I imagine it’s only the first line who does that, since I don’t expect they have unlimited shields.
That said, how does this work on ice? I can imagine it working on snow, but wouldn’t the shields just slide on ice?
Better grip than hobnailed sandals, one supposes. The shield probably still slides, but it’s not quite the “Footing going out from under you” experience you might otherwise have.
Roman forces had a system for rotating troops in and out of the very front line of combat in the middle of a battle (like hockey players mid game), so yes it would only make sense to have the shields there for those who are actively fighting.
Also I can’t imagine this was a regular occurrence
Also I can’t imagine this was a regular occurrence
So far as I know, this is the only occurrence of it happening.
The Iazyges were conquered by the Romans on land at this time and later on the river. By this I do not mean that any naval battle took place, but that the Romans pursued them as they fled over the frozen Ister [Danube] and fought there as on dry land. The Iazyges, perceiving that they were being pursued, awaited their opponents’ onset, expecting to overcome them easily, as the others were not accustomed to the ice. Accordingly, some of the barbarians dashed straight at them, while others rode round to attack their flanks, as their horses had been trained to run safely even over a surface of this kind. The Romans upon observing this were not alarmed, but formed in a compact body, facing all their foes at once, and most of them laid down their shields and rested one foot upon them, so that they might not slip so much; and thus they received the enemy’s charge. Some seized the bridles, others the shields and spearshafts of their assailants, and drew the men toward them; and thus, becoming involved in close conflict, they knocked down both men and horses, since the barbarians by reason of their momentum could no longer keep from slipping. The Romans, to be sure, also slipped; but in case one of them fell on his back, he would drag his adversary down on top of him and then with his feet would hurl him backwards, as in a wrestling match, and so would get on top of him
-Cassius Dio, 72.7
and most of them laid down their shields and rested one foot upon them
Looks like it actually was a lot of them that did it.
The Romans upon observing this were not alarmed, but formed in a compact body, facing all their foes at once,
may be suggesting that they formed a square, as Roman legions sometimes did, which would leave a number of troops on the ‘inside’ of the formation without an immediate need for a shield.
To revise my last reply, if you look at pugjesus’ comment, the original source appear to say that a lot of them did it.
the shields just slide on ice?
If it’s rather perfectly formed, and the shield is actually flat, sure.
But it’s natural water, not a ice-skating ring, so the ice will be coarser, and idk how flat the shields are, but I assume they have some texture to them, which would give grip.
And snowboards were invented.
Sick moves out there on the ice, bruh 🤘
