Late Roman Army
Troop Types
Although Late Roman troops were adaptable and able to perform a wide range of military operations without support, they had to change their equipment and tactics to suit the current assignment. Ammianus Marcellinus records that some of Julian's heavy troops armed themselves as light infantry and took to river boats to ambush German tribesmen who were hiding on islands in the Rhine. Similarly, members of Comitatus dress for the event. Sometimes as skirmishers or exploratores (scouts), at other times archers or unarmoured spearmen, but more usually heavily armed and armoured infantry. This page looks at the typical troop types of a Roman legion, and addresses issues of equipment and clothing
Unit Commander
The legionary commander is known by several titles in this period - tribune, prefect and the term praepositus. These may have been interchangeable, we do not know. He is of the equestrian order, probably from a noble family, although just as likely to have come up from the ranks. The tribune is likely to have studied at a military college. He relies on his file leaders for discipline, veterans who keep the recruits (literally) in line. His wealth is displayed in the quality of his clothing, brooch and belt fittings.
Standard-Bearer
The vexillum is the flag or banner of the legion, and the man who carries it is the vexillatio. The vexilum, like the other legionary standards, was incredibly important for morale. It was used to identify the unit and as a rallying point. Signals could also be transmitted by movements of the standards. The standard bearer is 'alert and intelligent' and enjoys a higher status than other soldiers. He is a non-comissioned officer. This standard-bearer wears ringmail, a colourfully decorated long-sleeved tunic and hobnailed boots. His ridge-helm is guilded as befits his rank. Often a small number of men were detailed to defend the standards with their lives, and catastrophe would ensue if they fell into the hands of the enemy!
Heavy Infantryman
The front ranks of every Late Roman legion are filled with men like this. He wears a ringmail shirt and a cheap, mass-produced Intercisa-style ridge helm. This helmet is a far cry from the sophisticated Italics of earlier centuries. He carries a spiculum to fight with or throw before hand to hand combat starts, javelins,and is protected by his oval shield. Note that the wide leather belt (balteus), here, is not painted. Just visible a throwing axe suspended from the large military belt. On his feet this legionary wears ankle boots with thick soles studded with hobnails. This grip is essential on the battlefield or travelling cross-country. Finally, note that he carries a waterskin and cloak as standard equipment.
Unarmoured Infantryman
Behind the first two or three ranks stood the rest of the legion - veterans and recruits alike, although many veterans tended to be file leaders or file closers, and stood at front and back of each file. Many soldiers were without armour, some even without helmet. The 4th century writer Vegetius complains that soldiers today throw off their armour because it is too much of a burden. More likely there was not enough of it to go around. The army in this period is bigger than at any time before. Tunics could be brown, yellow, orange, off-white, white, blue, green or red, and nearly all (including children's tunics) had some form of woven decoration included. He wears tight fighting footed hose, cloak and boots with hobnails.
Skirmisher
Light infantry soldiers were used in smaller numbers to pepper an enemy unit with missiles, to scout ahead and to screen the movements of heavy infantry. This skirmisher carries a clutch of light javelins (veruta). These simple weapons can be thrown 20 -30m, the skirmisher dashing forward to cast the verutum then retreating rapidly before the enemy infantry intercept him. These light infantry units were very vulnerable to missile fire from slings and bows, and so a shield was essential, either a large oval shield like this, or a smaller and easily carried round shield.This soldier wears a long-sleeved tunic. This is not a uniform but typical civillian attire. He wears hobnailed boots and leg-wraps. The leg wraps were commonly worn by farmers and other workers in earlier periods but seem to have been adopted wholesale by the legions by the 4th century AD. Mosaics show them beng worn by soldiers hunting animals as well as by farm workers. Even a statue of Emperor Valentianian depicts him in leg wraps. The leg wraps (called 'puttees' by the British Army) keep the trews clean, and they are far easier to wash.
Archer
Any new recruit who showed an aptitude for archery would have been given a specialised role within the legion. Archers may also have operated light infantry, but in war could shoot over the heads of their own unit to force the enemy to shelter from the rain of arrows.
On his left wrist the archer could wear bracer which protects against the snap of the string when using the 'Western release method'. His back quiver holds 20-30 arrows of an assortment of types.
Staff Slinger
Staff-slingers are mentioned by the 4th century writer Vegetius. He describes them as casting stones or lead bullets from the rear of a legion. Staff-slingers could loft weighty stones as well as heavy and aerodynamic lead 'glandes' some distance and they proved very useful when besieged. This staff-slinger is dressed as a light-infantryman, and he may operate with other skirmishers away from the fort or the army encampment. He requires no armour or helm, but does carry a waterskin and a goatskin bag full of lead shot. He would probably also carry a cloak and ration bag for survival away from the fort. The status of staff-slingers in the Roman army is unknown; were they legionaries given alternate duties? Or were they dedicated skirmishers? Were they indeed dedicated staff-slingers? Instead of a helmet, this man wears a Phrygian cap, a popular military hat made of soft cloth.
Tubicen
Musical instruments were used by the legions to convey commands to the troops. The tuba was a kind of trumpet, the cornu was a circular bugle, the bucina was a type of horn. The soldier here is a tuba player (tubicen).
Cavalry Officer
An officer of the Equites Taifali, a heavy cavalry unit that was originally made up of a captured Germanic tribe (the Taifali). This officer wears a ridhe helmet based on a find from Deurne ridge helm deposited around AD 319. Beneath the rigid scale armour this soldier wears a padded subarmalis, with leather pteruges, flaps, that protect the upper shoulders and upper thighs yet still allow freedom of movement. He carries a small cavalry shield, its size allows the rider to still control the horse and wield a variety of weapons from horseback. The horse barding is in part based on drawings of the destroyed Column of Theodosius copied by Franco Giovanni Battista il Semolei in the 16th century, now in the musée du Louvre. Note the mid third century cavalry sports greeves and leather thigh guards. Equipment could have a considerable life in the army, perhaps of up to 80 years.
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