The Logistics of the Roman Army at War, 264 B.C., A.D. 235

422 Pages·1998·1.43 MB·English

by  Jonathan P. Roth

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.
ISBN9004112715 (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)
ISBN90–04–11271–5
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
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Fees are subject to change.
PRINTEDINTHENETHERLANDS
To Susan,
the love of my life,
and to
Zoe, Desdemona and Othello
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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 Contracting ............................................................ 270
Imperial Administration of Army-Level Logistics ............... 271
The Camp Prefect .............................................................. 272
Legionary Administration .................................................. 273
Corruption and Military Administration ............................. 275
Conclusion .............................................................................. 276
Chapter Seven: Logistics in Roman Warfare .......................... 279
Logistics in Campaign Planning ........................................... 279
Security of Supply Lines ........................................................ 281
Security of Waterborne Supply ........................................ 281
Security of Overland Supply ............................................ 283
Security of Foraging Operations ...................................... 286
Security of Trains .............................................................. 292
Foraging and Supply Lines in Strategy and Tactics .......... 293
Logistics and Strategy ............................................................ 298
Blocking Waterborne Supply ............................................ 298
Blocking Overland Supply ................................................. 301
Attacking Operational and Tactical Bases ...................... 303
Strategy of Pillaging .............................................................. 305
Effects of Logistics on Tactics .............................................. 306
Logistics and Battle ........................................................... 309