Roman Warfare Tactics
As an organised professional army the Romans were more than a match for the Caledonians who mostly fought as individual tribes and were therefore picked off one by one.
Roman Legionnaires had the following
- metal armour protecting their bodies
- a sturdy shield that could withstand arrows and javelins
- sharp and well made swords
- well rehearsed battle tactics
- plentiful food from a supply chain that allowed them to stay in battle longer than opponents
- cavalry
- mechanical weapons such as ballista
- a navy that allowed quick transport of troops
- fortified camps
Caledonians fought with the following
- fought with very little clothes and no protective armour
- had flimsy shields
- used blunt iron or wooden weapons
- has one tactic – rush at Roman lines
- used hit-and-run tactics
- could not stay in battle for long as no food supplies
- used chariots
- had Carnyx Horn
The Roman attacks on Scotland were of three types
- Conquest – three times this happened – Agricola, the Antonine Wall and Septimus Severus
- Punitive expeditions – intended to show off the might of Rome and deter attacks
- Retribution – following attacks in England by raiding parties the Romans would burn down villages and kill as many people as possible as punishment for attacks.
References
Early Germanic Warfare E. A. Thompson Past & Present, No. 14 (Nov., 1958), pp. 2-29
