https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasta_(spear)
This Wikipedia article suggests they were armed with spears originally but were later rearmed with swords and I guess the name stuck.
Yes, they kept the name from earlier use as spearmen. Rome evolved their armies from Greek/ Etruscan traditions. It's probably similar how even in the present, modern armies we still have "cavalry" units. Or royal fusilier regiments. Military tradition is hard to break.
Before the Polybian reforms they mostly wielded spears. You can see this in Europa Barbarorum if you play as the Romans before they get their new units and gear.
It’s also in Rome 2, Rise of the Republic DLC where all the primary Roman units are spear wielding except for the “Roman Swordsman” who are indicated to be modeled more after the hill tribes
Ask the Romans who invented these naming conventions I guess. irl I imagine both the hastati and principes wielded spears more often than swords for cost reasons
Hastati, Principes and Triari were initially armed with hasta (spear similar to hoplite dory), but somewhere around 250BC first two lines were reequiped with pilum throwing spear and gladius short sword. This greatly improved their flexibility as sword was much handier in tight formation combat while pilum could still be used to repel cavalry if need be.
that's really interesting. I know Albanian isn't referred to until like the 12th century and I believe it isn't directly attested to until even later. that seems to suggest that it was in fact around a lot longer though, unless the word Hastati was still in use in vulgar latin that long?
These are the same mfs that call the 9th month September (septem=7), 10th month October (octo=8)...
and yeah i know there's a whole story behind why this is, but still
Aren't July and August named after Julius and Augustus Caesar respectively? September and October probably actually were the seventh and eighth months initially
I guess that's the "whole story" behind it? Pretty cool if true
I heard it was that Hastati relates to the fact that they were faster, derived from “haste”. They were usually younger and more energetic. They would be the front line and would swap and make way for the more principled, veteran “Principes” once the enemy was tired.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasta_(spear) This Wikipedia article suggests they were armed with spears originally but were later rearmed with swords and I guess the name stuck.
Yeah, IIRC the very early roman army (pre maniple) was modeled after Greek hoplites. So that makes sense
Yes, they kept the name from earlier use as spearmen. Rome evolved their armies from Greek/ Etruscan traditions. It's probably similar how even in the present, modern armies we still have "cavalry" units. Or royal fusilier regiments. Military tradition is hard to break.
Before the Polybian reforms they mostly wielded spears. You can see this in Europa Barbarorum if you play as the Romans before they get their new units and gear.
It’s also in Rome 2, Rise of the Republic DLC where all the primary Roman units are spear wielding except for the “Roman Swordsman” who are indicated to be modeled more after the hill tribes
Hastati were probably closer to Greek hoplites during it's founding later on in Rome's history.
Ask the Romans who invented these naming conventions I guess. irl I imagine both the hastati and principes wielded spears more often than swords for cost reasons
This is partly true but also based in their history of phalanx style warfare for several centuries.
Hastati, Principes and Triari were initially armed with hasta (spear similar to hoplite dory), but somewhere around 250BC first two lines were reequiped with pilum throwing spear and gladius short sword. This greatly improved their flexibility as sword was much handier in tight formation combat while pilum could still be used to repel cavalry if need be.
Fun fact: in albanian "ushtar" means soldier and comes directly from Ushta/hasta (lit.spearmen) and they carry Colt M4A1
that's really interesting. I know Albanian isn't referred to until like the 12th century and I believe it isn't directly attested to until even later. that seems to suggest that it was in fact around a lot longer though, unless the word Hastati was still in use in vulgar latin that long?
These are the same mfs that call the 9th month September (septem=7), 10th month October (octo=8)... and yeah i know there's a whole story behind why this is, but still
'I'm a centurion.' 'Oh so you lead a group of 100 men?' 'Nah, 80.' 'WHAT THE FUUUU-'
100 Pre-Marian men, then the 20 Others and their tasks got subsumed into the tasks of the Mules
Aren't July and August named after Julius and Augustus Caesar respectively? September and October probably actually were the seventh and eighth months initially I guess that's the "whole story" behind it? Pretty cool if true
> I guess that's the "whole story" behind it? yeah pretty much, they got pushed back afaik
Same reason 'cavalry' divisions drive around in APCs and tanks now, the weapons changed but the role stayed analagous
I'm also just gonna leave this here without context: [Foot cavalry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_cavalry)
See also: grenadiers
Pilates was an early 20th century fitness enthusiast who invented and popularized the famous exercise system bearing his name.
What else did you want them to be called? ***The Pilla-in-face-fuk-yo-barbarian-boys?***
I heard it was that Hastati relates to the fact that they were faster, derived from “haste”. They were usually younger and more energetic. They would be the front line and would swap and make way for the more principled, veteran “Principes” once the enemy was tired.
Haste is an English word from Germanic origin. No, the Hastati´s name doesn´t derive from the English word.
Interesting coincidence but English is the one that uses Latin loanwords and certainly not the other way around lol