 The light infantry of 1,200 "velites" consisted of unarmoured skirmishing troops drawn from the youngest and lower social classes.They were armed with a sword and shield (90 cm (3 ft) diameter), as well as several light javelins, each with a 90 cm (3 ft) wooden shaft the diameter of a finger, with a c. 25 cm (10 in) narrow metal point.Their numbers were swollen by the addition of allied light infantry and irregular "rorarii".