If your spear is not long enough to get out in front of the formation, that means you’re going to have a pointy spear at the back of one of your fellow soldiers. As well disciplined as the Romans were, maintaining a perfectly straight line while being attacked is a lot to ask for. So I imagine keeping the spears up until they’re needed is to reduce friendly casualties
If your spear is not long enough to get out in front of the formation, that means you’re going to have a pointy spear at the back of one of your fellow soldiers. As well disciplined as the Romans were, maintaining a perfectly straight line while being attacked is a lot to ask for. So I imagine keeping the spears up until they’re needed is to reduce friendly casualties
Small correction - the Romans never used the pike phalanx on a large scale. This was Greek/Macedonian.
The Romans liked big shields and small swords. 😎
And weighty javelins to fuck up the other side’s shields