DBA Armies

This list covers the armies from Septimius Severus. It overlaps the Late Imperial Roman lists (11/78) since Constantine’s rivals still used the old system. Lorica segmentata are last shown on the Arch of Severus, but are depicted with banded armour extending to the neck with no upper chest plate and either no or small shoulder pieces. This could be a new variety or be due to unfamiliarity with the armour type. The arch also has the last depictions of armoured auxiliary infantry, but also shows many unarmoured auxiliaries. There is NO later evidence for armoured auxiliary foot. There is no credible evidence for the replacement of pila by thrusting spears as suggested by Stephenson, which seems to be based on a single reference to spears as the characteristic Roman weapon in Herodian’s account of a speech by Caracala. 4 century battle accounts continue to refer to the old weapons. Legionary armour was now a knee-length heavy coat (often with long sleeves) of mail or bronze scale; and helmets with the large cheek pieces usually associated with cavalry were in use. The long spatha had replaced the gladius and shields were now a large heavy near round oval. Whether the patterns on the shields found at Dura were anything but shopkeeper’s samples is unknown, but units raised in this period that survived into the 4th century to be included in the Notitia Dignitatum have shield patterns there of a simpler type. The inside of some surviving shields is a dull red. That legionary equipment was now heavier required an intermediate type armed with the light lancea. This is first mentioned as legionary equipment in Arrian’s second century “Order of Battle Against the Alans” in which 4 ranks armed with lancea throw them over 4 ranks armed with pilum. Under Diocletian, legions split off vexillations 1-2000 strong and their lanciarii were often deployed as a separate vexillation. A tombstone shows a lanciarius as unarmoured and carrying a small shield and 5 light throwing spears. Equites lllyriciani (LH) appeared when Gallienus expanded the cavalry and included Dalmatae, Moors, scutarii (with long shields) and later the promoti (formerly attached to legions),all javelin-armed light horse. Heavier cavalry continued much as before but with increased status, auxiliary alae being replaced in field armies by vexillationes with the title “equites” and ranked higher than the legions. Part-mounted cohors equitata were converted to cavalry, Catafractarii (3Kn) substituted a two-handed lance for spear and javelins. Completely armoured lancers on fully scale-armoured horses, first raised by Severus Alexander from Parthian refugees, were called clibanarii. Tunics were long-sleeved and white (with the possible exception of legionaries who may have worn red). Purple decorations are first depicted around 250 AD and are smaller and simpler than later. Trousers are usually dark brown. Cloaks were yellow-brown “russus”. The empire was sometimes split into eastern (Thrace, Macedonia/Greece, Pontus, Asia, Syria and Egypt) and western (Britain, Gaul, Spain, Africa, Italy and lllyricum) halves with separate but hopefully co-operative rulers. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, Roman Infantry Equipment - The Later Empire 1. P. Stephenson, Restorer of the World - The Roman Emperor Aurelian ).F. White, Diocletian and the Roman Recovery S. Williams, Queen of the East A. Baron (novel), Family Favourites A. Duggan (novel), Warrior of Rome (series) H. Sidebottom (novels).