Scutarii Spearmen
Spearmen Infantry(0.6.7)Side / Back
Short description
Heavy spearmen were flexible line infantry: being both quick moving and aggressive.
Description
The Iberian heavy spearmen were so named for their large oval scutarii shields and the distinctive espada falcata sword. They made up the majority Iberian infantry type, and were renowned as flexible, quick-moving and aggressive line infantry.
The heavy swordsmen would first hurl their javelins, before engaging the enemy with their swords. These men fought in a formation similar to that of the Roman maniple, called by Polybius the speirai (Polybius, 3.114.4), which is the same term he uses for maniples (Polybius, 6.24.5-8). These troops firstly threw their javelins to disrupt the enemy line, and then charged to engage in close fighting with their swords.
These Iberian infantry are completely unarmoured excepting their distinctive Iberian headgear, the sinew helmet described by Strabo, with a horsehair crest. They carry the scutarii, a large oval shield, of the Gallic type, with metal edging. These warriors were equipped with the espada falcata sword, a 13-20-inch-long blade sharpened to a point, so that it could thrust as well as slash. They were also armed with the soliferreum, the slim all-iron javelin that was a characteristic weapon of the Iberians, and inspired the Roman pilum. According to Strabo it could penetrate helmet, shield and body armour. It is designed to kill, or render useless the enemy shield.
The heavy swordsmen wore a short, woollen white tunic with long sleeves, which had a black border at the hem, neck and sleeves. It was gathered at the waist with a wide leather belt. Polybius and Livy describe Hannibal's Iberians in "dazzling white" tunics edged purple; Polybius says this was the national costume (Polybius, 3.114.2-4). These swordsmen wore sandals.
The heavy swordsmen were recruited from among all the main Iberian tribes and petty kingdoms, including the Turdetani, Bastetani, Oretani, Edetani, Illergetes and Contestani. These Iberians spoke their own Iberian language, but Punic was spoken too.
These soldiers were commonly found throughout the Iberian Peninsula as mercenaries. From the fifth century BC they were also found in Sicily, where they served the Carthaginians (Diod.14.55.4; Polybius, 1.18.8; 1.19.3). Dionysius I of Syracuse also succeeded in hiring an Iberian contingent (Diod. 14.55.6).