Doctor Sagittariorum

Although a proud people the Romans were never too arrogant to learn from others, particularly where war was concerned. After suffering devastating losses at the hands of expert foreign archers, particularly the Parthians, they decided to enlist large numbers of 'sagittarii' as auxiliaries. In the east, they even borrowed the same design of composite bow, tipped with horn and bound with animal sinew, from their foreign rivals. Cretan, Syrian, Thracian and Balearic archers joined the infantry auxilia. 'Doctor Sagittariorum', or 'Master of the Bow', was the title given to the chief trainer of recruits. Later, mounted archers were recruited from eastern provinces where the locals specialised in this deadly form of warfare.