Roman horseman clibanarii
Ancient Romans as farming people wars only fought in the summer between the times of sowing and harvest, and before winter, when military maneuvers were more difficult. For the first time in the winter, Rome led the war at the beginning of the fourth century BCE, when the Romans began to siege the Etruscan city of Veii.
Interestingly, this event was heatedly discussed in the capital and it was further claimed that it would be better to stop the war operations for the winter and, like the summer birds, to look for a shelter for frosts.
Sources
- Livy, Ab Urbe Condita Libri, 5.6
