The Silent Strategy: How Romans Mastered the Art of War | History Hack

[@AWARHERO]

The dog that barks doesn't bite....

[@History_ack]

Maybe so!

[@MikeNoyb]

It's a given, in a battlefield from ancient times to Vietnam to Korea to Afghanistan, the more they scream and yell the more scared they are. If you're a professional, you've already won the battle. That's one reason why the Kings Guard at Buckingham palace is somber, unmoving and un spoken. It sends volumes of warning to onlookers "Do not Phuket with us".

[@MadMatTom7769]

Ah yes, royal guards... what a pointless job

[@guymundane3807]

@@MadMatTom7769captain hates cool looking things over here

[@John-d7p]

They were quiet when required to be quiet, and noisy when required to be noisy. Signifers were used (men who used loud bugle type horns) to signal the centurions - the captains leutenants and sargeants - while higher commanders were signalled by flags, and there were aids who watched those flags like hawks to relay the orders instantly. The Signifers stood close by the commanders for orders, but where also spread down the line to relay quickly. There were horn blasts to signal "silence: attention to orders" and signals to raise the war cry and to beat on the shields the cadence of advance. Signifers would advance directly behind the line The Romans did not use drums like other armies because they knew that those sounds could be misunderstood as the sounds of battle. Horns cannot be mistaken. The use of a whistle by centurions is not confirmed, but is plausible.

[@PH-VG]

compare it to new Zealands Haka

[@harrygreb75]

In Caesars commentaries he describes his soldiers as loud on the battle field

[@History_ack]

That's a great point! Yes, Caesar's commentaries do mention the loud war cries and shouts of his soldiers on the battlefield, which was a common tactic to intimidate enemies and boost morale.