Roman Manipular Legion

Type Object Region Italy Time c. -400–-100

Mid-to-late Roman Republic tactical system using the maniple as its basic unit, arranging the legion in hastati, principes, and triarii lines with ve…

Timeline

c. -400Italian Peninsula · Italian PeninsulaThe Roman legion evolved from an early class-based hoplite-style organization into a three-line system built on maniples of about 120 men, suited to both mountain and open-field warfare.
c. -300–-290Campania and Samnium · Italian PeninsulaIn prolonged wars against the Samnites and other mountain peoples, the flexible lines and checkerboard deployment of the maniple system proved itself in battle, becoming the military foundation for the unification of Italy.
c. -218–-146Mediterranean · MediterraneanManiple legions bore the main burden in the Second Punic War and subsequent overseas conquests, operating with allied infantry and cavalry to support Rome's rise to Mediterranean hegemony.
c. -100Rome · LazioAround the time of the Marian reforms, legions gradually replaced the maniple with the cohort of 480 to 600 men as the basic tactical unit, and the maniple system formally passed out of history.

Sources

Polybius, Histories — Polybius https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0234
The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare, Volume 1 — Philip Sabin et al. (2007)