Roman military formation

Roman military formations were strategic arrangements of soldiers designed for effectiveness in battle. The most famous, the "testudo" or tortoise formation, involved soldiers aligning shields overhead and on the sides to form a protective shell against projectiles. The "manipular" system used a flexible grid with small units called maniples, allowing adaptation to terrain. Legions could also form tight ranks or open lines depending on tactics, emphasizing discipline, coordination, and adaptability. These formations maximized defense, offensive power, and organization, enabling the Roman army to dominate diverse combat situations across their empire.