Expert: Maria - 3/23/2004

Question
in the roman game latrunculi i was wondering if you know, in the propesed rules can the peices jump on another and is there a king peice (standard bearer, aqualia?)

Answer
Hello,

Granted that the exact rules of this game are not known, as there can be little doubt that the 'Latrunculi', a Roman a game resembling draughts(checkers), were arranged and played in a considerable variety of ways, here are my answers to your questions.

1st.QUESTION:” Can the pieces jump on another?”
ANSWER:
It seems that only one special piece called either a “Dux”(commander) or an “Aquila” (Eagle )was able to jump, but this happened in a Latrunculi variation where  each player could have this special piece. Usually in fact in this game from the Roman Empire (circa 27BC), players captured by "sandwiching" the opponent pieces.

2nd.QUESTION: “Is there a king piece (standard bearer)?
ANSWER:
Yes, there was. It was usually the Eagle (‘Aquila', in Latin), that is the standard bearer.

Bye
Maria
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The Latin term “Latrunculi” means literally ‘marauders' or also "mercenaries".