On the March

You Can Take It With You

Roman soldiers spent a lot of time getting from place to place, usually on foot.

A soldier already had his weapons and shield to carry, and the rest of his belongings came too: food, spare clothing, cooking gear, tools, and personal kit, often bundled onto a forked carrying pole called a furca and slung over the shoulder.

They carried plenty, but not everything. Mules and wagons hauled the heavier equipment and supplies.

All that walking made Roman armies surprisingly mobile. They could cover long distances, arrive somewhere new, and start the next job: making camp.

Roman soldiers became famous for hauling so much gear that they were nicknamed “Marius’s mules.”

The actual mules probably found this comparison insulting.