Roman drill teams

Мыслевцев А.С., Куцый О.А.

Roman drill commands

Discipline, signals and coordinated formation changes were important to Roman armies, but commands and their language changed over time.

The following is a practical set of drill commands for modern reenactors. Its compilers used ancient military treatises, Latin dictionaries and their own drill experience. It is not a surviving verbatim drill manual for a first-century legion. The Strategikon, traditionally associated with Maurice, dates to the late sixth or early seventh century and concerns a substantially later army; Vegetius and Polybius also wrote in different periods. The pronunciation guides and step-by-step movements serve modern reenactment practice rather than establishing identical procedures for every Roman unit.

Part 1. The basics

Common commands: Dirige frontem-[di-ri-ge front – tam] - attention Venite – [ve-ni-te] – form up Reverte – [re-ver-te] – cancel the command Signum demittite- [sig-num de-mit-ti-te] - break up Silentium- [si-len-ti-um] - silence Mandata captate- [man-da-ta cap-ta-te] – attention Turns: Ad contum, clina- [ad con-tum kli-na] – to the right Ad scutum, clina- [ad sku-tum kli-na] - to the left Move ad contum-[move ad con - tum] - side step to the right Move ad scutum-[move ad sku - tum] - side step to the left Ad contun (scutum) depone- [ad con-tum (sku-tum) de-po-ne] - rotation of the shoulder of the formation along the axis to the right (to the left) Ad contum (scutum) deponite- [ad con-tum (sku-tum) de-po-ni-te] - to the right (to the left) in the movement behind the leader (only the first in the line turns, the rest follow him)

Battle: Arma portate- [ar-ma por-ta-te] – take up arms Arma demittite – [ar-ma de-mit-ti-te] – put down your weapon Ad arma-[ad ar – ma] - to arms Gladius destrigite-[gla-di-us des-tri-gi – te] - sword from the scabbard Gladius recondite-[gla-di-us re-con-di – te] - sheathed sword Vos servate- [vos sir-va-te] – shield yourself Percute-[peer-ku – te] - Offensive. Quickly approach the enemy with a combat step, covered with shields. Pila tollite-[saw tol-li – te] - Prepare the pilum for throwing, aim Pila jactate-[pila yak-ta – te] - Throw the pilum Movement: Transforma-[trans-form – ma] - around Redi! – [re-di] – to the starting position Movete – [mo-ve-te] – forward march Ad contun (scutum) move- [ad con-tum (sku-tum) mo-ve] - side steps to the right (to the left) State – [sta-te] – stop Celerate-[kel-e-ra – te] - faster Tardate – [tar-da-te] – slower Cede – [ke-de] – backward movement (before the Sta command) Sta – [sta] – stop moving backwards Unum, duo, tres, sta- [unum-duo-tres-sta] – one, two, three, stop Gradum servate- [gra-dum sir-wa-te] – keep step

Part 2. Basic formations

The formation aligns by the rightmost soldier in the formation. Slapping shields in a tight formation also goes to the right. After calculating "first-second",(prímus, secúndus) the second numbers (secúndi) in 2 steps (step back, step right) move behind the first numbers (prími).

In primum, secundum numeramini- [in pri-mum se-kun-dum nu-me-ra-mi-ni] – count off in ones and twos Ad duo, intra! - [ad duo, in-tra] - stand in two ranks from the first rank. Ad duo, exi! – [ad duo, exi] - stand in two rows of four rows. Ad quattuor, intra! [ad quat-tu-or, in-tra] - stand in four rows of 2 rows. Ad quattuor, exi! [ad quat-tu-or, exi] - stand in four ranks out of 8 ranks. Ad octo, intra! [hell ok-to, in-tra] - stand in eight rows of 4 rows. Ad unum, exi! [ad uno, exi] - stand in a single line of 2 ranks. Iunge- [yoon-gae] – close ranks at elbow distance Largi-[lar – gi] - open the ranks Mutare-[mu-ta - re] - replacing the first row. By the syllable mu-ta, the legionaries of the second rank cover the first rank legionaries in front with their shields. At the syllable "re", the legionaries of the first rank move to the last row through the right side in reverse, without opening the shield.

Part 3. Special formations

Murus-[mu – rus] - build a shield wall When pronouncing the first part of the command "mu", the first rank puts the shields in front of them, gets down on one knee, propping up the shield if possible. If there is a pilum/spears – it is placed at 45 degrees and rests on the ground and the second foot. On the second part of the “rus” syllable, the second row puts shields on the first row, and the third, after, on the second. Subsequent rows do not overlap.

Tela-[te – la] - form a defensive formation against projectiles. When the first part of the command "te" is pronounced, the first row is covered with shields, the second and subsequent rows raise the shields, turning them 90 degrees, thus preparing them for superimposition. On the second part of the “la” syllable, the second and subsequent ranks impose shields on the legionary in front of them.

Ad cuneum-[ad ku-ne – um] - building a wedge Building occurs relative to the center (centurion/optio). The center stays where he is, and his neighbors take two steps back. Each subsequent neighbor takes 2 steps back more than the previous one. The standard-bearing group goes inside the wedge, in the center, as far as possible from the center.

Ad testudinem-[ad tes-tu-di – nem] - forming the testudo When pronouncing the first part of the command "ad tes", the first rank is covered with shields, the second and subsequent ranks raise the shields, turning them 90 degrees, thus preparing for the imposition, with the exception of flank legionaries, who instead cover their flank with a shield regardless of the rank (the right flank takes the shields in the right hand). On the second part of the command "tu-di", the second and subsequent ranks impose shields on the legionary standing in front of the line. On the third part of the "nem" command, the flank legionaries stand tightly in formation, covering the "turtle" on the sides.

Undique servate- [un-di-kw-e sir-wa-te] – circular defense When pronouncing the first part of the command "un-di-kwe", the legionaries form a protective perimeter. In the second part of the "sir-wa-te" command, the remaining legionaries cover the outer protective perimeter with shields from above. The standard-bearing group stands in the center of the formation.

If a vexillarius is present in the formation, the alignment and overlap of shields is relative to it (those to the right of it are aligned to the left, those to the left of the vexillarius-to the right, with the overlap of shields-in the same way). The same applies to rearrangements with a change in the number of rows.

Command Glossary

Silentium- [si-len-ti-um] - silence Mandata captate- [man-da-ta cap-ta-te] – attention Dirige frontem-[di-ri-ge front – tam] - attention Venite – [ve-ni-te] – form up Signum demittite- [sig-num de-mit-ti-te] - break up Reverte – [re-ver-te] – cancel the command Ad contum, clina-[ad con-tum, cli – na] - to the right Ad scutum, clina- [ad sku-tum, cli-na] – to the left Move ad contum-[mo-ve ad con - tum] - side step to the right Move ad scutum-[mo-ve ad sku - tum] - side step to the left Ad contun (scutum) depone- [ad con-tum (sku-tum) de-po-ne] - rotation of the shoulder of the formation along the axis to the right (to the left) Ad contun (scutum) deponite- [ad con-tum (sku-tum) de-po-ni-te] - to the right (to the left) in the movement behind the leader Transforma-[trans-form – ma] - around Redi! – [re-di] – to the starting position Movete – [mo-ve-te] – forward march Ad contum (scutum) move- [ad kon-tum (sku-tum) mo-ve] - side steps to the right (to the left) State – [sta-te] – stop Celerate-[kel-e-ra – te] - faster Tardate – [tar-da-te] – slower Cede – [ke-de] – backward movement (before the Sta command) Sta – [sta] – stop moving backwards Unum, duo, tres, sta- [unum-duo-tres-sta] – one, two, three, stop Gradum servate- [gra-dum sir-wa-te] – keep step Arma portate- [ar-ma por-ta-te] – take up arms Arma demittite – [ar-ma de-mit-ti-te] – put down your weapon Ad arma-[ad ar – ma] - to arms Gladium destrigite-[gla-di-um des-tri-gi – te] - sword from the scabbard Gladium recondite-[gla-di-um re-kon-di – te] - sheathed sword Vos servate- [vos sir-va-te] – shield yourself Percute-[peer-ku – te] - Offensive. Quickly approach the enemy with a combat step, covered with shields. Pila tollite-[saw tol-li – te] - Prepare the pilum for throwing, aim Pila jactate-[pila yak-ta – te] - Throw the pilum In primum, secundum numeramini- [in pri-mum se-kun-dum nu-me-ra-mi-ni] – count off in ones and twos Ad duo, intra! [hell duo, intra] - stand in 2 ranks from the 1st rank. Ad duo, exi! [hell duo, exy] - stand in two rows of 4 rows. Iunge- [yoon-gae]– close ranks at elbow distance Largi-[lar – gi] - open the ranks Murus-[mu – rus] - build a shield wall Tela- [te-la]– form a defensive formation against projectiles Ad testudinem-[ad testu-tu-di– nem] - forming the testudo Ad cuneum-[ad ku-ne– um] - building a wedge Undique servate- [un-di-kv-e ser-va-te] – circular defense Mutare - [mu-ta-re] - change the first row

Related topics

• Legion
• Legionary
• Auxiliaries

Literature and sources

Ludus Militis Tactica, Kal Malus,2010 Cassell’s Latin Dictionary. D.P. Simpson, ed. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York,1968.Dahm, Murray K. “The Career and Writings of Sextus Julius Frontinus.” Michael. “Greek Hagiography and Popular Latin in Late Antiquity: The Case of ‘Biberaticum-biberatikon.’” American Journal of Philology, Vol. 102. Pp. 154-163. The Johns Hopkins University Press,1981. Polybius. The Histories. English translation by W. R. Paton. Loeb Classical Library text from LacusCurtius Gaius Iulius Caesar. Bello Gallico. English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn. Bello Africo. English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn. Bello Hispaniensis. English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn. Onasander. The General. English translation by Illinois Greek Club, Aeneas Tacticus, Asclepiodotus, Onasander. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, Cambridge,1986. Flavius Iosephus. Bellum Judaicum. Excerpts in article “The marching order of Flavius Josephus” Sextus Iulius Frontinus. Strategematon. English translation by Charles E. Bennett. Frontinus, The Strategems and The Aqueducts of Rome. Loeb Classical Library, Harvard University Press, Cambridge,1980. Cornelius Tacitus. Historiae. English translation by Alfred John Church and William Jackson Brodribb. Lucius Flavius Arrianus. Ektacis Kata Alanon (The Expedition Against the Alans). English translation by James G. DeVoto, ed. Tactical Handbook and The Expedition Against the Alans. Ares Publishers, Chicago,1993. Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Epitoma Rei Militaris. Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science. Translation with notes and introduction by N.P. Milner. Liverpool Univesity Press, Liverpool,2001.