Velites
Missile Infantry(0.6.7)Side / Back
Short description
Velites were swift moving skirmish infantry armed with a sword and a clutch of javelins.
Description
In the pre-Marian Republican legion, the Velites were the youngest and poorest of the serving soldiers. Generally, unable to afford to equip themselves as infantry, they relied upon their speed and daring to get them through a battle. Unlike the infantry, the Velites were not organised, instead it seems that they attached themselves to each century or maniple of infantry.
Velites were ordered to carry a sword, a clutch of javelins and a shield, called a parma, measuring 3ft in diameter, which offered good protection from the dangers of battle. For ease of identification and to mark themselves out, they would wear a wolf's skin over a plain helmet, which allowed their commanding officers to judge if they fought pluckily or not.
Polybius, in his "Histories" (Book 6, 21.6 - 22) describes at length the accoutrements of a serving Veles: "The wooden shaft of the javelin measures about two cubits in length and is about a finger's breadth in thickness; its head is a span long hammered out to such a fine edge that it is necessarily bent by the first impact, and the enemy is unable to return it. If this were not so, the missile would be available for both sides."
The role of the Velites was probably formed from the earlier, now amalgamated Rorarii and Accensi classes, though historical documentation is unclear as to the exact function of these classes. It is only with the appearance of the Velites, that the role of the lowest class of citizen in the Roman Army becomes more apparent. Velites would have all but disappeared with the reforms of Gaius Marius, which enabled those Romans who had no property to speak of yet appeared in the 'Head Count' (capite censi), to serve in the Roman army, whilst turning the State into the provider of equipment.
Therefore, those who would have previously served as Velites through a lack of class, age and equipment, could now serve as infantry in a post-Marian army.