# 33. To win a Battle it is essential to inspire the Army with Confidence both in Itself and in its General

If an army is to win the day it is essential to give it confidence so as to make it feel sure that it must win, whatever happens. The conditions on which such confidence depends are that the troops should be well armed, well disciplined and well acquainted with each other. Nor can there be this confidence or this discipline unless among soldiers who are natives of the same country and have lived together. It is important, too, that the general should be so esteemed for his qualities that the men have confidence in him, and this they will always do when they see that he is always on the alert, is solicitous and courageous, and that he knows well how to uphold the dignity of his position and to maintain his reputation; which he can always do if he punishes men for their mistakes, does not impose on them unnecessary burdens, keeps the promises he has made them, and points out how easy it is to win, concealing or making light of things, which when viewed from afar, might suggest danger. Such things, when duly observed, are the principal causes of an army’s morale, and – through its morale – of its victory.

The Romans used to inspire their armies with this confidence by means of religion. Hence it came about that they used auguries and auspices in appointing consuls, in enrolling troops, and when their armies were setting forth or were about to join battle. And, if he had omitted any of these things a good and wise general would never undertake any action of moment, since he thought he might easily lose unless his troops had first been assured that the gods were on their side. So, too, if any consul or other general had engaged in battle contrary to the auspices, they would punish him, as they punished Claudius Pulcher. There is abundant evidence of this throughout the whole of Roman history, but to clinch the matter we have the words which Livy puts into the mouth of Appius Claudius. When he was complaining to the people of the insolence of the plebeian tribunes, and showing how it was through their fault that the auspices and other things pertaining to their religion were growing corrupt, he spoke thus: ‘Nowadays they are allowed to mock at religious rites; what does it matter if the chickens don’t eat, if they are too slow in coming out of their pens, or if one of the birds clucks? They are small things, but it was by not despising small things that our ancestors made this republic as great as it is.’ For it is in such small things that resides the power of keeping soldiers united and confident – which is the primary cause of victory. It is important, none the less, that such things should be accompanied by virtù, otherwise they are of no avail.

The Praenestines who had sent out an army to attack the Romans, went to the Allia and set up their camp on its banks in the place where the Romans had been beaten by the Gauls. They did this to give their troops confidence and that the Romans might be discouraged by the misfortune associated with the place. But, though this course was to be approved of for the reasons set forth above, the upshot of the affair none the less showed that true valour is not set at nought by every trifling circumstance. This is expressed very neatly in the words the historian puts into the mouth of the dictator, who said to his master of horse: ‘You notice that those fellows yonder, trusting to fortune, have taken up a position on the Allia! You put your trust in your arms and in your courage and go straight for them!’ For true virtù, good discipline and a sense of security born of many victories, cannot be dissipated by things of little moment, nor can vain imaginings make men of such calibre afraid, nor yet a mishap do them harm. This is clearly seen in the case of the two Manlii: for, when as consuls they were at war with the Volsci, and had rashly sent a detachment from their camp on a foraging expedition, it came about that those who had gone and those who remained found themselves besieged at the same time, and it was not the skill of the consuls but the valour of the troops themselves that extricated them from the danger. Upon which Titus Livy makes this remark: ‘Tried virtù is safe even when troops are without a leader.’

Nor must I omit to mention an expedient used by Fabius to inspire confidence when leading his army for the first time into Tuscany. Since the country into which he had led it was new and he was attacking new foes, it was all the more necessary, he thought, that the troops should feel confidence; so before the battle he addressed them, pointing out that there were many reasons why they should expect a victory, and adding that he could tell them also of something specially good from which they would see that victory was certain, were it not dangerous to mention it. This was a clever expedient to adopt and is well worth imitating.