BATTLE OF ZAMA - 202 B.C.
ROMAN LEGION: MANIPLES OF PRENCEPES
As known a single maniples of a Roman Legion at the epoch of the Ounic wars was based on 2 Centuries, 60 men circa each.
Exactly, the single "centuria" was arrayed on six ranks deep formation for 10 men wide. The front "centuria" was commanded by a "Centurio Prior" commanding the first "centuria" with a standard bearer next to him and a centurion to command the second "centuria". On the back of each centura there was an "optio", some kind of NCO encharged to mantain the order and the arrayement. The 2 centuriae were one behind the other.
Exactly, the single "centuria" was arrayed on six ranks deep formation for 10 men wide. The front "centuria" was commanded by a "Centurio Prior" commanding the first "centuria" with a standard bearer next to him and a centurion to command the second "centuria". On the back of each centura there was an "optio", some kind of NCO encharged to mantain the order and the arrayement. The 2 centuriae were one behind the other.
When the unit had to fight against the odds the 2 centuriae placed one next to the other in order to make the fighting front wider.
Then the Maniple tended to compact itself: the rank were decreased to 5, while the front of every rank raised to 12 men wide (with the adding thus of 2 men per rank).
When also this operation was completed the entire fighting array was ready to fight with a front rank of 24 men.
