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Ala (Roman allied military unit)

An ala (Latin for "wing"; pl. alae) was the term used during the middle of the Roman Republic (338–88 BC) to denote a military formation composed of conscripts from the socii, Rome's Italian military allies. A normal consular army during the period consisted of two legions, composed of only Roman citizens, and two allied alae.

The alae were somewhat larger than normal legions, 5,400 or 5,100 men against the legion's 4,500 men, and it contained a greater quantity of cavalry, usually 900 horsemen against the 300 supplied by the Romans.[1]

From the time of the first Roman emperor, Augustus (ruled 27 BC – AD 14), the term ala was used in the professional imperial army to denote a much smaller (c. 500), purely cavalry unit of the non-citizen auxilia corps: see ala (Roman cavalry unit).

History edit

When the Roman armies started being composed partly of Roman citizens and partly of socii (allies from the rest of the Italian mainland), either Latini or Italici, it became the practice to marshal the Roman troops in the centre of the battle line and the socii upon the wings. Consular armies of the mid-Republic would consist of two legions of Roman citizens and two legions of "ala", with the ala supplying thirty turmae of cavalry per legion, whereas the Roman provided only ten turmae. Hence ala and alarii denoted the contingent furnished by the allies, both horse and foot, and the two divisions were distinguished as dextera ala (right wing) and sinistra ala (left wing).[2]

As late as Polybius' times, contingents of allies forming the alae were recruited by their own leaders in their homelands, which were expected to levy an equivalent number to the Roman troops; the specifications of those agreements were covered in the formula togatorum.[1] They were managed by six Roman officers called praefecti sociorum, equivalent to the legion's six military tribunes, who were chosen from the equestrian order by the consul at charge[1] However, Rome would also trust on their allied commander themselves, with outstanding examples like the Frentani Oblacus Volsinius or the Campanian Decius Vibellius during the Pyrrhic War.[3]

Socii were expected to fight in the same manner and equipment as the Roman troops and provide their own basic rations, and were in turn would receive a percentage of any loot gained, although at a lower rate than their Roman equivalents.[1]

References edit

Sources edit

  • Ann Hyland: Equus: The Horse in the Roman World. ISBN 0-300-04770-3.
  • Adrian Goldsworthy: The Complete Roman Army. ISBN 0-500-05124-0.
  • William Smith, ed.: A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.
  •   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: an article by William Ramsay, M.A., Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow on pp. 73-74 of A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875, edited by William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d Sara E. Phang, Iain Spence, Douglas Kelly, Peter Londey (2016). Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781610690201.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ (Livy, xxvii.2 [1], Livy, xxv.21 [2], Livy xxxi.21 [3]; Lips. de Milit. Rom. ii. dial. 7. We find in Livy x.40 [4], the expression cum cohortibus alariis ("with wing cohorts"), and in x. 43 [5], D. Brutum Scaevam legatum cum legione prima et decem cohortibus alariis equitatuque ire...jussit ("He ordered Decius Brutus Scaeva, legate, with the first legion and ten wing cohorts and the cavalry, to go and oppose said detachment...").
  3. ^ Saskia T. Roselaar (2012). Processes of Integration and Identity Formation in the Roman Republic. Brill. p. 80. ISBN 9789004229112.

roman, allied, military, unit, also, roman, cavalry, unit, latin, wing, alae, term, used, during, middle, roman, republic, denote, military, formation, composed, conscripts, from, socii, rome, italian, military, allies, normal, consular, army, during, period, . See also Ala Roman cavalry unit An ala Latin for wing pl alae was the term used during the middle of the Roman Republic 338 88 BC to denote a military formation composed of conscripts from the socii Rome s Italian military allies A normal consular army during the period consisted of two legions composed of only Roman citizens and two allied alae The alae were somewhat larger than normal legions 5 400 or 5 100 men against the legion s 4 500 men and it contained a greater quantity of cavalry usually 900 horsemen against the 300 supplied by the Romans 1 From the time of the first Roman emperor Augustus ruled 27 BC AD 14 the term ala was used in the professional imperial army to denote a much smaller c 500 purely cavalry unit of the non citizen auxilia corps see ala Roman cavalry unit Contents 1 History 2 References 2 1 Sources 2 2 CitationsHistory editWhen the Roman armies started being composed partly of Roman citizens and partly of socii allies from the rest of the Italian mainland either Latini or Italici it became the practice to marshal the Roman troops in the centre of the battle line and the socii upon the wings Consular armies of the mid Republic would consist of two legions of Roman citizens and two legions of ala with the ala supplying thirty turmae of cavalry per legion whereas the Roman provided only ten turmae Hence ala and alarii denoted the contingent furnished by the allies both horse and foot and the two divisions were distinguished as dextera ala right wing and sinistra ala left wing 2 As late as Polybius times contingents of allies forming the alae were recruited by their own leaders in their homelands which were expected to levy an equivalent number to the Roman troops the specifications of those agreements were covered in the formula togatorum 1 They were managed by six Roman officers called praefecti sociorum equivalent to the legion s six military tribunes who were chosen from the equestrian order by the consul at charge 1 However Rome would also trust on their allied commander themselves with outstanding examples like the Frentani Oblacus Volsinius or the Campanian Decius Vibellius during the Pyrrhic War 3 Socii were expected to fight in the same manner and equipment as the Roman troops and provide their own basic rations and were in turn would receive a percentage of any loot gained although at a lower rate than their Roman equivalents 1 References editSources edit Ann Hyland Equus The Horse in the Roman World ISBN 0 300 04770 3 Adrian Goldsworthy The Complete Roman Army ISBN 0 500 05124 0 William Smith ed A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities John Murray London 1875 nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain an article by William Ramsay M A Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow on pp 73 74 of A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities John Murray London 1875 edited by William Smith D C L LL D Citations edit a b c d Sara E Phang Iain Spence Douglas Kelly Peter Londey 2016 Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome The Definitive Political Social and Military Encyclopedia 3 volumes The Definitive Political Social and Military Encyclopedia ABC CLIO ISBN 9781610690201 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Livy xxvii 2 1 Livy xxv 21 2 Livy xxxi 21 3 Lips de Milit Rom ii dial 7 We find in Livy x 40 4 the expression cum cohortibus alariis with wing cohorts and in x 43 5 D Brutum Scaevam legatum cum legione prima et decem cohortibus alariis equitatuque ire jussit He ordered Decius Brutus Scaeva legate with the first legion and ten wing cohorts and the cavalry to go and oppose said detachment Saskia T Roselaar 2012 Processes of Integration and Identity Formation in the Roman Republic Brill p 80 ISBN 9789004229112 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ala Roman allied military unit amp oldid 1191944264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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