Republican Leves.

Republican Leves. Republic of Rome. 28 mm Miniatures. Punic Wars: Hannibal at the Gates. Produced by Tofer’s Miniatures.

In the Roman military, leves (singular: levis) were a class of light infantry skirmishers used during the early Roman Republic, specifically under the Camillan system (roughly 4th–3rd centuries BC). 

Key Characteristics
-Social Status: They were typically the youngest and poorest citizens in the Roman census. Because Roman soldiers at this time had to provide their own equipment, their low wealth meant they could only afford the most basic gear.
Equipment:
-Weapons: Their primary weapon was a set of light javelins (veruta). Some accounts suggest they also carried a simple spear.
-Armor: They generally wore no body armor or helmets, relying instead on speed and agility for protection.
-Shield: They carried a simple round shield (parma), typically about 90 cm in diameter.
Battlefield Role:
-Skirmishing: They were deployed at the very front of the legion to harass the enemy with javelin fire before the main lines engaged.
-Support: Unlike later units, leves did not form their own distinct tactical units. Instead, approximately 300 leves were attached to the units of hastati (the first line of heavy infantry) to provide screening and support. 

Historical Context
Origin: The class was established during the reforms of Marcus Furius Camillus following the Gallic sack of Rome.
Replacement: By the time of the Second Punic War (late 3rd century BC), the leves were phased out and replaced by the velites, who performed a similar skirmishing role but were organized more formally across the entire maniple structure. 

Produced by Tofer's Miniatures
The model was designed by Resin Warfare and printed under license