Military Courage and the Ordinary Infantryman in the Roman Republic

Kathryn H. Milne

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Chapter 16 Military Courage and the Ordinary Infantryman in the Roman Republic

In: Brill's Companion to Courage and Cowardice in Ancient Warfare

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Kathryn H. Milne

Kathryn H. Milne
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 423–442

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004749290_017

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on the Roman Republican vision of military courage for the ordinary infantryman within the context of battlefield realities. It argues that military courage was understood as an act or deed of combat, usually involving aggression and violence, because combat always took place within a period that was made religiously and psychologically distinct. During this period the focus of courage was the Roman battleline, the integrity of which was vital to the outcome of any combat, where both acts of momentum-generating aggression and acts of holding or staying under threat were considered evidence of courage. Acts categorized as virtus often seem rash or reckless because hand-to-hand combat with edged weapons had to be done in explosive bursts of violence for both physical and psychological reasons. Viewed in this way, it is clear that military courage, for a Roman infantryman, consisted of behavior that did not need to be extraordinary, but was practical, achievable, and necessary for success, survival, and victory.

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Brill's Companion to Courage and Cowardice in Ancient Warfare

Series: Brill's Companions to Classical Studies, Volume: 12 and Brill's Companions to Classical Studies: Warfare in the Ancient Mediterranean World, Volume: 12

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004749290

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 02 Dec 2025

Subjects
- Classical Studies
  - Ancient History
  - Greek & Latin Literature

Front Matter

Introduction

Part 1 Courage and Cowardice: Setting the Groundwork

Part 2 Philosophy

Part 3 Courage and Its Limits

Part 4 The Individual and the Collective

Part 5 Fear and Flight, Punishment and Reward

Epilogue

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Chapter 16 Military Courage and the Ordinary Infantryman in the Roman Republic

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Brill's Companion to Courage and Cowardice in Ancient Warfare

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