Antiquity

The vélites were the light infantrymen armed Roman. Before the marianic Reform, time when the legions consisted of Roman citizens according to their row of richness, the vélites resulted from the Centurie S the poor (less poor, however, which simple carriers).

Indeed, each citizen was to then buy itself his equipment; that of vélite was most economic, because it was limited to a sling or some Javelot S. the vélites did not carry a armor, at most a light shield. They advanced as riflemen in front of the legions and opened the combat with their Arme S of jet, before being withdrawn behind the better armed infantrymen than them for the body-with-body. Under the Republic and at the beginning of the Empire, each legion counted 1  200 vélites.

The vélite watch well the Greek influence on the primitive Roman armies; influence which disappeared then little by little, but without making disappear the vélite. This one is very similar to the Gymnète Greek armies as well in its social origin as in its equipment or its tactical role.

First Empire

The vélites of the Imperial Guard

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