Roman Auxiliaries

The nation's auxiliary corps were traditionally used to recruit Roman archers. These men were
not citizens of the empire, and they were less well-trained and respected than the legionaries.
Instead, they were allies or captured territory residents. They worked for the Romans in
exchange for money and the prospect of citizenship once their labor was finished.

Equipment Used by Roman Archers

Roman archers battled with composite bows. They were sturdy and springy, with layers of
wood, bone, horn, and sinew, and they packed a lot of punch for small weapons.

As well as their bows and arrows, each archer had a bracer to protect his wrist from the
bowstring. They also had leather finger guards or a metal thumb ring for pulling the string. They
wore chainmail or leather armor and carried a sword for close quarters fighting.

How the Romans Used Archers

Depending on the commander and the situation, archers were deployed in various ways.

They served primarily as a defensive tactic under Caesar, shielding the rest of the army from
cavalry attacks and protecting the flanks.

. A Roman composite bow could reach a maximum range of 165-230 meters, depending on the
quality of the bow and the archer. They were most effective as a weapon at a range of 50-150
meters. Even at these distances, the ability to land a massive volley of arrows on a large body of
men was more important than individual accuracy

Changing Times

As the centuries passed, the Roman army changed, and so did the role of the archers within it.
Auxiliaries and outsiders became more important. From the late 3rd century onward, archers
were increasingly just one more element in a diverse and varied army.

The 4th and 5th centuries, in particular, saw a change in Roman military archery and attitudes
toward archers. Archery had always been part of Roman warfare. Sadly for archers, it was only
during the decline of the empire that their value was publically recognized and they became
truly central to the armies they fought in.