The Insane Logistics of a Roman Army on the March - 24 Hour Simulation 3D DOCUMENTARY

spare horses. Together they number about 3,700 men, 4,200 mules and 4,600 horses. This is the largest block of the entire

march

ing

army

.   Under ideal conditions, they stretch for just over 8.5 km and take almost 2

hour

s to leave camp.   However, since the baggage train is made up of non-soldiers and animals, they are likely less efficient at

march

ing than their legionary counterparts and could easily have needed much more space and time to advance. After all, there was a reason they were called impedimenta.   If everything continues as planned, the rearguard will be able to appear around 11:10 am. In our model we assume that they are composed of 2 Auxiliary Cavalry Wings and 2 Cohorts of Auxiliary Archers.   Also do not bring luggage or support personnel in case you need to move or fight quickly.   This force has about 1,000 infantry soldiers and 1,000 cavalry.

Together they can defeat or at least delay most threats in time for help to arrive. As they reach the road, they will extend about 1.5 km and will take 20 minutes to leave the now completely evacuated place of the ancient Roman camp.   In front of them is a road that by now must have turned into a potholed, trampled mess of mud and animal excrement.  This will not be a pleasant march in sandals.   It is now 11:30 a.m., five and a half

hour

s since the first troops left.   But there is another important group that we have yet to mention: the Flank Guard.

It is composed of the remaining 4 Alae of Auxiliary Cavalry and the 12 Turmae of Legionary Cavalry. Together they number around 2,400 cyclists. But rather than forming a group within the marching column, we will assume that over time they have moved out of camp to operate in a series of small units that help patrol the vulnerable sides of the

army

, especially around the undefended baggage train.   Zooming out, we can now try to fully appreciate the mind-boggling scale of a Roman army on the march. In short, it is made up of the Scouts, Vanguard, Surveyors, Command Group, Main Body, Baggage Train and Rear Guard along with the roving elements of the Flank Guard.

In total, they are about 25 km or 15.5 miles long in ideal conditions. For context, that is exactly the distance from the Roman Colosseum to the shores of the Mediterranean.   Using other geographic comparisons, that is 160% of the width of the Strait of Gibraltar separating Spain from Africa or 76% of the narrower width of the English Channel separating Britain from France. Put another way, the Roman army covers 60% of the total distance of a marathon.   This means that the fastest marathon runner who completed his race in about 2 hours would take 1 hour and 12 minutes to run the length of our Roman army.   For a galloping horse, this feat would take 38 minutes.

  However, while the entire army is 25 km long, we have assumed that the planned distance of the day's march is only 20 km. Therefore, when the scouts arrive at the second camp site around 10:22 a.m., the baggage train is just over halfway out of the first camp.   The army is so large that it more than covers both locations.   With this in mind, let's now focus on the activities that will take place at the new camp. Around 10:30 a.m. m., all the scouts have arrived and will now spread out to form a screen around the site.   Around 11:00 a.m. the Vanguard will arrive and take up defensive positions.   Around 11:15 am the surveyors arrive and begin laying out the camp.   Around 11:30 the command group arrives and can settle its affairs in the heart of the new camp.   Perhaps the general chooses to relax for a moment by eating, drinking, or resting.

Around 11:45 am the main body of legionnaires arrives. They will be the ones to start building the camp and individual groups will be assigned specific sections to work on. Depending on the threat posed by the enemy, some of these soldiers may be reassigned as guards to reinforce the Vanguard.   Estimates vary, but academics generally put the total construction duration at around 3 to 4 hours under normal circumstances. Therefore, by the time the baggage train starts arriving around 1:30 p.m. m., the camp perimeter ditch, wall, and palisade should be on track to be completed by the time the baggage train finishes arriving around 3:30 p.m. m.   In the next half hour the rearguard will also have arrived.

Now, with the defenses finished and the rest of the army safely inside, the Vanguard can retreat inside the camp to join their comrades.   Throughout the afternoon there would have been a great deal of activity within the camp as people set up tents, unloaded animals and stored their belongings. The regular military camp structure would have made this process second nature to the men and therefore greatly facilitated it.   But the work didn't stop there. Around 4:00 p.m. m., groups are sent to look for food, water and forage necessary to sustain the army. At the same time, food is prepared and dinner is eaten around 6:00 p.m.

Around 7:00 p.m. m., various camp tasks are completed and individuals can relax or perform personal tasks. At 8:00 p.m. m., the animals are secured for the night and the beds are made. At 9:00 p.m. the sun has set. After a long day, the army can finally rest. This is except those men who have been selected for the first watch of the night. However, they too will be able to sleep soon once their shift is over and the torch is passed to those on the next watch.   Eventually, the sun will rise and the daily cycle will repeat.   Such is the monotonous familiarity of a Roman army marching until it reaches its objective.

  I hope that by showing the actual size of a Roman army on the march you have gained a better understanding of ancient

logistics

and an appreciation of why the Romans were so interested in building roads through their Empire.  I hope that now you can also imagine what things would have been like in less ideal conditions, such as in the Teutoburg Forest.   Stay tuned for future episodes of “True Size” as we explore more fascinating topics.   To support the channel, consider visiting our Patreon to participate in polls, watch script trailers, and download HD downloads of all our art.

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