The Logistics of the Roman Army at War (264 B.C. - A.D
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE LOGISTICS OF THE ROMAN ARMY AT WAR (264 B.C. - A.D. 235) JONATHAN P. ROTH BRILL THE LOGISTICS OF THE ROMAN ARMY AT WAR (264 B.C. - A.D. 235) COLUMBIA STUDIES IN THE CLASSICAL TRADITION under the direction of WILLIAM V. HARRIS (Editor) • PAUL OSKAR KRISTELLER EUGENE F. RICE, JR. • ALAN CAMERON JAMES A. COULTER • RICHARD BRILLIANT SUZANNE SAID VOLUME XXIII THE LOGISTICS OF THE ROMAN ARMY AT WAR (264 B.C. - A.D. 235) BY JONATHAN P. ROTH BRILL LEIDEN • BOSTON • KÖLN 1999 This book is printed on acid -free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Roth, Jonathan, 1955– The logistics of the Roman army at war (264 B.C.-A.D. 235) / by Jonathan P. Roth. p. cm. — (Columbia studies in the classical tradition, ISSN 0166-1302 ; v. 23) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 9004112715 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Rome—Army—Supplies and stores. 2. Rome—Army– –Transportation—Equipment and supplies. 3. Logistics. 4. Rome– –History, Military—265-30 B.C. 5. Rome—History, Military—30 B.C.-476 A.D. I. Title. II. Series. DG89.R675 1998 355.4’11’0937—dc21 98–42368 CIP Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Roth, Jonathan P.: The logistics of the Roman army at war : (264 b.c. - a.d. 235) / by Jonathan P. Roth. – Leiden ; Boston ; Köln : Brill, 1998 (Columbia studies in the classical tradition ; Vol. 23) ISBN 90–04–11271–5 ISSN 0166-1302 ISBN 90 04 11271 5 © Copyright 1999 by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Brill provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910 Danvers MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS To Susan, the love of my life, and to Zoe, Desdemona and Othello This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface ........................................................................................ xi List of Illustrations and Tables ................................................ xiii Abbreviations .............................................................................. xv Introduction ................................................................................ 1 Chapter One: Supply Needs and Rations .............................. 7 Nutritional Requirements of the “Average” Roman Soldier ................................................................................. 7 Height, Weight and Age of Roman Soldiers ...................... 9 Rationing ................................................................................ 14 Allied and Auxiliary Rations ............................................ 16 The Grain Ration (Frumentum) .......................................... 18 The Non-Grain Ration (Cibaria) ....................................... 24 Preparation of Food .............................................................. 44 Prepared Rations .................................................................... 51 Meals ...................................................................................... 53 Diet for the Sick and Wounded .......................................... 55 Officers’ Diet and Meals ...................................................... 57 Other Logistical Needs (Firewood and Fodder) .................. 59 Conclusion .............................................................................. 67 Chapter Two: Packs, Trains and Servants ............................. 68 Provisions Carried by Individual Soldiers ........................... 68 The Soldiers’ Pack (Sarcina) .................................................. 71 Equipment of the Contubernium .............................................. 77 Cavalry Equipment ................................................................ 78 Trains ...................................................................................... 79 Non-Combatant Support Personnel (“Soldiers’ Servants”) ... 91 The Lixa ............................................................................. 93 Sutlers and Private Markets .............................................. 96 The Calo ................................................................................ 101 Requisitioned Civilians .......................................................... 110 Logistical Functions of Military Servants ............................ 111 Numbers and Organization of Non-Combatants ................ 113 Conclusion .............................................................................. 115 viii Chapter Three: Forage, Requisition and Pillage .................... 117 Foraging .................................................................................. 118 Foraging for Water (Aquatio) ............................................. 119 Foraging for Wood (Lignatio) ............................................. 123 Foraging for Fodder (Pabulatio) ......................................... 125 Foraging for Grain and Other Provisions (Frumentatio) ... 130 Economic Factors in Foraging .............................................. 135 Army Discipline and Foraging ............................................. 140 Requisition .............................................................................. 141 The Provision of Animals ................................................. 144 Vectura .................................................................................. 146 Surrendered Provisions ...................................................... 147 Pillaging .................................................................................. 148 Conclusion .............................................................................. 154 Chapter Four: Supply Lines ..................................................... 156 Republican Supply Lines ...................................................... 158 Imperial Supply Lines ........................................................... 165 Operational Bases .................................................................. 169 Winter Quarters ...................................................................... 177 Tactical Bases ........................................................................ 182 Storage .................................................................................... 185 Depots ..................................................................................... 187 The Operation of Supply Lines ........................................... 189 Sea Transport .................................................................... 189 River Transport .................................................................. 196 Overland Transport ............................................................ 198 Pack-Animals .................................................................... 202 Wagons ............................................................................ 208 Porters .............................................................................. 212 Cattle on the Hoof ......................................................... 213 Logistical Infrastructure ......................................................... 214 Roads .................................................................................. 214 Bridges ................................................................................ 217 Canals .................................................................................. 218 Conclusion .............................................................................. 219 Chapter Five: Sources of Supply ............................................. 223 Sources of Supply in the Republican Period ...................... 224 Republican Taxation ......................................................... 224 Allied Contributions .......................................................... 227 ix Publicani ............................................................................... 230 Market and Forced Purchase ........................................... 231 Sources of Supply in the Late Republic ............................. 233 Sources of Supply in the Imperial Period .......................... 236 Imperial Taxation .............................................................. 236 Allied and Private Contributions ...................................... 239 The Annona Militaris ............................................................ 240 Conclusion .............................................................................. 241 Chapter Six: The Administration of Logistics ........................ 244 Republican Central Administration of Logistics ................. 245 Late Republican Central Administration .............................. 250 Republican Administration of Supply Lines ........................ 252 Republican Administration of Army-Level Logistics .......... 256 Quaestors ............................................................................ 258 Late Republican Army Administration ................................ 259 Imperial Central Administration .......................................... 261 Central Accounting ............................................................ 265 Imperial Administration of Supply Lines ............................ 266 Private