Hastati

Hastati (Singular: "Hastatus") were a class of infantry in the armies of the early Roman Republic who originally fought as spearmen, and later as swordsmen. They were originally some of the poorest men in the legion, and could afford only modest equipment, comprised of light armour and a large shield, in their service as the lighter infantry of the legion. Later, the "hastati" contained the younger men rather than just the poorer, though most men of their age were relatively poor. Their usual position was the first battle line. They fought in a quincunx formation, supported by light troops. They were eventually done away with after the Marian reforms of 107 BC.

History and deployment

"Hastati" appear to have been remnants of the old third class of the army under the Etruscan kings when it was reformed by Marcus Furius Camillus.] They fought in quincunx formation, usually carrying "scuta", large rectangular shields, and bronze helmets, often with a number of feathers fixed onto the top to increase stature. They wore light armour, the most common form being small breastplates, called "heart protectors"

In this type of legion, the 900 "hastati" formed 15 maniples, military units of 60 men each. Attached to each maniple were about 20 "leves", javelin-armed light infantry.] The wealth and age requirements were scrapped. Soldiers would join as a career, rather than as service to the city, and would all be equipped as medium infantry with the same state-purchased equipment. Auxiliaries, local irregular troops, would fulfill other roles, serving as archers, skirmishers and cavalry.cite book|last=Smith|first=William|title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities|publisher=Little, Brown, and Co.|pages=506|isbn=0893411663|accessdate=6-12-2008]

ee also

*Structural history of the Roman military
*Roman infantry tactics

References