpenguins99]

BROTHA I AM PINNED HERE

[@bonbondurjdr6553]

Yes! TTS!

[@MrMethekill]

Skulls have been found in Germany with some serious holes in it. Those things were overkill.

[@kovona]

I believe the upper end torsion weapons could generate forces in the range of a few tons.

[@Dethmeister]

2:37 The pogo stick was also inadvertently invented after a failed draw.

[@quantumratio4311]

:)) We can ask the cannel of Jörg Sprave, I guess he would be able to construct an full-auto crossbow by using a pogo stick. :D

[@GeneralKenobiSIYE]

I loved that picture of Roman soldiers in a Jeep with a .50 Cal machine gun. hahahaha!

[@QualityPen]

“The Roman Civilization has advanced to the modern era.”

[@jackthmp]

the horse-powered auto-scorpion is real, I saw it in a dream once

[@johnladuke6475]

I might have had that same dream, was Ride of the Valkyries playing in the background while you laughed maniacally?

[@CBRN-115]

@@johnladuke6475 strange, Hannibal was fighting the Roman Legion atop a cyborg war elephant with laser cannons in my version

[@sjonnieplayfull5859]

@@CBRN-115 AT-AT...

[@joker_season]

In my dream Cleopatra's vagina eat alive every Roman army get in her way.

[@nersyan1957]

I actually commanded an army and used it extensively. I am a total war commander.

[@Toto-95]

your documentaries are works of art bro.

[@Assassinus2]

And now I’m picturing The Rat Patrol, but with Roman legionaries dueling in the desert against Parthian light and heavy cavalry. Or maybe tachankas.

[@krazybadger78]

hand drawn Roman military concept art is tight

[@marekkucak6581]

The opening scene of Gladiator, battle of Laugaricio, happened not far from where I live.

[@cinjonsmythe6318]

I didnt know it was based on an actual battle; that it was made up. Thanks for the info!

[@92656trw]

The opening scene wasn’t a meeting engagement. The Romans have deployed barriers. This means it’s a fortification, aka their nightly camp while on the move.

[@cracklingvoice]

Their position is on a slope, not in the flatness of the camp that we are shown later. It's a prepared defensive position set up to permit offensive movement. All the artillery in the position would have taken at least a few days to get into position and zeroed-in on their targets. Seems like there was a no-shit offensive fires plan with synchronization of fires assets, much like what modern military commanders do.

[@92656trw]

OEFBugout we didn’t invent the combined arms concept. These folks had some great ideas. Most of which they stole from their enemies. Same as it ever was.

[@cracklingvoice]

@@92656trw Seems like a lot of "modern" tricks have been forgotten and relearned over the centuries.

[@Armorius2199]

Chariot Ballista coming at you!

[@aeroplane-cq5zf]

LMG mounted and loaded!!!!

[@brandonlinsey5625]

I love that scene in Gladiator.... One of the best of the movie

[@DontStopBrent]

Never seen “chapters” laid out with corresponding times at the beginning. Well done. I’ll look at more of your vids just because of this. Thank you.

[@ggstartup]

Quality content, as always! Thanks! Would you do a video on Roman city planning? I think it’s a fascinating subject.

[@InvictaHistory]

I think that would warrant an entire series honestly. I'd love to basically talk about how one would go about building an entire Roman town from the surveying stage down to the construction of the local forum, aqueduct, and coliseum.

[@ggstartup]

Invicta - I’ve been watching Time Team and the way the romans planned around conquered settlements + incorporated elements of Rome itself in every place they settled is awesome. How political turmoil affected everything, to boot (usurpers adjusting every statue, etc).. Their bureaucracy was quite something. I hope you do it one day!

[@je-freenorman7787]

Check out New York Its Roman

[@davemorgan6013]

@Invicta, you should really check out the Battle of Harzhorn in northern Germany (3rd century AD). It is one of the few sites that provide extensive archaeological evidence for the use of ballistae in a field battle. In this case, the weapons were light bolt throwers (scorpions).

[@atomic_wait]

Kingdom of Heaven director's cut needs more viewers. Beautiful film with compassionate depictions of every side of the conflict, with great depictions of the use of artillery.

[@gurriato]

What it needs is to be burned and forgotten.

[@IoannesPalaiologos]

Gurriato agree, horrendous historical movie.

[@geordiejones5618]

People just wanna hate but the directors cut of that film is in my top 10 all time movies.

[@alvinjamesmeredith6219]

Hello. I have for the last two days been addicted to your videos. For many decades I have watched the History Channel and Geo programs about the mass stories of the ancient world. On the other hand, your explanation of these battles are just purely so clear to watch or to vision. Your words, your skillful ways of presenting in full detail of each attempt of a new wave of attacks are just incredible. You blow my mind with the details of every single little info. The names of Roman size troops, the technics of what the Romans used to get over the walls. The way, I never knew that the Jewish poorly trained armies fought at Jerusalem. I had no idea they were at least hehe fought hard enough to make the battle last for months. I thought the Roman War Machine came into the region and put the blade to every Jew. Good for the Jewish states to fight back as they did. It's really sad to see how Romans looted and destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem where most likely treasures of the Jewish ppl lost their Scrolls and other priceless relics. At any rate, these are priceless treasure of info you are giving us. I had 9 spine fusions and recovering from my 9th fusion from last year. Found your website and OMGosh, Thank you for sharing your knowledge and showing us step by step how these battles took place. Heh On my F.B. where I have played a game for 23 years called, Ultima Online, I shared your KZbin videos with our Facebook site where past and present folks can share old and new stories. It's like dungeons and dragons. Again, thank you for the vast info and if I wasn't on W.C. I would forward some monies to your videos. But, W.C. does not pay well. heh I haven't had a check-in over 10 years. Thank Goodness my wife makes great money.

[@cristhianramirez6939]

Ancient Greece: *develops artillery* Rome: *uses artillery to conquer greece* Ancient Greece: my invention became my downfall

[@gonzaljevic]

Love the illustrations here. They are very nostalgic-looking as they remind me of a lot of textbooks from the 80s.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Imagine if the Romans get a 152mm howitzer on them

[@TheSuperhoden]

Ay if only.... then we'd all be Roman right now!

[@igorlukyan206]

The 225677th Fragment of the Man-Emperor of Mankind let me guess you just watched a ww2 vet shoot a 152mm howitzer that was recently in your subscription feed? Lmao

[@TheArklyte]

@@TheSuperhoden well, most of western civilization has a Roman fetish so you kind of are. You guys really like glorifying assholes that murdered, raped, enslaved, looted and stolen ideas from your actual ancestors. Especially when during colonization times you were doing the same:D

[@brethartaquino3976]

@@TheArklyte to be fair almost all of the civilization from their point of view it is ok but in our modern times it is not

[@TheArklyte]

@Random username yep, you have learned on handling your neighbours indeed. Would have been better if you've learned about education from ancient Persia though:D

[@theodosioskantasmd7388]

U missed a reference to Alexander using Artillery to cover his crossing of the river, At the battle of the Jaxartes River. First use of field artillery in battle. :D

[@Xurium]

We have some evidence for manuballistae used in the battle of the Harzhorn. There was an ambush on a marching roman army and they quickly set up sort of a killing zone with handheld ballistae, while soldiers came from the flanks. Through the found amunition and shoenails the battle could be reconstructed very well :)

[@raymondkisner9240]

Amazing video!

[@Scaggler]

I’d love to see some content on military tactics of so called “tribal” Europeans Did the Gauls, Visigoths and vikings have complex battle strategy? If so are there any examples of them going toe to toe with an army of Greek or Roman standard?

[@apostolispouliakis7401]

Have you read about the Asia Minor state of Galatia ?

[@Oxtocoatl13]

Gauls and Vikings fought their battles almost a thousand years apart, but yes. Gauls beat Caesar once at Gergovia, the Visigoths famously both defeated a Roman army at Adrianople and later sacked Rome and founded a kingdom in Roman territory. Vikings were arguably master tacticians, adept at sudden attacks and ruses. None of these cultures left any tactical manuals that I'm aware of, and we mostly know about their battles from their enemies. Gauls and Norse societies also tended to be decentralized and campaigns could suffer because alliances broke down. Of course, going toe to toe with the Romans on a level field most times isn't the best tactic to fighting them. Guerrilla attacks, defensive structures and ambushes help negate their advantages, which is why Rome's tribal enemies often resorted to them.

[@hosmerhomeboy]

It also evolved over time. The fractious mobs that ceasar defeated later evolved into well ordered, decently well equipped, and numerous hordes that later blew through roman border defenses and colonized gaul, spain, and north africa.

[@johnladuke6475]

On the original question, would the loss of Varus' legion in the Black Forest be a fitting example of "tribal" Europeans fighting Romans with intelligent tactics? Albeit with a Roman-trained commander and some deserting Roman auxiliaries, what we would stereotypically think of as a disorganized horde of barbarians made effective use of terrain, fortification, ambush, formation, and troop types to completely destroy a Roman legion.

[@je-freenorman7787]

Um really? Romans converted everyone to Christianity USA is Roman, so is Russia and China Republic Germany also etc etc All A Roman Corporation

[@opoleboy]

Wow what a quality of production. Knowledgeable, atmospheric and with a lovely artwork and music. Delightful to watch. :)

[@fhmen]

The battle of Harzhorn could have been mentioned. That'd be good subject for a video on it's own too.

[@c--563]

I love your vids keep up the work

[@mariuslorson751]

well I suggest you look into the Battle at the Harzhorn. It was only discovered in 2008 and the largest collection of finds from said battle are Balista bolts. From the stuff the archaeologists have been able to put together, it looks like the Roman forces were engaged by Germanic tribesmen whilst on the march. The Romans then opened up fire on the tribesmen with their Scorpios and Balista to thin the enemy ranks before close combat was joined. That stuff is pretty interesting. Unfortunately the English Wikipedia article is not all that great, so I suggest you go search for some German sources and run them through a translator. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn

[@ricardorascon88]

Thank you so much for this info! I'm playing (for honor) using a Roman solider and can't decide if the Roman's used batista bolts more or those huge catapults that flung rocks across the battlefield??

[@mariuslorson751]

@@ricardorascon88 glad to help. In theory each century in a legion should have both an Onager (small catapult) & a Scorpio (smaller balista). Due to transport capacity reality often was that they had either or. As Onagers were not used to destroy enemy fortifications but as anti-infantry weapons & cavalry killers they were the rarer of the two. Scorpios allow for a faster rate of fire and are more versatile in use. Want to kill infantry? Easily done. Want to kill cavalry? Just as easily done. Want to clear enemy battlements? No problem. Want to crack an enemy shieldwall? Coming right up. Want to light that fortified village on fire? Just get me some Nafta (oil) and watch the thing burn. Onagers can do most of these things but are harder to aim and slower in fire rate + can't be as easily fired from wagons as scorpios. So if you ask me - if you want to more accurately roleplay in ForHonor - grab the Scorpio. Having played it myself in previous seasons I did prefer the hail of bolt execution for the knights over the catapult, though I ended up maining Black Prior in the end.

[@WynnofThule]

I love how you used 13:26

[@henreyeraser3402]

Please do evolution of cannons. (Really want to know how accurate Shogun 2's european cannons are)

[@mr.2083]

Among the early conquests/consolidation by Alexander is the first recorded use of artillery on the battlefield(that was not a siege). It was the battle at Pelium if I recall correctly.

[@pyrrhicstrategos8587]

If I remember correctly, it was also recorded that he also used artillery against the Saka at the Battle of Jaxartes in Central Asia.

[@riftbandit223]

Last time I was this early, Caesar was a tyrant.

[@darthcalanil5333]

Ast time I was this early Caesar was the hero of Rome!

[@colbygordon6936]

So, never?

[@jason4275]

the man had too many enemies and the largest army in the empire just to simply retire and become a farmer.

[@cirbam2747]

Last time I was this early, Yhwach got bullshitted on

[@PRubin-rh4sr]

Everyone, our boy Caesar was definitely a tyrant. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't still be my favorite Roman figure

[@jonnyqwst]

In the us army I was 13 series so I found this enjoyable

[@jason4275]

*Anyone know if the legionary front line troops, were paid more or the same as the roman artillery troops.*

[@navox933]

jason4275 engineers were non combatants and therefore were paid less

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

@@navox933 weren't they classed as inmunes, thus paid more AND excempt from camp duty?

[@gradeyundery4939]

most likely less, they were skirmisher who were lower ranks.

[@loganfox2386]

They were probably immunes, men that had been trained in specialist skills. Though they likely didn’t earn any more than basic pay, they were exempt from normal duties. This includes ditch digging, labour work, rampart patrol etc. There were actually many of these ‘immunes’. However, each century had its own piece of artillery (usually a carroballista) which would have been manned by 8-10 men. These would likely have been immunes who would have been trained in its use. Of course, these ‘immunes’ had other jobs too. They would have acted as hunters, carpenters, smiths, engineers, and likely the higher ones would have trained with other siegecraft.

[@bryanjames7528]

Soldiers volunteered for the duty, so they made same pay. They weren't a different unit. Immunes were specialized units, like engineers, medics, surveyors etc who were paid twice the pay as a legionnaire n exempt from combat. Engineers made the artillery, n a legionnaire used them.

[@heykeiffers6684]

So glad I found this Channel

[@benwhitnell]

17:37 I’m pretty sure “a danger to the cavalry...” “Is acceptable.” According to Maximus Decimus Meridian (I think that was his full name, I’m sure someone here can correct me.)

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

benwhitnell Quintus was concerned that the artillery wasn’t far enough forward to effectively cover the cavalry, Maximus thought this was an acceptable risk, as placing the artillery further forward could put it at risk if the Germans counter attacked or made in minor penetrations in the Roman line.

[@dadjokes8963]

My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the nex

[@BravoFourTactical]

As a former Infantryman I can promise they used artillery for flat ground army on army combat. Artillery is used to prep the objective. They would have used artillery for hours or days before the attack in hopes to kill, maim and reduce morale. The weapons we use may have changed but the tactics are old as combat.

[@Oxtocoatl13]

Great stuff! I would love a comparison with contemporary artillery in other parts of the world, like China.

[@Not-Just-Cars]

First gunpowder artillery

[@je-freenorman7787]

Its all Roman too China and Russia are Roman we only have 1 government

[@christopherwebber3804]

Two of the best examples of the ancient use of artillery in battle were when (a)Philip II was defeated by a mercenary army using massed artillery on a confined battlefield and (b) when Alexander the Great (his son) used artillery to clear the other side of a river of enemy cavalry so he could get across the river (Jaxartes IIRC).

[@Supadubya]

There is absolutely evidence of use of fire-pots in battle. I think you HEAVILY misunderstood what these "explosions" were in the movies. This was the splash effects of flaming pitch from clay pots fired by artillery (the pots themselves had a fuse which was lit, the highly flammable contents of the pots burst into flames most of the time when they hit the ground with sufficient force). These projectiles weren't actually on fire during flight (like the movies often show), but DID burst into a splash of flaming pitch/oil upon hitting the ground... The Byzantines and Greeks developed the technology for this, and it saw relatively little use in the Western Roman Empire outside Italy. But during the early medieval period, the Byzantines are said to have used this tech extensively. Talking of 'Medieval Armues' while ignoring the Byzantines does them a huge disservice. The Byzantines WERE Romans, who fought under the banner SPQR ("For the Senate and People of Rome") for centuries, and advanced Roman military tech even further...

[@brokenbridge6316]

This was a great video. Loved how informative it was. Impressive. Can't praise it enough. Great job.

[@CBRN-115]

So this video is basically introducing the *R O M A N C A T A P U L T*

[@VladiSSius]

12:15 right picture is a perfect exhibit of ancient Roman invention; Romanus Masinus Ganus.

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

It was hella freakin powerful, and it was used all the time. The Romans were all about their gadgets.

[@je-freenorman7787]

Still are look at USA, China and Russia Same Roman Government

[@je-freenorman7787]

France, Japan, Netherlands, Jamaica, India, Israel those are all the same Roman Government also just a different State

[@je-freenorman7787]

Germany is Roman too The First Reich was the Holy Roman Empire its all government today

[@Frank-mm2yp]

1. Dragging "heavy artillery" pieces through the forests of "somewhere in Germany" in order to hurl shock and awe fireballs at the barbarians in the said forest as part of an an"artillery barrage" has more to do with exciting Hollywood movie visuals than actual Roman Army history. The heavy stuff was used more commonly in siege warfare against stationary targets like enemy fortresses, towns and cities. What would have happened if the entire woods had caught fire and incinerated the Emperor's precious legions? "GIVE ME BACK MY EAGLES!" 2. The "artillery barrage" that was missing in the movie was the hail of spears/javelins which preceded every Roman set piece battle. BTW they usually carried two or more of them.What happened? Did they lose them with their luggage on the flight over? 3, The Roman legions did not want to sword "duel" with their enemies in "mano a mano" Hollywood style. They wanted to stay in close formation as long as possible, and stab and slash ,behind their shields, with their short swords. A legionary caught alone in the open in close hand to hand combat facing multiple rampaging enemies was usually a dead legionary. 4. When does "artistic license" become historical ignorance/negligence?

[@antoinemonks4187]

7:21 I had no idea an ancient army could produce so many artillery pieces. I always imagined 50 would be a lot! It also sounds like the ship battle depicted In the 1959 "Ben Hur" was quite accurate. 14:32

[@lennarthumpf8031]

It's the Romans Military stuff on a scale impossible to imagen in modern times is their thing That's what they do

[@sologemeni]

don't forget it took Europe 1000 years to reach the level of societal and technological advancement lost after the fall of the Roman Empire

[@Solon1581]

12:00 According to 4 minutes of googling, the Polybolos(rapid-fire ballista) had a firing rate of 11 bolts per minute.

[@shovelchop81bikeralex52]

I'm so glad you went in depth about the Greeks inventing this technology and the Romans just typically stealing it literally! Too many people think the Romans invented it which is infuriating as I grew up in Greece.

[@teovu5557]

the chinese feel the same way about European tech during the middle ages. lol

[@milferdjones2573]

Most good articles I read on Roman use of these weapons only cover the Romans using them and not mention creation which I agree with as one does need to be concise. Inferring they were invented by Rome lazy reading. Unfortunately people don't read on as nothing on the weapons I've seen don't mention the Greek source. Now right of conquest was the rule in Greece well before Romes rise and the rule world wide at the start. So yes they stole them as normal.

[@stefthorman8548]

Let me guess, you also think Macedonians were Greek. And let me guess some more, you think Greece didn't become irrelevant after the ancent age. Cope harder, you guys have nothing, other then your ancent glory, you whinny baby.

[@elchudcampeador5642]

@@teovu5557 chinese should stop using computers, internet etc then

[@patricofritz4094]

@@milferdjones2573 Romans were good as engineers and making things practical not philosophers or scientists

[@kirschakos]

This was amazing once again! Well done! :)

[@F22onblockland]

The Mongols were also mobile enough to move artillery and its believed that Subotai used them in a battle during invasion of Hungary. This is after traveling from modern day northern Iran to the steppes of Ukraine. The mongols are always the exception though.

[@Supadubya]

"Unless you happen to be, the Mongols!" Crash Course World History For the WIN!

[@domhuckle]

So good! I could watch your deep dives into history all day

[@rgm96x49]

If I could get a full-length series that's basically just the legions kicking ass with the same quality as Gladiator's opening scene I'd be a happy man.

[@erinaltstadt4234]

Thank you

[@lucianograff6512]

I'd like to know more about Ships and their role in commerce and war

[@InvictaHistory]

We did make several videos in the past on the Roman navy worth looking up

[@lucianograff6512]

@@InvictaHistory thanks I'll check it out

[@Robert399]

This is pedantic but hey this is a history channel: "fire" isn't the appropriate word for launching projectiles unless it's a firearm (because the earliest versions had you literally bring a flame to the gun). "Shoot" is the generic word for any ranged weapon.

[@RightBackAction]

Robert R there is also evidence of Greeks using the term λύετε or loose

[@Robert399]

@@RightBackAction Yes, "loose" is the specific term (and command) for bows (and maybe early artillery? idk) but "shoot" is convenient because you can use it for anything so you don't have to switch back and forth depending on the era.

[@jeffgraham436]

For those who don’t know, the movie Gladiator uses the sound track depicting the Zulu empis preparing to attack from the epic film “ Zulu” at the beginning of the battle scene where Roman artillery is portrayed. It is very recognizable if you are familiar with “Zulu”. If you are not, your life is woefully incomplete.

[@je-freenorman7787]

You live in a land of make believe.

[@iandemontfort4276]

The mistake in the opening scene is mistaken. The Roman's did not launch their pillum before engaging the Germanic tribes in the movie. In truth the Pillum would have been launched just before clashing with the enemy and swords drawn. This was a silly mistake for a multi million dollar movie. That apart, it was pretty good.

[@dunzek943]

We're real experts at killing each other...

[@gigipeedee]

DunZek cringe

[@gigipeedee]

Abraham Girt No

[@gigipeedee]

Abraham Girt no

[@gigipeedee]

Abraham Girt you wouldnt? wow cringe

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

15:28 that one at the bottom late is a Hatra Ballista, another later upgrade to Ballistas in which the arms of the springs are pointed inwards and forward to make them have a longer degree of torsion and even more power. It blew my mind when realized medieval armies never really ditched smaller artillery pieces, the Hatra Ballista just evolved into the Springald.

[@natsyrte]

The inswinging-arms stone thrower is actually an older greek invention, and not an upgrade made in Hatra specifically. But it's true the one in Hatra is the only one that proves the inswinging theory. The springald is indeed some sort of evolution of it, although way less mobile, and cruder. I don't think they were common in the middle ages, especially not in central europe. Maybe in the east (Constantinople, etc.)

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

@@natsyrte i couldn't find a clear enough reference for the older Greek designs but i figure they just weren't experimented with if the only example of it found was in third century AD Iraq, as it's pretty much a straight upgrade to the external arms Ballista and Romans and Greeks would have adopted it in an instant had it been around earlier. Conversely there's a couple examples of Scorpions pulled out of the Rhine with outward springs, which is probably from an earlier time. The Springald was not widespread but there's evidence the Byzantines used them and that the rest of Europe was at least aware of torsion powered engines in manuscripts and drawings, though there were two kinds and the single armed one resembled an Onager more, only using a flexible beam to slam projectiles forward. I think that one was an entirely medieval creation.

[@natsyrte]

​@@gabrielinostroza4989 About early (2nd-3rd century BC) greek inswinging-arms ballistae, this still is a hot subject, since, it's true, this hasn't been proven yet, at least in my knowledge. Proofs are more tardive (cheiroballistra, and the hatra one). However, inswinging arms *do* give way more power, and we know greeks were adamant to upgrade those weapons any way they could, so it's not unthinkable they could have used this design from the beginning. The absence of proof is easily explainable, though : great stone-throwing machines were entirely made of wood, so there's barely any trace of them left today. However, ballistae washers (made out of metal) are numerous in archaeology, but sadly, they serve no purpose in proving that greek artillery had inswinging arms.

[@gabrielinostroza4989]

@@natsyrte there's a difference source we can look at for evidence and that's iconography, the reliefs Invicta showed in the video have outward arms, which is probably how the artists saw them in action and it fits the other archeological finds. Now I'm not saying the concept of inward arms hadn't been thought of but that they weren't building them that way until later for some reason, perhaps material strength meant it was just safer and more durable, perhaps it was easier to assemble and disassemble for transport or maintenance, etc. And the legion that built the Hatra one prioritized making it more powerful and had the capacity to do it.

[@justcallmeSheriff]

Will you do a similar video on ancient Chinese artillery? Thar may be where you can find examples of siege weapons being used in army vs army battles.

[@chaosvolt]

12:20 I am now picturing a tachanka.

[@capslock3417]

Rome 2 background music gives me such a good vibe 😂

[@WalyB01]

Where was this channel when I was 10? Would loved it bag then, but still find it great now.

[@RomanLegioXx]

Amazing video! Would love to know more about ancient artillery influences on medieval artillery, do know that ballistae were still used during the middle ages but find it difficult to find the diferences and how important these weapons were.

[@trevorskopczynski5791]

This is easily one of the best history channels keep it up please!

[@michaelkopala3659]

Thanks for creating and posting this wonderfully educational and interesting podcast.

[@MrDerynryan]

Dude even that advert was slick. Hope you keep getting subscribers I can’t wait to see how slick this will get

[@TheRonin235]

Love the video, well done sir.

[@ArmyVet82ndAbn]

Great video, very informative, thanks. Have you done ancient and Roman cavalry? Keep up the good work sir, much appreciated.

[@markwatts2532]

Yes the opening battle scene had a great atmosphere and scoped location. Most crowd scenes today are just a dozen extras that are "mirrored" to look a lot more but you can tell there were hundreds here and looked and sounded realistic.

[@PhilosoShysGameChannel]

Thank you for including baahubali in that opening thumbnail example bit ^^

[@boomerhgt]

Another quality awesome history video thank you subbed and liked

[@chocolad4221]

Can you do a video on the korean Hwa'cha next? Its often been cited as the first instance of rocket artillery goong back to the 1400's