The Auxilia Soldiers of Rome DOCUMENTARY

[@HBon111]

I remember reading an excerpt from a roman auxiliary's letter to his father about joining up. He was already a Roman Citizen from Hispania, but instead of joining the Legions he found a position in the Auxilia. That alone made me think they were more than their name.

[@silverjohn6037]

If memory serves there were a number of restrictions on joining the legion in the late Republic into the Empire. Not only in terms of size and physical fitness but ancestry as well. If one of your grandparents worked in a tavern for example you could be rejected. As a great number of legionary veterans married local women and settled down in the areas they were posted to it may have been a case were their sons joined auxiliary units, despite being Roman citizens, because they didn't meet the social restrictions to join the legion.

[@nicoletingey3325]

I agree just from the way fighting style was explained here you would think the auxiliary was more effective as they were more Baylor hardened as much as I don’t want to admit it

[@nicoletingey3325]

@@silverjohn6037 yes that is also on historical record

[@giftzwerg7345]

What records?

[@Sk0lzky]

It wasn't so rare - there were auxiliary units drawn from citizens from italy itself, as well as auxiliary units granted special status (together with immediate citizenship for all members). There's also that whole Caracalla's edict granting citizenship to everyone, as well as things like minimum height requirements for the legions. And if you wanted a cavalry career auxiliaries were the place to go as it was the only way to end up in the elite mounted guard of the emperor, sometimes in just a few years.

[@adoyle3804]

Narrator walking in full armor in the first 10 seconds? subbed immediately

[@mathiasprehofer5184]

Usually the Auxilia gets nothing more than a footnote in documentaries so I am even more happy to learn in detail about their ways of life, warfare and their importance to the roman empire. I truly love this video and I think you chose a great setting and it was cool how you had the two different armours at hand and could display easily what the difference was. I learned a lot today! :D

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks a lot! We really appreciate these comments a lot:)

[@nonye0]

I read that Roman auxiliary units only earn Roman citizenship at the end of their service. Salary were half of a Roman soldier too.

[@Dr_Will_Tarr]

@@nonye0 Aux pay was a bit lower. LEGIO soldiers in 1st century is about 10 Ases per day (DCCC (900) HS (Sestertii) per year or 225 Denarii.) What I read was AUX received 8 Ases per day or 730 HS per year. Donativos would be 20% “bonus” per year. I really believe Aux we’re not 1/5th the pay (in this video) of legionary…. That would be a huge insult. Probably 20% less.

[@nonye0]

@@Dr_Will_Tarr can u convert that to usd? no pun intended. just not sure how that equates.

[@Dr_Will_Tarr]

@@nonye0 ancient money does not convert to current money well. You gotta look at what coins can buy in say year 100… height of the empire. The silver value today is $3. Back then, 8 silver weights equal 1 gold weight (based on weight of silver coins (at 85% purity) to gold coins) . 25 denarii equals 1 gold coin. In 1858, 14:1. In 2021 (December) it is 81:1 But a Denarius is a thicker silver (85%) dime size coin…. And is two days pay for me…. As an AUX. Denarius is 16 asses. So I get 8 a day. A woman’s “company” for an hour is 3 asses (say $100 USD). 3 asses will get you a very nice meal… steak, veggies, beer, cake… say that will cost you $90 at a nice place. A place in a inn, a room, 3 ases.. around here hotel room is $89 to $150 a night. So 9 asses is about $250 USD. So a Denarius is like $500 If a legionnaire makes 225 denarii a year, that is $112,500 a year. Not including two gold coins donative on Jan 1st or emperors anniversary each year……More gold on his his 5th year of reign, more gold on his 10th…. Best look up what thing cost… an As coin is a copper coin like the size of US gold dollar (but larger than a US quarter. I have two late Roman gold coins… 98% gold and 4.5 grams gold or about $225 melt value. Silver coins of that period are 4.5 grams 90% silver or $4 silver but 12 silver equaled a gold coin back then.

[@patcollins7657]

Very informative and extremely well done. You've put a lot of work into your equipment and your training and it shows

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks, Pat! We appreciate that!

[@peterlim4631]

Put

[@thomaszaccone3960]

This is really good. One of the thoughts running through my mind is in warfare in the 1700's, line troops were sort of like legionnaires. Skirnishers and snipers and jaegers were sort of like auxiliaries as initially employed by Rome. As weapons technology advanced in the 1800s, line of battle tactics and troops began to loose effectiveness and the skirmisher type fighting expanded until modern armies were more like mass organized skirmishers or the line of battle troops absorbed skirmisher tactics and morphed into them (?) A bit of a stretch perhaps (?)

[@vaderbuckeye36]

The priciples of line warfare are still essentially the same in modern combat, it is just that due to modern weaponry and transport, having dense formations is a greater risk that expanding the firepower of an infantry until with more men. Instead it is more effective to have infantry fix the enemy and use artillery to destroy them, then using infantry to clear out the remnants.

[@thomaszaccone3960]

@@vaderbuckeye36 🤔

[@Intranetusa]

Auxillaries had an extremely wide range of equipment and usage. Sometimes auxillaries were skirmishers (eg. archers), but many auxillaries not only fought as heavy infantry, but also had the same equipment and fought in the same way the core legions did. In the Trajan's victory monument erected in Dacia, Roman legions and many auxillary are seen wearing the same armor.

[@thessop9439]

@@vaderbuckeye36 exactly. Many concepts from Napoleonic warfare have been adapted to modern scenarios. Simple history has some nice videos about it

[@よしみ-x5j]

@@vaderbuckeye36 First to OP - I much agree, interesting paralell. Although dates given are quite bad. First half of XIX century is boom and development of line troops, it's Napoleonic era. Some tactics only started then. Famous "thin red line" was from the battle in 1854! Shift started later, I would say at least around half of century or closer to XX century. Now about contemporary. I have no idea where you see principles of line warfare now, in your explanation also I don't see it, just the opposite. What you are describing is the reason for the end of line armies. The same with line fleets. I can give another analogy. It's the same as with fortifications in recent decades. We have complete advantage of explosives, firepower and other means of destruction over means to make fortifications. That's why states stopped building permanent strong fortifications, with rare exceptions, mainly of few shelters deep underground. We have a shift to temporary and limited fortifications.

[@JeoffreyNL]

Salvé! Genot voor het oor en oog. Je ziet dat er veel tijd in heeft gezeten om een goed verhaal neer te zetten en het stereotype beeld een duwtje te geven. Keep up the good work! 💪🏽

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Dankjewel Jeoffrey! Tof om te horen!

[@linadepasquale5595]

FRISI E BATAVI PRIMA NEMICI E POI ALLEATI DI ROMA.....piero roma

[@juyver11]

You guys just earned yourselves a subscriber. The heart and soul put into this video both providing well spoken and organized information as well as visuals. I liked the Romans, ever since I got my hands on games like Rome total war and films like centurion and gladiator. However, I have always been drawn more to their auxiliary troops. Do not get me wrong, the Roman legionaries were beasts and they were one of the greatest warriors in the ancient world and were really up there alongside the warrior society of Sparta. But in my opinion, they were far too standardized and invested so much in their Roman way of fighting and became so reliant on their auxiliary’s that it was a contributor that led to their downfall. Which is ironic because they adopted and perfected so many good ideas but didn’t stop to think to add a little more flexibility in their armies, of course as was explained that’s why they had the Auxiliary. But anyway, I just really love the Auxiliary’s flexibility and variety. They truly were I think in an entire league of their own and if they really wanted to I think they could’ve completely overthrown the Romans if they all banded together. Whether that is true or not I leave it to the hardcore well informed historians to debate. But I always loved the auxiliary’s and felt that deserved much more credit than they were given. This video and this channel I am so glad to have came across. They have honored the memory of the auxiliary and have really brought to life one of the hidden gems of history that should really be explored more by films and games. Thank you guys for such a terrific video.

[@JAGzilla-ur3lh]

I came here by way of Invicta, and I'll be sticking around. You've got some high-quality content, here!

[@martiawesome]

Amazing stuff man..mark my words youll be at a million subscribers in no time

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank, we hope so :)

[@absurdist9609]

Amazing quality, narration and research. Subbed! Eagerly waiting for future content. A suggestion that I would like to make is that if possible, a list of the sources and some supplementary reading material in the description box would be highly appreciated.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks for the compliment! If you want to know everything about the auxilia I highly recommend 'Blood of the provinces written by Ian Haynes.

[@maapaa2010]

Incredible. This video just keeps giving and giving

[@elauren3564]

great respect for your video, thanks very much!

[@thegrantkennedy]

This is fantastic. Your videos should be taught in schools. Also love the Total War soundtrack :)

[@MarekBrzezowski]

What a gem I found here! This and Batavi video are very well made and informative. Definitely sub. And waiting for more!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

We really appreciate these kind of comments! We will be sure do deliver more awesome video's!

[@JayM409]

Trajan's column also shows an auxiliary cavalryman coming across the Dacian King, Decebalus. In 1965, the tombstone of this cavalryman, Tiberius Claudius Maximus, was found in Northern Greece, telling the story of his lengthy military career.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Indeed! Such an amazing story and find :D

[@IAM-uh2sw]

How does this channel only have 5k subscribers they deserve more.

[@meguemil8542]

Such an excellent video as always. Can't wait to see this channel blow up as it is well deserved!

[@BARUCHIAN99]

Nicely done guys!!🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@christopherevans2445]

Man this is good stuff!

[@TheRustyLM]

My new favorite channel!!!!👍

[@ichotw5766]

Gotta love that Rome Total War soundtrack in the background

[@hadrianaugustus3626]

Bravo! All your episodes should be introduced here in italy in the school system (history class). Not only the italian students will benefit from the documentary's english language but also will learn about our beloved roman ancestors in a very informative way. Keep up the good work!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

That'd be an honour to us! Thanks!

[@KernowekTim]

This channel is absolutely brilliant, in my opinion. Thank you. I wish that I had found it earlier! Great presentation. Fascinating facts. Ancient history re-visited in top format.

[@kurthasedd7923]

I think in some respects the auxilia are more interesting than the legions they served with. We can track the evolution of the legions from the period of early Rome to the Republic and into the Empire, but the standard format of a legion may not change for decades or even over a century. But an auxilia detachment could never be considered standard as they were local or relatively local troops usually doing the fighting. An auxilia formation could be a few hundred to a few thousand, it could consist of spears or archers or slingers or fighters wielding axes and swords, they could be equipped with horses and elephants or a combination of really any one of these. It is the legions that form the hardened core of the Roman war machine but the auxilia almost always played an integral part in Roman victory

[@giftzwerg7345]

The auxiliary, where standardisrd, There where others, like mercinarys that whernt

[@BraveGisgo]

Fantastic work from your whole team. Thanks for the great content

[@johnspizziri1919]

excellent in evry aspect. This channel has unbelievable potential. Thank you very much!

[@optio256]

Best Roman channel on KZbin!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks, spread the word haha!

[@fmoa2541]

late roman army abandon the gladius and the classic legionary armor and adopted chainmail armor, oval shield and longer sword, so the auxilia armor and equipment ended up as the standard equipment of the roman army during its late period.

[@marc8959]

Well gotta take in consideration a cheaper army due to a broken empire economically speaking

[@froggystyle642]

Invicta sent me. Immediate sub when I saw the quality of the work and care put into this.

[@Jim58223]

Invicta sent me here. Man this is awesome, just subscribed. I would love to see a close up of the kit one by one as well as info on the makers of your arms and armour and other equipment.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Welcome! Indeed we will have videos about specific items of equipment, and all of them will be covered in due time. We got some ready to launch already, just need you guys to practice some patience in the meantime ;P

[@Jim58223]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT Looking forward to it!

[@morgan97475]

Great video & very informative.

[@Stitchwitchstitch]

Love this channel! Awesome awesome presentation. The little kitty trotting around on set is a sweet add!

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

The details of use in regards to the spatha sword makes all good sense. Not just for Calvary use...

[@spiritualservicesgodbless7641]

Thank you for the video

[@abarcajose86]

Wow great videos and most importantly very informative.

[@catalyst772]

This channel is so underrated

[@barbaraskinner4924]

This so interesting to me as I love reading about Roman history especially the battles across the Roman empire, this video brings it all to life.

[@davidhughes8357]

I just found out about this channel. I'm very happy. Thank you.

[@zachary8491]

Very much enjoyed this video, as always !

[@anselmdanker9519]

Very impressive presentation on the development of the auxiliary units of the Roman Army.Thank you.Great work !

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks! We are very pleased that you liked it!

[@Intranetusa]

I'm glad that this video addresses the stereotype of legions with laminar/segmentata and auxiliary soldiers with chainmail by mentioning that legionary soldiers and auxiliary soldiers often wore the same types of armor - chainmail, laminar, scale, etc. I'd like to add that the pila can be used as a thrusting weapon and thrusting seemed to have been the primary tactic when used against cavalry. Caesar's writings about Alesia said he had his troops first use pilums as spears/pikes before switching to swords in Gallic Wars Book VII. Plutarch describes Caesar's men at Pharsalus jabbing upwards at the faces of Pompey's cavalry with their javelins in "The Life of Julius Caesar" by Plutarch. A similar description of using pila to stab at horses is found in "The Life of Pompey" by Plutarch. Plutarch in Life of Antony 45 talks about Mark Antony's legions using their pila to thrust at Parthian horses in melee. We have reliefs on Roman artwork showing Romans using pila in melee combat stabbing at Dacian infantry in the Tropaeum Traiani. And finally, Arrian in Array against the Alans (2nd century AD) talks about legionary heavy infantry equipped with an iron shank weapon used to thrust at horses.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Glad you appreciate our vision! And you're absolutely right about pila, thanks for pointing that out. We'll definitely do a video about pila in the future where we will correct this stereotype about it being solely a throwing weapon. Hope you'll stick around 'til then :)

[@Intranetusa]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT Awesome, looking forward to your future videos!

[@YuckTradingCo]

Just discovered this channel and glad I did! Really great and informative short-form videos covering some really awesome topics. Hope to see some more soon! Cheers!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Glad you like them!

[@wesleyredmond3464]

Enjoy your channel keep up the good work!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank you!

[@rwcowell]

Great documentary explaining the role the Roman Auxiliaries had within the Roman Empire and the differences between legionaries and auxiliaries with respect to Roman Army standards, battle dress, and weapons. I really enjoyed learning so much about this topic in a well choreograph video! Keep up the wonderful videos!

[@arthurvandeman]

just viewed the brilliant centrion vid and then saw this brilliant vid on auxilia. the consistent quality is impressive.😎😎

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Many thanks Effa!

[@dorkfish6663]

I love your well researched videos. Your costuming and weaponry are great.

[@riharikaa809]

Thank you for this information. Once again I learn more about something I thought I knew. Well done.

[@levbronstein-red]

Great video. Thanks. Historically detailed and accurate...but also a pleasure to watch!

[@jamboree2723]

Complimenten voor een goed, duidelijk en gestructeerd verhaal. Veel geleerd van deze bijdrage, dank jullie wel!

[@pauloproglhof6990]

You guys have been doing such a great work! Can;t wait for more videos from you!

[@buffewo6386]

Another reason for the oval shield for the Auxiliaries could have been economic. Less material and flat would require less resources and skilled labor than the larger, curved Scutum. Just a thought.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Good point!

[@michaelsnyder3871]

The spear used by the auxilia cavalry was usually called a "Lancea" and when the longer 12' spear became common, the "Contos". The infantry spear was the "hasta". The "lancea" and the "hasta" could be thrown, though they were not as well balanced for throwing as javelins. So even when the gladius and pilum disappeared in the later Roman Army, the tactic of throwing spears and closing with the enemy with the sword remained.

[@giftzwerg7345]

well ,they had the plumbata for throwing, so the spea would have been mostly used for stabbing

[@jadekavanah9312]

@@giftzwerg7345 the plumbata was not introduced until well into the Empire.

[@AConcernedCitizen420]

Very well done documentary! The weapons and equipment were top notch! Had me feeling like I was re-living a past life!

[@Miguel10111948]

Spetacular class about a subject entirely unknown for me. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

We are glad you learned a lot and that is was entertaining at the same time, that is our goal!

[@cliffordjensen8064]

Very nice video, I learned a lot from it. It is interesting how the shield a soldier carried determined how he fought.

[@Ginnpis]

Fantastic presentation

[@tigrisofgaul7584]

What how come i just discovered your channel!! I love it

[@f.mazz.459]

Well done! Very informative. Roman military history is fascinating 👍👏

[@Bezerk88]

Great information and visual being shown in the video, can't believe you have less than a million sub.

[@metalhead3389]

This was a really great Video! I'm reenacting an auxilary of the middle of the 2nd century AD in small group. I still use often the gladius or my ringpommel sword.

[@13thravenpurple94]

Great work 🥳🥳🥳 Thank you 💜💜💜

[@electromata]

Thanks for the video man !

[@RP-mm9ie]

extremely well done.plz do vid on trajan coloum

[@kennycline8302]

Very well done!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Cheers!

[@Dr_Will_Tarr]

Greetings from California, USA. Aux unit in the new LEGIO II AVG COH V. Sunnyvale, in Silicon Valley! We do Aux for early 1st and late 4th Century.

[@Lisa-ol1ih]

Very informative and well done!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevenleslie8557]

I didn't know that Trajan's column was originally painted.

[@WalterHart-k5f]

Great video and much appreciated!

[@agronomo9494]

Very informativa and well made video thanks for this

[@philliphopkins6903]

Absolutely brilliant blog.👍

[@zaratustra00]

Love the format

[@duxae1617]

good docu, would have liked to see the other auxilia such as the archers and cavalry

[@swissmilitischristilxxii3691]

I need one of these golden lorica squamata, good job.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks!

[@andrewridewood614]

Another excellent informative program. Excellent explanations and practical demonstrations, thank you.

[@auweable]

What an amazing video!

[@coralmar5329]

The reason for finding less spatha could also be the fact that spatha are thinner than gladii. They could have rusted away.

[@aldunlop4622]

Great video man, very informative. I was just watching “Rome” yesterday, so it was good timing by KZbin recommending it. Are you going to make more videos about the Romans?

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Good to hear man, thanks! And HBO's Rome is so good, it's been an inspiration to us as well. And yes, we will continue making more videos on ancient Rome for sure, that's what our entire channel is about!

[@sunnycat69]

This channel is awesome 🤟🏻

[@2serveand2protect]

Excellent channel. Big thanks!

[@chosenof7]

Looks superb guys!

[@Todo47]

Definitely early on they were more supportive but during the late Roman empire they became indespensable and they became the bulk of the forces that saved the western empire countless times and slowed it's decline and inevitable destruction.

[@Yataro79]

The equipment shown here looks awesome!

[@brianwinters5434]

Always good information.

[@GGCMMC]

Nice video, good job!

[@cliffordjensen8725]

Nice video. The fact that the Romans were able to provide all of their battle line troops with metal body armor and large shields gave them a clear advantage over the Barbarian tribes on the frontier.

[@PiperTMTotalWar]

This is a fantastic documentary. Liked and subscribed!

[@thesnake2620]

Great video I have always been interested in the auxiliaries too

[@octavius4711]

Great video, glad to see these units being covered in more detail.

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

At least two auxilia cohorts gained instant citizen status for gallantry in battle. They continued as auxilia but were Roman citizens. You really should go more into detail because the auxilia consisted of a lot more than just infantry. Cavalry, (horse) archers, slingers, skirmishers ...

[@russko118]

you should try to do a collab with Metatron, another history youtuber that make some video wearing and using armor and such

[@johnking6252]

Used to like these kind of videos in school , still do ! They used to be films but that's a different history. 👍✌️

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Jack, great to hear!

[@tuber00009]

Please keep making more content!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

No worries, we are!

[@54321steel]

great video very well done

[@SikkeOst]

Good job! Loved the video!

[@cerberus6654]

You guys are producing quality stuff! Based on the last of your videos I watched this morning I can't stop thinking of the three of you as Those Big Batavian Bastards. Especially the tall blond one. He is as serious as an executioner - or a Supreme Court judge! Keep it up. Oh, and have you seen those two Dutch guys who do survival camping videos here on KZbin - it's called Smooth Gefixt? They switched to historical re-enactment a year or so ago and have been building a Stone Age roundhouse in Ireland. Maybe you could do a combined show like "How the Romans Slaughtered the Eburones" with them as the Eburones?

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

hahah thanks mate! Might have to change our channel name to TBBB now, since that's obviously a superior name. Haven't seen those Dutch guys building a roundhouse, but sounds very interesting, will check them out (won't slaughter them though). Merry christmas from the executioner/supreme court judge :P

[@danieleriksson5587]

I think it would be by the hasta and spatha of equites if he was talking about cavalry i think. But other than that, truly well done and really informative in an easy way!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Daniel! And indeed we cannot rule out the possibility that he was talking about cavalry, but then it seems like such an odd thing NOT to mention cavalry anywhere in his story. Of course there's the question of his credibility to begin with ... all things considered; that's why we restrict ourselves to speaking in terms of probibilities and not certainties. Interesting stuff to deliberate either way!

[@danieleriksson5587]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT You are right by saying his credibility is in the question. But I really appreciate all your work and the way you present it in terms of probabilities. Thank you and keep the great and easily to digest videos and information coming.

[@Sabastian2000]

Just got a new subscriber. Love the RTW music.

[@baris8464]

What a great channel!

[@MountedFootman]

Excellent! Greetings from Legio VI Victrix!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Artur and salve to Legio VI Victrix!