Ala (military)

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Roman cavalier 100 AD Reconstruction, Archaeological Museum Frankfurt
Cavalryman (late 3rd and early 4th centuries)

The Ala ( Latin "wing"; plural: Alae ) was an association of (in the imperial era) 500 to 1000 horsemen in the army of ancient Rome . The Alae were among the auxiliary troops . In the course of time, they acquired an ever greater tactical and, towards the end of the Roman Empire, also strategic weight.

The ala at the time of the republic and empire

republic

During the time of the Roman Republic , the contingents of Rome's Italian allies were called alae because they were positioned on the flanks of the Roman legions . Their strength was roughly equivalent to that of the Roman legions, but the proportion of cavalry was greater. In addition to two legions, two alae were assigned to each consular army. After the alliance war , however, these received Roman citizenship and were included in the legions, so that from now on this designation was dropped. In the late republic only complete cavalry units with a strength of about 300 men were called Ala.

Imperial times

The Ala of the Roman Empire was a military cavalry unit of the auxiliary troops ( auxilia ). An ala ranked above the wholly or partly foot troop cohorts in the ranks of the auxiliaries.

There were Alae in two team strengths:

  • ala quingenaria : about 500 riders in 16 towers of 32 men each;
  • ala milliaria : about 1,000 riders in 24 towers with up to 42 men.

The latter was relatively rare, there were never more than seven units in the entire Roman Empire, compared to around 80 alae quingenariae . An Ala milliaria represented a significant battle and power potential. They were probably not set up before the Flavian period (69–96 AD) and were subordinate to a prefectus . The individual towers were led by a decurion who was equated with a centurion.

Equipment and accommodation

The horses of the time of Rome were on average smaller than those used in sport riding today. According to today's classification, they stood on the border between pony and horse (around 1.42 m shoulder height) and were unshod.

Reconstruction of a Roman saddle

They were bridled in a manner comparable to today . The dishes usually had numerous small pendants and fittings. The saddle had no stirrups , but so-called "horns". Their appearance cannot be exactly reconstructed. However, there were two protrusions on which the knees could be supported so that the rider had good lateral support. In the late Imperial Era, horses were also provided with overhanging armor and horse foreheads based on the model of eastern equestrian peoples ( cataphracts , clibanaries ).

Example of the barracks of a cavalry unit (Ala), 2./3. Century, room typically with a passage to the horse stables immediately adjacent

The equipment of the riders corresponded in principle to the armament of the legionnaires, but the details were adapted to the requirements of riding.

  • Helmets apparently corresponded to infantry helmets .
  • For the body armor , chain mail shirts (Lorica hamata) were mainly used, which were a little shorter, but whose shoulder reinforcements were more overhanging than usual in the infantry. However, all other types of body armor were also used. The heavily armored cataphracts were usually protected with scale armor (Lorica squamata). Under the armor, the rider was protected by a padded undergarment made of felt or linen. It served as additional protection against blows and bumps and prevented you from injuring yourself on your own, perhaps damaged, tank.
  • The shield was the Parma equestris, which was flat, oval and significantly smaller than the scutum . It measured approx. 115/60 cm and weighed 5 kg. It was made of plywood and the surfaces were covered with linen or cowhide. The edge was studded with bronze. In the middle of the shield had an oval hole through which the handle ran. The hand was protected from the outside by the hemispherically shaped shield boss made of iron. The outside surface was painted. The painting was usually covered with goatskin for protection. The painting was shown at parades or roll calls. In addition, the shield had carrying straps with which the shield could be hung or attached to the saddle of the horse.
  • Javelin : On the one hand, a relatively short version was used, which was provided with points at both ends; this was sometimes also used in a throwing throw to overcome the shield cover of the attacked infantry. Several of this version were carried along. In addition, a classic throwing lance was used, which could also be used for thrusting.
  • Sword : In the cavalry, the longer, more precisely optimized spathe was mainly used.
  • Lance : Some units were probably equipped with long push lances (4–6 m) instead of javelins; these were mostly ales from eastern empire areas, where the lance was already in use in the peoples of origin. The cataphracts of the late imperial era were regularly equipped with it.

Some of the riders of the auxiliary troops were armed considerably differently. The Numidians and horsemen from eastern tribes were z. B. often equipped with reflex bows and therefore did not carry pillows and shields.

After tents and makeshift shelters with wicker walls were the rule in the era of the Republic, half-timbered / clay constructions emerged in the imperial era. In the 19th century there were more brick barracks, also one and a half and two storeys. The rooms were occupied by 6 or 8 riders. Typical for mounted units were barracks rooms with access to the horse stables immediately adjacent. Auxiliary workers and servants could also be accommodated in the same buildings.

commitment

The main task of the riders was to bypass the opposing battle line-up and to advance into the relatively unprotected sides or gaps and to prevent corresponding advances by the opposing cavalry. She also pursued a fleeing enemy and prevented them from regrouping and reorganizing.

Due to the very different origins and armament of the auxiliary riding, their fighting style was also very different. It is known that the Roman, Gallic and Germanic horsemen also often fought dismounted.

  • Use of the spathe in training

  • Riding into the opposing battle line

  • Hurling the javelin

  • Turning off and preparing for the next attack

Similarly equipped warriors

  • Cataphract - armored horsemen in Iranian, late Roman and Byzantine armies
  • Clibanarius - Roman name for rider with full body armor for rider and horse.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Slow motion / Duisburg excavations / Asciburgium , Museumsverlag Duisburg, Duisburg 2013, p. 88ff .: "the Roman military".