Republican Roman Soldiers of the Second Punic War

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During the Second Punic War, the Republican Romans used just five kinds of soldier, and here I describe them and their roles.
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Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.
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[@inconceivablecanine9014]

"Video about Roman soldiers." *Interest peaks* "How they were ranked and elected." *Excitement mounts* "I talked for 38 minutes." *Grabs popcorn* "So I had to cut it down." *Popcorn withdraws in disappointment* All those in favour of feature length Lloyd ramblings say "Pilum!"

[@Biczeschlappe]

Pilum!

[@Koendabomb]

Pudge Wolfe Pilum!

[@HarryPotter-uv8yp]

Pudge Wolfe Pilum!

[@bendo9162]

Pilum!

[@chadthundercock4982]

Pilum! And Celtic Berserkers armed with war-picks

[@Camcolito]

'As people got older, they generally got richer' - I still haven't got the hang of that.

[@mardukgilgamesh1500]

Try making more money than u spend.also spend money on things that make/save money :v

[@kilaliam671]

Also on campaign you not only got regular pay but also plunder

[@knightshousegames]

Try pillaging more

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

Rome did not yet have banks. In fact archeologists are still finding jars of coins from the late Imperial period buried in different spots.

[@joeyjaime3746]

What's up fellow Velite !

[@godthisisannoying]

Btw, Pila is a (somewhat childish) portuguese slang for penis. So, when the enemy was being hit by a load of pila, they were well and truly fucked :/

[@TheSecondVersion]

-And it was the... "tip" of the pila that did the work -It was also designed to bend upon penetration so that it was hard to pull it out *snickering*

[@sallyforth3225]

OMG.

[@somewright4440]

"Our velites defeated the enemy." "What the..."

[@neutronalchemist3241]

"Punish them!"

[@jamessheesley5484]

If the skirmishers take out the enemy that is exactly how I would have responded followed with a face palm of biblical proportions.

[@Fif0l]

If your velites defeat the enemy, was it really an enemy?

[@agustinl2302]

@@Fif0l Exactly. Either you were about to be ambushed or you were purposely misled and the enemy has walked past your forces and is on their way to taking your undefended homes.

[@JoeyVol]

They actually had the most "fun" job. Throwing javelins at random elephants and other skirmishers would be very adrenaline latent.

[@GerackSerack]

I WANT THE 38 MINUTES VERSION TOO! No ammount of Lindybeige is too much Lindybeige.

[@wobblysauce]

+

[@LoisoPondohva]

Will Shellman I'm just more impressed with that now after I was told he doesn't script or cut.

[@SNIperofDARKness02]

+Loiso Pondohva it is not that hard, try speaking of something you know very well and much of.

[@LoisoPondohva]

SNIperofDARKness02 it's hard to make it so smooth. Most of the people make more mistakes. It could be hard to notice first-hand, and easier to see on the record in retrospect. I don't say it's impossible. I do it for a living in some sence, although in my own language (well, he does too). I just say his quality deserves appreciation.

[@capnclawhammer3024]

Speaking as someone with little talent for smooth video performance (look at my few banjo vids, long story made short, I SUCK) I am constantly greeneyed with envy of Lloyd's screen presence.

[@AllCanadiaReject]

"Nobody expected the velites to defeat the enemy" Meanwhile in Rome: Total War...

[@AlvorReal]

Tbh, I like the velites but after eating one too many frontal charges I kept them on my flanks.

[@hellothere507]

I never use them actually

[@sergiohenrique2411]

Thats because in that game the unit strenght its related to its culture rather than actual facts. So logic goes like this: Rome total war = rome OP wins all map with only Hastatii and auto resolve in Hardest dificulty.

[@bingbong1821]

I mainly use large numbers of equites or calvaries to lure the enemy to break formation and once they are scattered I smash them in detail with repeatedly hitting from behind and run before they can retaliate.

[@juanfranciscocosta5387]

Then you have AoE II, elephants hard counter skirmishers

[@CrackingPearPrd]

Battered, shattered, but none of it mattered, the Triarii cut down the units that scattered.

[@CraftQueenJr]

Cracking Pear Productions so they wouldn’t wind up plastered.

[@GenXstacker]

....covered and smothered.

[@imaducky2617]

...bleeding and crying, eventually dying

[@victoresan]

What're we doing?

[@RB-tl8cf]

Is it too late to join?

[@samikalastaja]

So reading Asterix is not enough to learn about Roman soldiers?

[@havareriksen3395]

You might learn something, but Asterix and his companions are fighting against Julius Caesar and his troops, so there's a 150-200 year gap between the army of Caesar and those of the punic wars.During that time the roman army was heavily re organised, especially under Marius. And the lorica segmentata that the legionnaries wear in Asterix were used late in the reign of Augustus up til the 3rd centrury, so they would not have been available at the time of Caesar's campaigns.

[@obfuscated3090]

Of course it is! Likewise, I got my knowledge of the UK watching documentaries like the Benny Hill show.

[@9akslebws]

@Dieter Gaudlitz the hell are you talking about

[@gavinhudson5251]

@Dieter Gaudlitz They probably didn't have enough time to form up before Asterix and Obelix bashed them, with that magic potion thing.

[@JoeyVol]

Psychologically psyching up your troops with placebo magic is just as effective as popping tylenol. Just ask someone with a headache. That shit works.

[@adymode]

If RomeTW taught me anything, it is that the most devastating unit in those times was the Arcani - a elite squad of Roman Ninjas. Im surprised Lindy is not up to speed on them.

[@telemnarnumenorean8557]

The time of RTW is over, R2 is the thing now... oh nevermind *cries in DLC

[@LouisKing995]

Andrew Input Those were the dumbest units in the game but I still loved them

[@GeertWilders-dg9ui]

Harry Pothead Urban fucking cohort. fire man who can defeat heavy roman infantry. seems legit.

[@LouisKing995]

Geert Wilders #2017 But at least they were a real unit. The arcani, as they were presented in TW, were completely fantasy. The real Aracni(called Areani) were imperial Intelligence operatives used in Roman Britain during the 4th century, not battlefield Ninja warriors.

[@capnclawhammer3024]

NO? Aw, man, I'm crushed! I was so hoping they'd have extra-long katanas with antipersonnel pommels and incendiary throwing stars and and

[@NeilDoyle92]

You mentioned the use of trumpets to relay messages and it got me thinking, I'd love to see a video on the use of musical instruments in war.

[@PromethiumOxide]

Definitely, but the Chinese use of bugles has to be included. It's too funny.

[@monkeyorful]

I have always loved horns so if they have their place there it would be an awesome video

[@falcons1988]

I did my dissertation on Roman brass music. Even now in Afghanistan, the British used Bugles to get the radio chatter to flare up and triangulate the location.

[@falcons1988]

The Roman Army had three different types of Trumpeter (or Horn Player). The Cornicen, played the Cornu - HORN. (not a Trumpet). Horn in Italian is Corni, they mainly featured with the Infantry. Then you had the trumpeters; Tubicen and Buccinaetors. They played the Tuba (an 4ft-8ft long post horn) and Buccina. The Tubicen main had cavalry roles and general staff, though I believe they did feature with the Infantry. It is possible Buccinaetors were more musician than battlefield. (little is known). At first glance the Buccina and Cornu look exactly the same, but they aren't. I think that clue to their difference lies within the name, and it is backed up by archaeological evidence and the study of the mouthpiece. The Buccina and or Tuba in Latin translates and Trumpet; Cornu translates as horn. Could it be reasonable to suggest that this is the difference and therefore construction? Now I am rewriting my dissertation.... Lindy, Can we collaborate?

[@Hirsch3y]

Why is that? What did the Chinese do with bugles?

[@dorkmax7073]

Lindybeige going off the rails and making a much longer video than planned is the Lindybeigiest Lindybeige thing to do.

[@thelemming54]

Did anyone else burst out laughing when he said, "they usefully ran away."

[@multiapokalipsa]

Brave, brave sir Robin

[@TheJimmyp427]

Anyone else laugh when he talks mentions the equites being "very useful for scouting." Just made me think of all the times rome is ambushed by Hannibal and the gauls. Maybe that makes sense though that their scouts are these spoiled rich kids with a ticket to politics and so they don't bother doing their job very well.

[@tasnimulsarwar9189]

@@TheJimmyp427 spot on imo. Definitely they also didn't see this as something "Honorable" as the Romans were just more prone all out frontal battle.

[@RDO-tw4qn]

A la MP"s *"The Holy Grail"*

[@Monkforilla]

Hahaha didn’t anyone burst out laughing at this part?? ____ BWAHAHA ITS HILARIOUS hahah did anyone else start BURSTING with laughter and joy at this part?

[@JustMe-kp8ik]

You mean the most effective unit against elephants wasn't flaming pigs, I'm a bit disapointed about that

[@TheCoffeehound]

Or, mice wranglers. "Release the mice!"

[@SenorTucano]

Coffeehound "Welease Woger!"

[@Lo-tf6qt]

It's a Rome Total War 1 reference

[@filipferencak2717]

Hey, I'm sure that if you were to actually take a bunch of pigs and set them ablaze before sending them running and screeching towards the elephants that would very much scare the shit out of them.

[@dreadedlyfe]

@@filipferencak2717 hell, if i beheld shrieking pigs set ablaze coming at me, i would be a bit taken aback

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Wrong, Lloyd, just WRONG. Everybody knows that you need to shoot fire arrows at elephants to make them run amok! It's almost as if you've read an actual book instead of spending your formative years alone in your room playing Rome Total War

[@bebe89ger]

The best think is Numidian Cavalary! Fast and throwing Spears kill the elephants when i play even when they run amok their run in my army

[@marcelob.678]

Atun-Shei Films Dude just get some pigs, set them on fire, THEN you deal with the elephants.

[@thexalon]

Except that everyone knows that the real way to defeat elephants is to send your elf buddy skilled in archery to climb up the elephant's back legs, kill anyone riding the elephant, shoot 3 arrows into the back of its head, and slide off the trunk.

[@filipferencak2717]

OR just get one guy on a horse with a spear to skewer the guy streering the elephant. This will (obviously) make the skewered guy turn the elephant that he is riding directly towards the other elephant and since the elephants themselves are brainless robots, they will smash into each other and kill each other.

[@victorfergn]

I didn't see that joke coming!

[@Oberon4278]

The idea of the triares serving as a sort of "command presence" encouraging the first and second line to stay in the fight feels right to me. Any veteran who has known a grizzled old sergeant knows the feeling you can get just from having them around -- they inevitably have a sort of steadying, calming presence that makes you feel like "Oh, yes, it IS all going to be alright, isn't it?"

[@franciscodanconia3551]

"The most experienced men are qualified to do next to nothing." So nothing has changed. That's a perfect summary of all but two of the chiefs and one master chief I worked for in the US Navy.

[@Lassisvulgaris]

Of course. If you work, you make mistakes. If you don't work, you don't make mistakes. If you don't make mistakes, you're promoted.....

[@jakeflorence2005]

Republican roman soldiers?... As in.. Banning persians and making pompeii great again? . Not to mention hadrians wall.

[@thekaasmaster8172]

Jake Florence ohhh damm the jokes are on fire

[@andrewkazakevich8611]

The empire grabs back

[@Calsopify]

Well the American political model is loosely based on the Roman one so......... Trump Caesar?

[@ccswelding1599]

better than the democrat romans who just let the barbarians run amok and rape and kill and pillage

[@capnclawhammer3024]

gripe, gripe, gripe...

[@jontrout2010]

As a statistical representation of the average sensible consumer you should be advised that I will not purchase your book unless it makes gratuitous use of fire arrows, heeled boots, and dual wielding. You have been warned.

[@rainnydaay2116]

*insert pommel throw here*

[@ViolosD2I]

That sounds painful.

[@Rajj854]

Jon Trout mounted archers?

[@amitabhakusari2304]

Lots of lightsaber moments.

[@rohan1_]

Little did you know, NO ONE would be purchasing that book...

[@maogenvivi]

I guess enitre ww2 italian army was composed of velites

[@jeromevegona5024]

Z-Key same with the French

[@popcornfilms1]

Lol

[@CABOOSEBOB]

Jerome Vegona nah the French were Gallic levy freeman

[@bilbo_gamers6417]

Zerg Rush!

[@khankrum1]

You wankers need to grow up and learn some historical facts. Stick your mindless racism up your butts, which where your brains, what few may posses, resides!

[@MCYonazz]

Lindy: "I'd like, if I may, to talk about Roman soldiers for a while." Me: "You may not!" And yet he kept going. How rude!

[@jamesgordley5000]

If the Triarii were hanging around at the back with long spears, maybe they were there to defend the army from outflanking cavalry. Wouldn't that make a lot of sense? I mean, if the Romans' own cavalry was usually outnumbered by those of their enemies, then putting their somewhat lower-energy (but seasoned, no-nonsense type) people all along the army's rear with long spears would make for a pretty obvious choice, I should think.

[@Caratacus1]

Yes it would make sense - total sense. You are spot on! Romans almost never had an advantage in cavalry, and their famous multi-line formation with Triarii at the back is ideal if a flank gets turned. A single line is hopelessly vulnerable to cavalry flanking, and can be rolled up even by infantry if it's broken anywhere along its length. So it was the younger and fitter men that engaged first as they have more stamina. The heavyweights like Principes and Triarii did the knockout punching. So the enemy attack is disrupted by the Velites and Hastati. Then as the Hastati are holding the enemy the Principes counter attack the line.

[@TheGyuuula]

I just wanted to say the same thing. Long spears sounds like they were used to guard the rear or - if thing go wrong - the retreating army from a light-cavalry attack. Retreating infantry is defenceless against cavalry.

[@kapitankapital6580]

James Gordley they probably served both as a force to guard the flanks and to form a line in the case of a retreat. That is the idea of reserves, they are supposed to be adaptable

[@zamzamazawarma928]

They act as senior warriors, their presence is mainly to prevent any retreat from the less experienced battle lines, or to allow them to reform behind in preparation of a renewed attack. They truly are a pillar. The were able to defend the rear on a few occasions but, most of the times, if they are attacked from this direction, it can only be because the flanks have failed, which most certainly means the battle is lost. In Cannae, the triarii line was indeed struck from the rear, but what they saw coming at them was not the enemy, but all sort of allied units and attendance that were resting behind, and who were the ones who faced the Numidian cavalry coming back into combat after they had chased the Roman flanks out of the battlefield.

[@AudieHolland]

*James Gordley* Nope. The role of guarding the Roman army's flanks was reserved for the Allies. The Allies also fielded decent cavalry. Remember that the Triarii were a leftover of the old Republican, Greco style phalanx army. And how do you fully exploit the rigid solidness of phalanx shield and spear formations? Guess? Alexander. Companion Cavalry. Hammer and Anvill. Alexander the Great's army had excellent, powerfull companion cavalry that would crush the enemy infantry from the flanks or from behind while they were pinned by the Macedonian phalanx.

[@grant9855]

you re uploaded it in the middle of me watching it.....

[@photonic1970]

Curious Beats same here. I was able to watch the video but was unable to like it when it finished. Could this possibly be a sneaky deja-vue experiment? 😆

[@annunakim525]

ya me too i had this theory all typt out and i was correcting it and i thought i lost all of it hahaha

[@RagbagMcShag]

for what reason was it reuploaded

[@grant9855]

probably the advertisement

[@mickles1975]

It's shorter than the other one

[@sneedNfeed]

im gladii i watched your videii

[@donna30044]

Harshith P.K You made your pointy point -- or at least you took a stab at it.

[@ddickson1167]

Punny.

[@giulioaprati338]

Gaudeo video hoc videre sum

[@davidgormunt9031]

You fugged it up in 2 languages.

[@sneedNfeed]

@@davidgormunt9031 yeah lol... Looking back at my teen self, that was kinda cringe 😅

[@serwombles8816]

I always thought the wolves skin might be a 'Award' of some sort to distinguished velites. Otherwise thats alot of of wolves....Poor wolves.

[@deadwalk7753]

+Lawrence Lai well, its never trully mentioned that velites must have a full wolf coat for each of them as uniform. it more likely that while some has that full wolf coat, some will wear part of it like caps of some sort, making 1 wolf can be wore by more than 1 person. also wolf at 200+ B.C. is borderline "pest" for countryside cattle and vilage, their number was vastly greater than today, and the wolf hunt is quite common without the "mass hunt" image we might think

[@Lycurgus1982]

I seriously doubt they all had wolf pelts.

[@Lycurgus1982]

@CipiRipi00 poor publious was stuck with a poodle pelt. : )

[@garymingy8671]

Wolves compete with humanity , kill pets an children . Man all ways takes out the dangerious predators , Dawn of history till , Teddy Roosevelt , 1975 ,

[@Lycurgus1982]

@@garymingy8671 well, not anymore they don't. We are far more dangerous.

[@TheZorkiel]

A reason you'd want your skirmishers doing the guard and night watch is because it's such a bother, guard and watch duty is a drag and tiring. Having line infantry in formation where some of the guys are wasted from guard duty seems to me to be a recipe for disaster, these guys needs to be 100% on the ball. The Triarii are the backup in case something goes real shite so you can't use them, cavalry is full of rich fucks likely exempt due to their station. Leaves you with the Velites

[@SuperFunkmachine]

When you job is just to chuck stuff at the enemy, leg it then rinse and repeat, your the dogs body for every thing.

[@AudieHolland]

Velites were the poor bastards who still had to join the army in times of need because they were just above the level of penniless paupers. Of course they had to do all the shitty jobs.

[@MrWarlord396]

Just like a modern army, it's a mix of that (You don't want your commanders and leaders doing sentry duty) and what the video mentioned: the velites were essentially privates. The older guys passed off the shit onto the 'kids' with much less demanding jobs

[@GonzoTehGreat]

It's also about discipline. Guard duty is about self-discipline because you have to stay alert and awake while tired and/or bored. Presumably the younger, less experienced troops need this discipline more. Veterans don't need to be told to remain alert because they've faced the consequences of not doing so. Also, Velites (and Equites) could be used for patrolling/scouting as they're fast and light, rather than garrison guard duty which I'd expect would be ideal for Hastati...?

[@daniwalmsley611]

Would you like to explain that to the British army please so I can get some sleep before exercise

[@Riot_Games_Support]

we love your long videos loyd

[@ahmettahaaltug1746]

As time passes I am getting increasingly convinced of that videos of this channel can be watched multiple times provided that they are watched with sufficient intervals.

[@arthurb6882]

A lot of videos are like that, you can watch any video multiple times if you leave enough time in between.

[@anthonycontreras5003]

We show up for the sweater and hair. But, we stay for the knowledge. Thanks Lindy!

[@jamesbearpark3794]

"a load of angry romans going stabby stabby" 😂😂

[@ethanhatcher5533]

James Bearpark as opposed to angry Greeks, who go slashy slashy slashy

[@evilsexyhamlet6399]

alright sunshine, get back in there

[@andrewgilchrist1816]

Oh, Lindy, PLEASE release that 38 minute vid!

[@CraftQueenJr]

Yes! Please!

[@duncanbrave3465]

When I was in college I had several professors like Lindybeige and I admired their passion for teaching and learning

[@ronpeploe]

Fascinating. I have just discovered your channel and can't stop watching your videos. Informative and funny. Nice one.

[@Maaaarz]

A little correction - pronouncing the V as V is "church" latin, and V as W is classical, roman way!

[@Maaaarz]

Evocati I didn't want to write it due to a high chance of typos ;D

[@LordVader1094]

+Marz Spellcheck is your friend.

[@Thoran666]

In german there is no difference between Veni Vidi Vici and Weni Widi Wici we'd pronounce it the same way.

[@angryyogbuscus1578]

Thoran666 Yep. Also, the word Kaiser is closer to the latin pronunciation than the Italian and English pronunciations of Caesar.

[@jamesgordley5000]

+Thoran666 ...and in the actual "Romance"-language-speaking part of the world, people have messed with the letter "v", and made it into an altogether different sound than it was for their Roman forebears. So odd.

[@Drumsgoon]

Already played Rome Total War, you know?! :P

[@andrewkazakevich8611]

Rome 2 Total war sucks. The first part was the best

[@SNIperofDARKness02]

Lindybeige also played it, I guess this is where he got the information.

[@YTPoljo]

Андрей Казакевич divide et impera makes rome great again

[@joshanator21]

I like Total War Attila because the Western Romans get FUCKED... rip

[@andrewkazakevich8611]

Josh Phoenix Have you played Empire Total war or Napoleon Total war? Those are the best games I've ever played

[@gatovillano7009]

There might be another purpose to the Triarii: Let's make an analogy with another physical job like construction. The thing about physical work is that, when you are young you are never tired and you feel indestructible. As you age, all that punishment you took over the years catches up to you. This is why you often see the older guys working a desk job when they are near retirement. What I'm getting at is that the Triarii is the desk job for old Roman soldiers. It shows the younger folks that the army core will not discard them when they are no longer at the peak of their physical performance and that the state will employ them and give them a cushy job to support them until they can retire. This does not mean that they are useless. Young folks always benefit from the wisdom of their elders. You can see this when a company lays off all the old employees. What they are left with is usually a big mess of people who do not know what they are doing.

[@charliebowen5071]

No... their jobs were far from cushy

[@gatovillano7009]

@@charliebowen5071 is it because you do not know how to form a rebuttal or that you do not have an argument? ''No ...'' is not an argument. You said nothing. The only proper answer to your comment is ''Yes...'' You see how we have accomplished nothing?

[@charliebowen5071]

@Kanada Dry you schooled him. Nice

[@LTPottenger]

I would think of them as standers. They can't run away but they can absorb a charge with those spears or hold off heavy infantry assault with that armor. The velites and remnants of other lines could reform behind them and support them in the last ditch defense if things are going badly.

[@evannesbitt7852]

Love to see a channel that shares enthusiasm for Roman history. Please never refrain from giving us long videos in the future. Any content you have to share on Roman history in this format would be appreciated

[@georgederuiter1412]

Noone can ever speak too long about Roman military!

[@jackson24241000]

Wish I had a history like you in school, I'm amazed by your knowledge and ideas, keep it up.

[@darronjknight]

Mark Williams you are allowed to read books and teach Yourself, and watch lindybeige.

[@Krend3r]

Watched 2 of theese videos in a row, an hour passed, but felt like 5 mins, I love the Roman era.

[@TheTorlock]

Been watching matty Easton for years and I'm glad I finally got over to your channel. Appreciate ypur time and your work. Thanks much

[@ArgonZavious]

I don't think i've missed a single one of your videos. In fact, i would be upset if i had. By the nine you're great.

[@talknight2]

You get a thumbs up for the expletive xD

[@bartolomegaray368]

Watch yo profanity

[@scvtvm7914]

Argon Zavious I heard the thalmor are looking for you... you filthy Talos worshiper!

[@scvtvm7914]

sick boy Long live the empire! :D

[@julesnestt]

I love the look you gave to the camera when you talked about the triarii preventing the fall back, what a boost for morale to those guys. I recall that on some phalanx formation the elderly formed also at the back with a similar use.I guess that preventing a rout is a high possibility regarding that they formed on a solid block that left no space between to flee.About the size of a centuria I have heard that the number were less than a hundred due to servants and auxiliary personnel were also counted in the unit size but not in the unit fight duties.

[@Irsupertacoman]

I just pro-ordered your book, and just donated to your patreon. You're awesome Lloyd, by far my favorite KZbinr. Keep up the good work!

[@theredblurb132]

I honestly consider it a perk of your videos. When you go on tangents its very interesting to see minor bits of a topic dissected in vivid detail.

[@alnoso]

Not even 2 minutes in and you've already talked about latin pronounciation of certain vowels. I feel like you're not very good at talking about very specific things, Lloyd.

[@TCproducitons]

He's not complaining, he's just having a cheeky jab at Lloyd's digressions that he tries so hard to avoid.

[@havememesgonetoofar64]

alnoso well that's why we watch him! A simple discussion becomes a 10 minute long video!

[@VoodaGod]

please don't discourage him! i relish the minutes spent on topics not directly related to the topic of the video!

[@necron1050]

i just whatched this and now its been ulpoaded again

[@Seamy18]

necron 1050 I think there's a few seconds cut out?

[@necron1050]

no i genuinely watched all 30 mins and then went to my subscription feed and it poped up saying posted 1 second ago and to my surprise the oldest comment was about 30 seconds old

[@rosiello5100]

I think he may have cut a section where he was sidetracked while speaking about the sponsor :)

[@noXsTiLkKy]

I love how informative your channel is, thank you for your work.

[@RonGaming09]

Lindy I just wanna say that you make me very happy with all this talk and all your content on your channel, keep it up!

[@tomeubank3625]

As always, thanks for the entertaining and inciteful video. Three questions: 1. What were the relative mortality rates among the velites, hastatis, and the pricipes? 2. When the velites fell back, where did they go? Through or around the formations behind them? Or? 3. Apparently the hastatis were not expected to prevail, but were they allowed to fall back? And if so, where did they go?

[@hjorturerlend]

1. Don´t think we have any data on that. 2. Behind the line, through the gaps in the checkerboard formation of the Hastati and Principes. 3. Again, through the lines (or well, the line, in this case) of the checkerboard formation.

[@MrBonki123]

Tom Eubank I think i can answer the 3rd one. The romans had deliberately made gaps between units (cohorts?) so the in front troops could retreat. triple axies formation i believe it was called.

[@tomeubank3625]

Thank you both for your replies. In many portrayals of front-line combat, it seems as if everyone was always expected to fight to the death and retreat was a shameful capital offense.

[@MrBonki123]

Yeah, fleeing from a fight today would be called deserting.

[@basilharpham9372]

the whole concept of fighting to the death on the front line is foolish when their ways to swap out an tired front line with fresh troops

[@bretalvarez3097]

"Biff baff biff baff biff!" - Nicholas Lloyd 2017

[@NorthernChev]

Man, I'm on a Lindybinge today. This is, at least, video 12 I've watched today. And probably 10 yesterday.

[@vathek5958]

When Lloyd started a tangent about Latin pronounciation 2 minutes in, I think we all knew we were in for a good one.

[@fifthpint4571]

That little glance of panic @ 6:12 where yet another thing about velites pops into your head (elephants!) and you twig there and then that the video was never going to be a short one :-) Great video, Lindy

[@UVtec]

Lindy: "Ladies and gentlemen, I like, if I may..." Me: "You may."

[@jimivey6462]

Great history! Great presentation! I really enjoy your site and I am passing it on to friends and family.

[@Mr.BuRGm4nn]

Hi Lloyd! I'm so happy that you are interested in the second punic war. It happens to be that I come from the city formerly known as Qart-Hadasht and later on as Cartago Nova. Our ancient history connects us with both Carthage and Rome. Every year on the second half of september many people at home takes upon reenacting some of the important points (mainly the ones afecting our city) of the second punic war. Let me know if you'd like to come and visit the city during the festivites, as I'd be glad to arrange personaly for your welcome. Currently I live in London.

[@isoperuna2]

Tunic. Willie taste snot muffin

[@pegleg2959]

@@isoperuna2 Beautifully put Puppude. Although I am afraid to say, I think i've missed your point.

[@destruktor_7301]

Qart hadasht is carthage. Carthago nova is a different city in spain.

[@Mr.BuRGm4nn]

@@destruktor_7301 Quart Hadasht is Punic (or Phoenician) for New Town. And just the same way the first founders of Carthage in what's today Tunisia, 𐤒𐤓𐤕𐤟𐤇𐤃𐤔𐤕 was used to name the new town in the Iberian peninsula. P.S: I come from the city in Spain

[@destruktor_7301]

@@Mr.BuRGm4nn oh ok. Carthaginians were really creative i see. Thanks for correction!

[@RavenioTheHatamoto]

Never forget the 6 billion wolfes genocided by the Velites

[@erwinrommel144]

oy vey

[@winomaster]

Maybe the Romans accomplished two things at once. Outfitted their Velites and controlled the local wolf populations.

[@longwoolcoat2266]

Genocide is for people exclusively. But I was thinking the same.

[@Lycurgus1982]

R.I.P.

[@otroflores91]

I was just thinking about it and they all couldn't possibly be rocking wolf caps or pelts. Maybe only a few in the bunch so you can tell it was friendly troops. Or maybe they did just kill a ton of wolfs like humans have done with bears, leopards, beavers, otters, whales and etc.

[@4ngryGn0m3]

This Video was AMAZING. why didn't I know of your channel earlier!!

[@isoperuna2]

Your mom ruined your life

[@zeerob9516]

Personally I don't mind the longer videos or the 'rambling' at all, in fact I quite enjoy it because it always gives us more information and more to think about and it's also a sign of how dedicated you are to doing your research and transfering as much of your knowledge as possible; which I appreciate a lot. Your new video and audio recording equipment is a nice upgrade as well, I love seeing how much care and effort you keep pouring into these videos. Keep up the good work and I'm definitely looking forward to your book as well as future videos!

[@ironhawk175]

I love how you even manage to make the sponsored part of the video brilliant :D

[@mattmattigan5036]

Oh give it to me baby. Talk about it ALL.

[@decam5329]

Glad you said that about the Triarii. I've always seen diagrams of their formation and thought they seemed set up to 'motivate' the younger troops.

[@Mitaka.Kotsuka]

I love the humor sense of Lindye, is uncomparable, and i loved the last message as always

[@matthawkins3584]

I really enjoy your longer videos. You get so much more information across. Ramble on my friend. Ramble on.

[@kevinoneal9779]

Dammit Lloyd! I had just gotten top comment! "I haven't even watched the video yet, but Lloyd is talking about the Roman Republic and I'm terribly excited about it!"

[@kevinoneal9779]

Upon recent discovery, the blame now falls onto "www.Audible.com".

[@Pletzmutz]

I must congratulate you on your marvellous sponsor plugs.

[@stevehodson4984]

Love Lindybeiges videos, even the usually boring sponsorship was great!!!

[@danielc810]

I always enjoy your videos, thank you for the hard work.

[@mangalores-x_x]

What confuses me about the Roman three line system is that they rarely describe being outflanked by a wider frontage of the enemy which you'd expect if you put the same number of people in three lines instead of one. That should be a large shrinkage of front line to present to the enemy. Where did all the enemy troops go? Possibly the idea of reserves wasn't that foreign or they resolved it another way?

[@JoeyVol]

Terrain is possibly the biggest contributor to winning or losing.

[@isoperuna2]

Shrek porn

[@hannibalburgers477]

@@isoperuna2 words of wisdom

[@ladhominem1728]

They never account for shrinkage.

[@juwebles4352]

look at the battle of Watling street, romans tried to use terrain to keep enemies at bay as much as they used their gladius and scutum

[@Jenny-zu6nm]

"I'd like to, if i may..." You may!

[@stephenboerner251]

I love these vids cause its awesome to see speculation backed up by actual historical accounts and sound reasoning.

[@SwiggityStag]

Thank you Lloyd for the free book. I've just got "The History of Ancient Rome" by The Great Courses. Cheers!

[@alasdeangel3929]

Hey Lindey, after you've published the graphic novel about the Romans, could you possibly make one about the Crusaders?

[@TheWhitehorseman1]

Would like to see an ultimate warrior match....Velitas versus John Cleese with a pointed stick!

[@stuartwatts8033]

I love the way you explain it all, so entertaining. Thankyou

[@Whobgobblin]

I attended a naval military camp for a few summers in high school and I found a flashman novel in the library of that place and I have never since heard any reference to the series but I liked the novel so much I, uh, sorta took the book and never gave it back, really brings back memories to hear mention of it again!

[@irvinmartin9259]

Run away! Run away! “Bravely ran the Velite, they bravely ran away.

[@johnmeyer2072]

I already know a lot of this, but he's so immensely entertaining I just have to watch anyway. It's sort of like "Monty Python and Military History".

[@bmartin7961]

19:00 ish, love it Lloyd, very good, very good indeed sir :) been watching you all day, having found you by the internet's seven degrees of separation. Great service you are doing, keep it up and thank you :) Bruce.

[@iNowHateAtSigns]

I love your videos, sir, and even enjoy your commercials. Coming from me, that's a great compliment.

[@vladimirhodan7360]

"alies" => tactical meat shield? :-)

[@micahphilson]

Wow, this could have been broken into 6 videos, that of the 5 unit types and the arrangement of them. Though I do quite like the video being all in one piece.

[@rickyhurtt8692]

Makes sense. You go to break and run look around and there's a bunch of more mature men eyeing you. Especially with the youngest soldiers it really does make sense. I just found your channel and I love it. Thanks a lot for the learning

[@TrickMyWarthog]

Lindy, I keep getting lost in the pattern of your sweater. It's absolutely mesmerizing.

[@TheAidiwashere]

Why do you think we want short videos? We love long videos!!

[@brianholmes1812]

Ah, to be back in the day, when a 38 minute lindybeige video was considered too long

[@michaelhorning6014]

I think you are absolutely correct that one of the roles of the triari was to prevent retreat. In the 18th and 19th centuries, officers were in the front leaving the unit into battle; the sergeants and corporals were in the rear acting as "file closers", i.e. making sure no one fell back without orders.

[@mingolaflare6224]

I'm not sure if you've spoken about this already, but I'd love to hear about how these units switched positions. I was watching the show Rome (on HBO) and it showed the troops holding the back of the person in front of them, and then after a bit of fighting they would switch and the person in front would slide back and the next person would move forward. I saw a lot of comments saying this was how it was done. It would be interesting to learn how the formations worked, moved, and coordinated. Love your channel btw!

[@adolthitler]

Thanks Lindy, i always thought the plural of gladius was gladioli!

[@mattaffenit9898]

.. Wot...?

[@nicktrains2234]

What about Roman siege equipment like the ballistae? Were they special units or acted like modern artillery, packaged out to different units

[@isoperuna2]

mae brinkyrae wiff fae was avicii xxvi

[@mardukgilgamesh1500]

@@isoperuna2fuk u >:o

[@andrewharper1609]

It depended on the size of the ballistae. I think I am right in saying there was a small 2 man ballista added to the units and the larger artillery pieces tended to be more static.

[@Makrillol]

This stuff is so interesting. Please make more videos about the Roman empire :)

[@jordansaliba]

Evening Nikolas, I've been following your videos for quite some time. Especially when you visited Malta! You seemed very intrigued by its past roles Malta played in History. There are many "Military time-periods" which can be an interesting topic both for yourself & the audience. An example being the year '1565 - The Great Siege of Malta". You're top rank when it comes to explaining subjects. Have a look at us when you got time. Thanks for your time mate

[@danukil7703]

Actually, pronouncing "velites" as "welites" is the correct classical pronunciation. True, the Romans had no W, but technically they also had no V, because V and U were identical in their orthography. Thus, the "w" sound.

[@granth.1919]

Yeah, when I started learning Latin I expected a lot of "v" sounds and when I started I realized Latin sounded nothing like what I thought

[@freaksuyash]

lol where did they find so many wolfs to skin?

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

I was thinking the same. Maybe Rome had a wolf problem or there were poeple who made a nice profit importing them.

[@freaksuyash]

Sara Samaletdin swaps life with wolf 🐺 breeder and merchant. :)

[@MODNAR22]

Wolves were the most successful and widespread carnivore on earth until the industrial revolution. Unfortunately when the human population exploded, the wolves were almost wiped out.

[@samrowland2816]

If it was only a hat/helmet cover, one wolf could provide coverings for two or three soldiers maybe?

[@rosiello5100]

Not everyone of them wore a wolf skin, lots did, and the head dress wasn't always a wolf's head, just its skin; so with a single wolf you could equip two or three people. Roman society was mainly pastoral (it remained so up until the 17th century) and the wolf was both a symbol (it was sacred to Mars) and a rival. There was no shortage of wolves in the italian countryside trying to eat roman livestocks, but there was no shortage of young people eager to prove themselves by killing those predators as well.

[@taylorrhodes1895]

Love your usage of the phrase “getting stuck in”, straight badass man. Certain soccer coaches I had (yes I’m from the US lol) used that phrase all the time in reference to defending someone hard, smart, & with a sense of urgency...ultimately sticking the shit out of them alas “getting stuck in”👍🏽

[@zackingtut]

You made me fall in love with the Flashman series lol. Thank you!. My favorite is “Flashman at the charge”. (Charge of the Light Brigade)

[@avd-wd9581]

"No archers, no slingers" Most likely, the allies had those functions covered

[@feartheghus]

I gotta disagree with one part of your video, the romans were not as traditional as other armies, and were actually quite adaptable, teh moment a system stopped working, they just tossed it, it held no sentimental value to teh romans, that is one of the major reasons Rome was such a great military force.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Generally, yes. But names were held onto beyond their original context.

[@lamorte42]

More Punic War related videos please! This was great!

[@dr.arikgreenberg25]

You're hilarious! "Stabby-stabby". I love it. Excellent video, as always.