velites
Light-armed Roman troops
Velites were light infantry in the ancient Roman army, typically the youngest and poorest soldiers who couldn't afford heavy armor.
They served as skirmishers, harassing enemy formations with javelins before the main infantry engaged.
The term appears primarily in historical discussions of Roman military organization: The velites screened the legion's advance.
Great number, or soldiers
- manipleLiturgical forearm garment
- republicState with elected leaders
- pilumRoman military throwing spear
- gladiusRoman infantry blade
centurion · cohort · consul · tribune · scutum · Punic Wars · Scipio · Marius
Throwing spear for sport
- short swordCompact bladed weapon
- throwing spearPole weapon for casting
- headdressOrnamental head covering
- unarmoredLacking protective covering
Throwing spear for sport
- harassingPersistently tormenting another
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- hit-and-runLeaving after causing collision
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
flanking · reconnaissance · vanguard · pursuit · disruption · missile · throwing · mobile
legion
Great number, or soldiers
- manipleLiturgical forearm garment
- republicState with elected leaders
- pilumRoman military throwing spear
gladius · centurion · cohort · consul · tribune · scutum · Punic Wars · Scipio · Marius · auxilia
javelin
Throwing spear for sport
- short swordCompact bladed weapon
- throwing spearPole weapon for casting
- headdressOrnamental head covering
javelin
Throwing spear for sport
- harassingPersistently tormenting another
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- hit-and-runLeaving after causing collision
ambush · flanking · reconnaissance · vanguard · pursuit · disruption · missile · throwing · mobile · dispersed
- Roman militarylegion, cohort, centurion, legionnaire, legionaries
- ancient armiesphalanx, legion, hoplites, heavy infantry, light infantry
- ancient warriorsgladiator, spartan, samurai, viking, hoplite
- arena fightersgladiator, pit fighter, scissor, cage fighter, luchador
- ancient infantrypikemen, hoplites
- ancient titlesconsul, pharaoh, praetor, vizier, tribune
velitesheavy infantry
Armored foot soldiers
hoplites · line infantry · men-at-arms · legionaries · shock troops