Did Romans March With Armor On?

by cloudadmin

I’m on a bus in southern Spain headed to Granada. The area is arid, rocky, and quite hilly. It made me wonder if ancient armies, particularly the Romans, marched with their armor on, or was it carried by pack horses / mules? Movies always depict the Romans marching fully geared for war, but that seems rather inefficient and exhausting.

Thanks guys!

ActionJack1511

The equipment carried by soldiers in the Roman military varied between the soldiers' class. I've broken up the different equipment infantrymen carried below.

Each Roman infantry soldier was outfitted with 27kg (60lbs) of armor, weapons and equipment. This load, for the average infantryman, included his armor, a gladius (sword), a shield, two pila (one heavy, one light), and up to 15lbs of food. This food could include wheat, chickpeas, etc (1).

Infantry were divided up into squads of eight and each octet was assigned a mule (3). The mule would be used to carry items such as a mill for grinding grain, extra weapons and armor, a small clay oven, cooking pots, and tents (2).

Multiple octets came together to make a century, which was assigned ten mules and may have also been accompanied by wagons in the rear. (The wagons would be responsible for carrying nails, additional equipment and supplies, etc.) (2).

In addition to their own packs, each infantryman may also have carried personal items like a cloak (3).

Sources:

(1) Colleen McCullough, (2003) Caesar, p 303-417

(2) Rome at war. (2005) Gilliver et al. Osprey, p 63-97

(3) Adrian Goldsworthy, In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire, Weidenfield and Nicholson, 2003 pp. 18-117

edit: formatting