Roman legions vs Medieval armies

The middle ages is a rather large time period and furtheremore does not specify region or state so until better defined this topic is can not even be speculated on.

Regards, Praetor.

Well longer swords doesn't help in close hand to hand fighting....but then these questions are rather like which superhero would win when you were young!

The Romans wouldn't have stood a chance Praetor

I pick Roman a medieval army to fight the Roman ancient army. My money is on the Romans.

Originally posted by think The Gladius would have been useless against the steel armour.

What about the shield? That would've been pretty effective against a late era Knight I'd think. The ancient Romans did have steel armour you know.


Edited by Omar al Hashim - 17-Apr-2007 at 01:50

Originally posted by Eondt   A shield would have been pretty near useless against a late medieval knights' charge. Especially if he charges in formation with his buddies. Even if your shield is effective in stopping the lance, the heavy warhorse would just use your shield as stepping blocks. You'll be crushed. What you need to stop heavy cavalry is pole-arms. I'm afraid the pillum is just not up to standards for this.

If you think the Pilum is inadequate for dealing with calvalry then you obviusly have not heard of the battle of Pharsalus where the much smaller force of legionaries defeated Pompeys calvalry by catching them by surprise and using thier Pilums as spears and aiming them at the face of the enemy calvalry. Though I admit Pompeys calvalry are not late medieval knights the Legionaries were outnumbered over two-to-one by the calvalry, whereas in most instances infantry greatly outnumbers calvalry. An example of the ability of the Romans to repel heavy calvalry is Carrhae where the initial charge of Parthian cataphracts was repulsed easily. Furtheremore Spanish light Infantry during the high middle ages known as Almogavars possesed a similar armnament and were noted for success against mounted Knights. One final example of what the Romans could do to  repulse a calvalry charge is this:

http://www.roman-empire.net/army/repel-cavalry.html

this is a roman anti-calvalry formation that I believe would be most effective against Knights.

Regards, Praetor.


Edited by Praetor - 17-Apr-2007 at 04:55

I pick Roman a medieval army to fight the Roman ancient army. My money is on the Romans

Reasons.

It really depends. Are Romans armor and weapons upgraded as well? How smart are their generals? Are you talking about Medieval army in general or elite knights? Where are they fighting in?

Originally posted by think I pick Roman a medieval army to fight the Roman ancient army. My money is on the Romans Reasons.

What? Take a guess at what my reasons are.

I'll spell it out. If I take a medieval Roman army (aka Byzantine) to fight a ancient Roman army, of course the victor is going to be the Romans! There on both sides obviously! Its like asking what are my reasons for thinking the English won the English civil war.