Karwansaray Publishing has recently released their latest edition of Ancient Warfare covering the Conquerors of Italy during the Early roman republic. As always with edition is filled with great articles written by amateur historians and some great artwork by the talented artist Garcio Pinto. As always you can purchase these great magazines directly from Karwansaray Publishing in either paper or electronic version. Also make sure to check their subscription and save some money. Here are some of my favorite parts from the latest edition and more content can be found on their website under Ancient Warfare.
Special: David A. Mitchell, 'Diversity in ancient armies - Of tribes and nations'.
The greatest empires and nation-states of the ancient world were often composed of wide varieties of peoples from many different backgrounds. The histories of these powers are full of conflicts in which diverse multitudes could be called upon for armed service. Along with the benefits of a variety of specialized fighters and increased available manpower, the multiplicity of languages and cultures inherent within these armies resulted in unique challenges on campaign. Factors such as terrain, morale, and training are but a few of the variables to which victory or defeat are commonly attributed, but the diverse nature of the armies involved deserves a more thorough analysis if we are to truly reach a better understanding of the complexities of leading and commanding such forces on the ancient battlefield. The number of examples is too large to effectively analyze with any utility. However, there are specific examples which can serve to illustrate some of the obstacles faced with leading such variegated forces and can also provide insight into the nature of diversity in ancient militaries.
The Debate: David Krätzer, '“Wild young lycanthropic warriors”? - The Gaesates'. Illustrated by Sebastian Schulz.
In 225 BC, the military conflicts between Celtic tribes that settled in Northern Italy and the Roman Republic reached their climax. Near the small town Telamon (Telamone) in modern Tuscany the united forces of the Galli – combining forces of the Boii and the Insubres – and the Roman legions led by the consuls Gaius Atilius Regulus and Lucius Aemilius Papus met in a decisive battle. Our earliest source for Rome’s war against the Gauls in Northern Italy is the Greek author Polybius. His account of the events in the 220s BC is widely regarded as very accurate, and he gives us not just a vivid description of the battle, but mentions a special group of warriors on the Gaulish side, the Gaesatae.
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