PR 012 Triarius

PR 012 – Roman Triarius

Before the military reforms of Gaius Marius in the late 2nd century BC, the infantry of the Roman Republic was organised according to a system that took into account the age, military experience and economic standing of its citizens.

The infantry was mainly divided into four categories of soldiers: Velites, Hastati, Principes and Triarii. Each group performed a specific role within the Roman battle formation.

The Triarii were the oldest and most experienced soldiers. Together with the Principes, they formed the heavy infantry and could afford more complete defensive equipment than younger and less wealthy soldiers. Their military experience made them an especially valuable part of the Republican army.

The Hastati, generally younger soldiers, occupied the first battle line, while the Principes formed the second line of heavy infantry.

The Velites, recruited from citizens with fewer financial resources, formed the light infantry. Armed with javelins and lighter equipment, their task was to harass the enemy, disrupt its advance and subsequently withdraw behind the heavier infantry lines.

The Triarii occupied the third and final line of the Roman formation. Their intervention was reserved for the most critical moments of battle, when the first two lines had failed to resolve the engagement. This explains the famous Roman expression Ad triarios redisse, meaning that a situation had reached its most critical point.

Republican cavalry was composed mainly of citizens belonging to the equestrian class, who could afford to maintain horses and purchase the necessary military equipment.

This figure represents one of these Triarii of the Roman Republic, veteran soldiers forming the final reserve of the heavy infantry, whose experience could prove decisive in the outcome of a battle.

A Roman toy soldier commemorating a fundamental period in Roman military history, before the transformation of the legions into the professional army of the Empire.