IV Res Militaries ut Res Publica: Military and Government in Italy
Res Militaries
During the 1930's the Italian military became ever more Romanised, while retaining the doctrine of 'War of Manoeuvre' laid down by Wolfe and taught at the Wolfe Military Academy in Roma. Leading figures in the army from the academy saw the logical applications of the ancient Roman system in modern warfare, but decided that the formations would have to be enlarged. Under the Gaius Marius laws of 1931 the formation of the military was laid down. The Legio (Legion) gave its name to a formation approximately Corps sized, as opposed to the division sized formation of ancient Rome. Each Legio would be made up of the traditional ten Cohors (Cohorts) roughly being the size of a US division. The Cohors would be made from three Maniple (Company size) which would themselves be made of 10 Centuria (a double platoon) of eight men squads of Contubernium (squad size). It was quickly decided that a Cohors could not be only infantry in the modern age and so they were designated as Legionary Cohors (infantry), Ala Cohors (Cavalry and scouting troops) and Lorica squamata Cohors (armour). Further troops would be added to each Cohors in the form of a Auxiliary (Brigade) normally a pilum (an artillery brigade later including rocket, anti tank and anti aircraft in both static and self propelled varieties), fabratii (engineers), equities (normally armoured cars for reconnaissance) or evocatii (re-enlisted or specially trained veterans). While the army was widely reformed the air-force and navy were left organised as they were although given Latin titles.
A Roman Aquila (Dove sized Eagle) taken into battle by every Legion
Res Publica
The government of Italy was also becoming increasingly 'Romanised', although it had been loosely based upon the ancient Republic in the first place. Governance was dominated the Concilium Plebis (Council of the People) which was elected by universal suffrage of all Italian citizens. This 'parliament' held the power in Italy and made the country a representative democracy. The senate which held two thousand representatives of the Patrician families acted as a recommendation body on legislation and legal measures but was not a legislature. Each position in government was split between two men one from the Senate and one from the Concilium. The posts were divided into firstly the Consuls who acted as Head of the Government and Foreign minister, Tribunes who looked after home affairs, Quaestors were charged with the treasury and Censors who dealt with matters of both internal and external intelligence. The Head of State or Romulus was a none-elected position given to the line of Julio-Claudian dynasty, in effect making Italy a Constitutional Monarchy like that of Britain, although they shyed away from the title of King due to the increasing Romanisation.
Res Militaries
During the 1930's the Italian military became ever more Romanised, while retaining the doctrine of 'War of Manoeuvre' laid down by Wolfe and taught at the Wolfe Military Academy in Roma. Leading figures in the army from the academy saw the logical applications of the ancient Roman system in modern warfare, but decided that the formations would have to be enlarged. Under the Gaius Marius laws of 1931 the formation of the military was laid down. The Legio (Legion) gave its name to a formation approximately Corps sized, as opposed to the division sized formation of ancient Rome. Each Legio would be made up of the traditional ten Cohors (Cohorts) roughly being the size of a US division. The Cohors would be made from three Maniple (Company size) which would themselves be made of 10 Centuria (a double platoon) of eight men squads of Contubernium (squad size). It was quickly decided that a Cohors could not be only infantry in the modern age and so they were designated as Legionary Cohors (infantry), Ala Cohors (Cavalry and scouting troops) and Lorica squamata Cohors (armour). Further troops would be added to each Cohors in the form of a Auxiliary (Brigade) normally a pilum (an artillery brigade later including rocket, anti tank and anti aircraft in both static and self propelled varieties), fabratii (engineers), equities (normally armoured cars for reconnaissance) or evocatii (re-enlisted or specially trained veterans). While the army was widely reformed the air-force and navy were left organised as they were although given Latin titles.
A Roman Aquila (Dove sized Eagle) taken into battle by every Legion
Res Publica
The government of Italy was also becoming increasingly 'Romanised', although it had been loosely based upon the ancient Republic in the first place. Governance was dominated the Concilium Plebis (Council of the People) which was elected by universal suffrage of all Italian citizens. This 'parliament' held the power in Italy and made the country a representative democracy. The senate which held two thousand representatives of the Patrician families acted as a recommendation body on legislation and legal measures but was not a legislature. Each position in government was split between two men one from the Senate and one from the Concilium. The posts were divided into firstly the Consuls who acted as Head of the Government and Foreign minister, Tribunes who looked after home affairs, Quaestors were charged with the treasury and Censors who dealt with matters of both internal and external intelligence. The Head of State or Romulus was a none-elected position given to the line of Julio-Claudian dynasty, in effect making Italy a Constitutional Monarchy like that of Britain, although they shyed away from the title of King due to the increasing Romanisation.
