Rebel Legionary
Heavy Infantry(0.6.7)Side / Back
Short description
These men are deserters and rebels against Rome. But they kept their equipment and training, meaning they are still impressive soldiers.
Description
These men are Legionaries who have grown sick of life in Rome's legions and deserted. Whether it be the hard life or simply a measure of cowardice, these men refuse to fight for Rome!
Punishments in the Legions were famously harsh, especially for 'dishonourable' crimes like desertion. If a man left his post or fled during battle, he would be sentenced to fustuarium- his comrades would stone him to death. The penalty is even harsher when a whole cohort deserts - the infamous decimation, where one in every tenth man is killed, and the rest are forced to live outside the camp on rough barley rations.
These men have retained their good Roman equipment, and although they have shied away from the harsh reality of legionary life, they have still been through Roman military training and are tough nuts, especially with their strong armour and 'shield wall' tactics. They would serve any commander well in terms of actual effectiveness, but as well as coming off second best against true legionaries, they may find that these rebels are more interested in looting rather than fighting!