Romans and weather or how to set a war in tune with nature

Rome did not only plan its agriculture in harmony with the seasons. They also fought its wars that way.

March is named for the Roman god Mars. The same was also responsible for agriculture among the gods, and the month was marked by ceremonies to protect new crops from bad weather.

Mars was the god of war too, and better weather also meant the start of the campaigning season. The roles sometimes merged. In one of the oldest Roman ceremonies 12 young men from noble families would dress as ancient warriors and parade around the city singing in an archaic form of Latin for a good beginning to the planting season.

Every March, Rome mustered and reviewed troops and appointed new commanders. Spring meant armies could march freely without excessive mud or snow. Rome was essentially an agricultural economy though, and putting men into the field as soldiers meant taking them off the land as farmers just when they were most needed.

The military side of Mars seems to have won out. Declarations of war were often made, and campaigns including Caesar’s Gallic wars and those against Hannibal and the German tribes.

This regular planning of warfare to follow weather is a sign of the efficient bureaucratic minds that built the Roman empire. Wars were launched not in haste or anger, but in tune with the rhythm of the seasons.