Roman Army Practice Questions

Correct answer: Legion

The legion was the backbone of the Roman military, composed of heavy infantry made up of Roman citizens. It was highly organized, allowing it to maintain discipline and flexibility on various terrains.

Correct answer: To create a professional standing army of landless citizens

Marius removed the property requirement for military service, allowing the poor to enlist. This shifted the soldiers' loyalty from the state to their individual generals, who provided them with pay and land upon retirement.

Correct answer: 80 to 100

A centurion commanded a 'century.' Despite the name suggesting 100, a standard century in the Imperial era usually consisted of 80 soldiers plus support staff.

Correct answer: Protecting soldiers from missiles during a siege

In the testudo formation, soldiers locked their shields over their heads and in front of them to create a continuous shell. This protected the unit from arrows and rocks thrown from city walls during an assault.

Correct answer: A heavy javelin that bent on impact so it couldn't be re-thrown

Legionaries typically threw two pila before engaging in hand-to-hand combat. The soft iron neck of the javelin would bend when it stuck in an enemy's shield, making the shield unusable and preventing the enemy from throwing the weapon back.

Correct answer: Gladius

The Gladius Hispaniensis was a highly effective thrusting weapon. Roman soldiers were trained to stab rather than swing, as a thrust was more likely to be fatal and required less space in a tight formation.

Correct answer: Non-citizen troops who supplied specialized skills such as archery or cavalry

Auxiliaries were recruited from the provinces and provided the Roman army with capabilities the heavy infantry legions lacked. After 25 years of service, auxiliary soldiers were rewarded with full Roman citizenship.

Correct answer: Its curved shape protected the soldier's sides and allowed aggressive pushing

The scutum was large and semi-cylindrical, providing excellent coverage for the torso. Its heavy boss (center knob) could also be used as a blunt-force weapon to knock opponents off balance.

Correct answer: Every single night, regardless of whether enemies were nearby

Roman discipline required the construction of a standard fortified camp at the end of every day's march. This ensured the army was always protected by a ditch and a palisade wall, preventing surprise attacks.

Correct answer: The overall commander of a legion, usually of senatorial rank

The Legate was the overall commander of a legion, appointed by the Emperor. He was typically a man who had already held significant political offices in Rome.

Correct answer: Eagle standard of the legion

The eagle (Aquila) was the most sacred object to a legion. To lose the eagle in battle was a mark of supreme disgrace, and soldiers would fight to the death to prevent its capture.

Correct answer: Provide their own weapons and armor based on their wealth

The early Roman army was a citizen militia. Citizens were divided into classes based on their property, and those with more wealth were expected to serve as heavy infantry or cavalry with better equipment.

Correct answer: Decimation

Decimation was a rare but terrifying disciplinary measure. The soldiers in the shamed unit would draw lots, and those who drew the 'tenth' were beaten to death by their own comrades.

Correct answer: Plate armor made of overlapping metal strips

The Lorica Segmentata offered excellent protection against both slashing and piercing attacks. It was made of iron strips fastened with leather straps, allowing for a good range of motion for the soldier.

Correct answer: The Emperor's personal bodyguard and security force

The Praetorians were the only armed troops allowed near the city of Rome. While meant to protect the Emperor, they eventually became 'kingmakers,' frequently involving themselves in political assassinations and successions.

Correct answer: Elephants

War elephants initially terrified the Roman legions, who had never seen such creatures. Over time, the Romans learned to counter them by opening gaps in their lines or using fire to panic the animals.

Correct answer: 8 men who shared a tent and ate together

The contubernium was the basic 'mess unit.' These eight men lived, slept, and ate together, creating the strong bonds of brotherhood essential for unit cohesion in battle.

Correct answer: Launch large bolts or stones accurately over long distances

The ballista was a torsion-powered weapon that functioned like a massive crossbow. It was used in both offensive sieges and for defensive purposes in permanent Roman forts.

Correct answer: Veterans who re-enlisted at the general's request

Evocati were highly respected because of their experience and skill. They were often given higher pay and exempted from many of the manual labor tasks required of regular legionaries.

Correct answer: Boarding bridge with a spike to latch onto enemy ships

The corvus allowed the Romans—who were superior at land fighting but poor at sea—to turn a naval battle into a series of hand-to-hand infantry fights by boarding enemy vessels.