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FLAVIUS
VEGETIUS RENATUS BOOK
TWO THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT The military establishment
consists of three parts, the cavalry, infantry and marine. The wings of cavalry
were so called from their similitude to wings in their extension on both sides
of the main body for its protection. They are now called vexillations from the
kind of standards peculiar to them. The legionary horse are bodies particularly
annexed to each legion, and of a different kind; and on their model were organized
the cavalry called Ocreati, from the light boots they wear. The fleet consists
of two divisions, the one of men of war called Liburnae, and the other of armed
sloops. The cavalry are designed for plains. Fleets are employed for the protection
of seas and rivers. The infantry are proper for the defense of eminences, for
the garrisons of cities and are equally serviceable in plain and in uneven ground.
The latter, therefore, from their facility of acting everywhere, are certainly
the most useful and necessary troops to a state exclusively of the consideration
of their being maintained at a less expense. The infantry are divided into two
corps, the legions and auxiliaries, the latter of which are furnished by allies
or confederates. The peculiar strength of the Romans always consisted in the excellent
organization of their legions. They were so denominated ab eligendo, from the
care and exactness used in the choice of the soldiers. The number of legionary
troops in an army is generally much more considerable than that of the auxiliaries.
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