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Classical Hack
by Arcangelo Calabrese & Luca Marini Following the consolidated tradition of Classical Hack Army lists, we’d like to contribute to the great Hackers’ family! Here are some information about first Republican Rome’s enemies: more, as they fought very often each other, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to play. Recently some companies have started the production of miniatures on this people, but for some units is still possible to use other Ancient miniatures (for example, Greek Hoplites for a large part of HI, and, obviously, any Gallic/Spanish infantry for Celtic/Spanish mercenaries units!) As a very first step, we’d like to introduce to you: Etruscan, Samnite, Syracusan
Here is were they were...
Military organization was based on town levies which was enlisted on social bases. First Class was formed by noble and rich citizens and included, over heavy hoplites with greek style panoplia, a small group of cavalry. Second Class infantry was formed by less heavily armoured infantry and with italic style armour and weapons. Third Class was much more light armed and equipped, while IV Class citizens formed skirmish type troops, armed with shooting weapons. Etruscan armies included often mercenaries unit from italic people (as Sannites, Campanians or Celtic tribes). The army was usually deployed in lines composed by units of 100-400 men with cavalry on the flanks and skirmishers on the front. Etruscan cavalry often dismounted to fight as infantry; in these occasion cavalry tasks were left to mecenary contingents.
 The Samnite Army
Samnite army was organized in a very simple fashion but it reached an incredible level of efficency. The backbone of the army was infantry: it was organized in maniples of about 200 men each. Two maniples formed a cohort. The Legio Linteata was an elite corp which was formed by men who consacred themselves to the fighting before each battles with a religious ceremony. Usually, Samnites were deployed in battle in two maniples lines (Acies duplex) with a screen of skirmishers armed with javelin, and with the wings protected by cavalry. In this organization the manipular system of Roman armies can be observed.
Syracuse and its army played an important role in the Sicilian wars between Rome, Cartage and the Epirote army, between 400 and 275 B.C.. All along this period, Syracuse fought with and against both Rome and Cartage: the structure of its army remained the same up until the end of the Punic wars. The army was composed of a small number of Syracusan and Greek Hoplites, who were armed in greek panoplia, of mercenaries hoplite units coming from other areas of "Magna Grecia" or from Greece, and of Spaniards and Gauls. Syracusan employed particularly skilled light units (Psiloi and Peltasts) armed with shooting weapons: moreover, notable contingents of mercenary cavalry both from Greece (Thessalian, Theban,…) and Italy (Campanian, Appulian,…) were employed too.
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