"Role of Antesignani in Caesar's Era?" Topic

8 Posts

All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.

Please don't make fun of others' membernames.

For more information, see the TMP FAQ.

Back to the Historical Wargaming in General Message Board

Back to the Getting Started with Ancients Message Board

Back to the Ancients Discussion Message Board

Areas of Interest

General
Ancients

Featured Hobby News Article

Brigade Models: "Tariffs & Tribulations"

Avec Armenia

Featured Showcase Article

Derivan Paints: Striking It Lucky With Colour

Sometimes at a convention, you can be just dead lucky and find a real bargain.

Featured Workbench Article

From Fish Tank to Tabletop

Editor in Chief Bill receives a gift from his wife…

Featured Profile Article

Rubbery Dinos at the Dollar Store

Get these inexpensive dinos while you can.

Featured Book Review

Wizards

Asteroid X	05 May 2018 8:36 a.m. PST
Like the title asks, what was the role of the antesignani in the later Republic? From what I have read, ante means before and signani refers to the standard so they fought "before ( in front of ) the standard" – so a role like the velites. They were part of Marius' reforms. They are referred to as "elite legionary light infantry". According to Eadie ( PDF link ) , Caesar "introduced mixed units of equites and antesignani ( lite infantrymen ) , which were employed against Pompeius' cavalry". Yet, I had not heard of them before reading of them this morning. Could they be based upon the German example of foot running alongside the horsemen? Eadie continues with, "As the Romans expanded into Gaul and Germany and encountered resistance from barbarian bowmen and cavalry, however, military requirements changed. The initial Roman response ( creation of the antesignani ) was conditioned by their legionary experience." This clearly indicates they are not just employing foreigners to fight in this capacity, but they are employing legionaries to fight in this capacity.
MajorB	05 May 2018 10:50 a.m. PST
My education is sadly lacking when it comes to the later Republic. I've never heard of them before.
Mr Steve	05 May 2018 12:53 p.m. PST
This subject was recently covered in Ancient Warfare magazine Vol XI issue 4 pages 15-17
lloydthegamer	05 May 2018 1:09 p.m. PST
I feel like I'm fairly well read in ancient history and this is the first I've heard of them.
Bashytubits	05 May 2018 3:41 p.m. PST
Here is an article that might help. This is the ancient warfare article mentioned above. link
evilgong	05 May 2018 3:55 p.m. PST
Wasn't there a long discussion about these chaps either on the TNP yahoo group or the SOA page? DB
Asteroid X	05 May 2018 4:01 p.m. PST
Thank you, Mr. Steve, for the reference and thank you, Bashytubits, for the link! That is an interesting article! It does not clarify things, but yet, it does, by giving us the information that we know and letting us know we still have a LOT to learn! It fuels the imagination, that is for sure!
nnascati	05 May 2018 5:30 p.m. PST
Just goes to show, we will never really know everything about ancient warfare.

Sorry - only verified members can post on the forums.