Maniples

Maniples

Maniples were a unit of soldiers in the ancient Roman army, consisting of 120 men. They were originally formed during the Roman Republic and were used extensively in the early Roman Empire. The maniples were organized into legions, which were the primary military units of the Roman army. Each legion consisted of ten cohorts, and each cohort was made up of three maniples. The maniples were formed in a rectangular shape, with each maniple consisting of two centuries, or groups of 60 soldiers. The front of the maniple was made up of the most experienced and battle-hardened soldiers, while the back was composed of younger and less experienced soldiers. This formation allowed for a flexible and adaptable fighting force, as the front of the maniple could engage the enemy while the back could provide support and reinforcements. The maniples were equipped with a variety of weapons, including swords, spears, and javelins. They were also trained in a variety of battle tactics, including the famous Roman testudo formation, in which the soldiers would interlock their shields to form a protective shell around themselves. Despite their effectiveness, the maniples were eventually phased out of the Roman army in the 3rd century AD, as the legions began to adopt a more standardized and flexible organization. However, their legacy lived on in the form of the Roman military tactics and formations that they helped to develop.

Roman army, legions, cohorts, centuries, testudo

— John Lewis

CITATION : "John Lewis. 'Maniples.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=260969 (Accessed on July 02, 2025)"