Ancient Times, Roman. - 017 - Costumes of All Nations (1882). The legions of the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

and

Empire An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...

had a fairly standardised dress and armour, particularly from approximately the early to mid 1st century onward, when Lorica Segmentata (segmented armour) was introduced. However the lack of unified production for the Roman army meant that there were still considerable differences in detail. Even the armour produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin. The other problem is that the Romans took or stole most of the designs from other peoples. Fragments of surviving clothing and wall paintings indicate that the basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or undyed (off-white) wool. Senior commanders are known to have worn white cloaks and plumes. The

centurion In the Roman army during classical antiquity, a centurion (; , . ; , or ), was a commander, nominally of a century (), a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries. The size of the century changed over time; from the 1st century BC ...

s, who made up the officer ranks, had decorations on their chest plates corresponding to modern medals, and the long cudgels that they carried. Examples of items of Roman military personal armour included: * '' Galea'' or soldier's helmet. Variant forms included the Coolus helmet, Montefortino helmet, and Imperial helmet. *

Greave A greave (from the Old French ''greve'' "shin, shin armor") or jambeau is a piece of armor that protects the human leg, leg. Description The primary purpose of greaves is to protect the tibia from attack. The tibia, or shinbone, is very close to ...

s, to protect the legs. * ''Lorica'' (

armour Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

), including: ** ''

Lorica hamata The ''lorica hamata'' (in Latin with normal elision: ) is a type of mail armor used by soldiers for over 600 years (3rd century BC to 4th century AD) from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. ''Lorica hamata'' comes from the Latin ''hamatus'' ( ...

'' (mail armour) ** '' Lorica manica'' (arm guards) ** ''

Lorica plumata The ''lorica plumata'' (; ), also called the , was a set of Roman body armor. Unlike the more common ''lorica squamata'', the scales of this cuirass bore a ridge down the middle, like a feather shaft, from which the name derives. The ''lorica ...

'' (a form of scale armour resembling feathers) ** ''

Lorica segmentata The ''lorica segmentata'' (), also called ''lorica lamminata'', or ''banded armour'' is a type of personal armour that was used by soldiers of the Roman army, consisting of metal strips fashioned into circular bands, fastened to internal leath ...

'' (segmented armour) ** ''

Lorica squamata The ''lorica squamata'' () is a type of scale armour used by the ancient Roman military during the Roman Republic and at later periods. It was made from small metal scales sewn to a fabric backing. No examples of an entire ''lorica squamata'' ...

'' (scale armour) ** '' Lorica musculata'' (muscle armour) *

Pteruges Pteruges (also spelled pteryges; ) are strip-like defences for the upper parts of limbs attached to armor of the Greco-Roman world. Appearance and variation Pteruges formed a defensive skirt of leather or multi-layered fabric (linen) strips or ...

, perhaps mostly for senior ranks, formed a defensive skirt of leather or multi-layered fabric (linen) strips or lappets worn dependant from the waists of cuirasses Other garments and equipment included: * A

tunic A tunic is a garment for the torso, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the ankles. It might have arm-sleeves, either short or full-length. Most forms have no fastenings. The name deri ...

* The

baldric A baldric (also baldrick, bawdrick, bauldrick as well as other rare or obsolete variations) is a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon (usually a sword) or other implement such as a bugle or drum. The word m ...

, a belt worn over one shoulder that is typically used to carry a weapon (usually a sword) or other implement such as a bugle or drum * The balteus, the standard belt worn by the Roman legionary. It was probably used to tuck clothing into or to hold weapons. *

Braccae (or ) is the Latin term for "trousers", and in this context is today used to refer to a style of trousers made from wool. According to the Romans, this style of clothing originated from the Gauls. were typically made with a drawstring, and ...

(trousers), popular among Roman legionaries stationed in cooler climates to the north of southern Italy *

Caligae ''Caligae'' (Latin; : ) are heavy-soled hobnailed military sandal-boots that were worn as standard issue by Roman legionary foot-soldiers and auxiliaries, including cavalry. History ''Caligae'' (: ''caliga'') are heavy-duty, thick-soled ...

, heavy-soled military shoes or sandals which were worn by Roman legionary soldiers and auxiliaries throughout the history of the Roman Republic and Empire. * The focale, a scarf worn by the Roman legionary to protect the neck from chafing caused by constant contact with the soldier's armor * The loculus, a satchel, carried by legionaries as a part of their sarcina (marching pack) * The ''

paludamentum In Republican and Imperial Rome, the ''paludamentum'' () was a cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder, worn by military commanders (e.g., the ''legatus'') and rather less often by their troops. As supreme commander of the whole Roman army, Roman ...

'', a cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder, worn by military commanders and (less often) by their troops. Ordinary soldiers wore a '' sagum'' instead of a ''paludamentum''.

References

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External links

Beginners' Guide to Roman Military Equipment
at museums.ncl.ac.uk
Graham Sumner's website
*

See also

References

External links