WARFARE OF ANTIQUITY. 15 



place according to the census which Servius Tullius introduced, who also 

 increased the cavalry to 2400 men. The first class of citizens had Argolic 

 shields, spears, cuirass, iron skull-caps, greaves, and swords, and formed the 

 van. The second class had the same weapons, with no cuirass, but long 

 shields ; they formed the second line. The third class had neither cuirass 

 nor greaves ; the fourth only large shields, spears, and swords ; the fifth 

 class w^ere armed only with slings and javelins, and stationed outside the 

 main order of battle, which was very similar to the Greek phalanx. The 

 sixth class, the paupers, were free from military service. The cavalry was 

 chosen from the richest and most distinguished citizens. 



The first improvement which the Romans introduced into the Grecian 

 order of battle was the division of the phalanx into three lines : the hastati, 

 principes, and triarii or pilani. The hastati (pL 7, fig. 13) formed the first 

 line, and had light javelins ; the principes (fig. 14) stood in the second line 

 and were heavy armed ; they formed the main body, and had heavy jave- 

 lins. The triarii {fig. 15), who made the third line, the reserve, had also 

 heavy javelins, afterwards lances. The velites {fig. 12), light troops, had 

 very light javelins and round shields ; in rapid attacks they sprang up behind 

 the cavalry on horseback and dismounted on reaching the required spot. 



The Roman legion, which under Servius Tullius was 4400 strong, was 

 increased after the battle of Cannae to 5000, and under Marius to even 

 6000, which was its strength also under the emperors. Each consul, of 

 whom there were two, had the guidance of two legions., so that the con- 

 sular army consisted of four legions. The troops were chosen from the 

 35 tribes in this manner: from each group of four equal sized men, 

 each tribune alternately chose a man ; after selection, and the administra- 

 tion of the oath of allegiance, each legion was divided into two parts, the 

 heavy and light troops. Of those between 17 and 25 years of age, 1200 

 were light armed ; the remainder were divided into hastati (from 25 to 32), 

 principes (32 to 40), and triarii (40 to 45), and then the legion received its 

 standard and field badges. PL 10, figs, 1 and 2, show legion-eagles ; figs. 3 

 and 4 standards ; and figs. 5-15 various field badges of the smaller sections. 

 The standards of the infantry were called signa ; those of the cavalry, 

 vexilla. The principal standard was of gold and purple ; some were striped. 

 The field badges were adorned with wreaths, turrets, and likenesses of 

 different emperors and heroes. The standards and badges were carried by 

 chosen, trusty men, standard-bearers, signiferi {pi. 7, figs. 16 and 17). 

 They wore usually the skin of a lion or bear. 



During the monarchy the kings were themselves commanders-in-chief of 

 the army ; in their stead came afterwards the consuls and the prcetors with 

 their legates. The two consuls had chief command on alternate days, 

 To the consuls followed in rank the tribunes, then the centurions {figs. 18 

 and 19), who commanded 100, and the decuinons or decani, who com- 

 manded 10 men. In the time of the republic the dictator was commander- 

 in-chief and named his own subordinates. 



The hnperator (general-in-chief) {pi. S,fig. 1) filled one of the first places 

 in Rome ; to him the soldiers swore fealty ; he had before him, as token of 



491 



