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

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kin ...

and

Empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...

wore loosely regulated dress and armour. The contemporary concept of uniforms was not part of Roman culture and there were considerable differences in detail. Armour was not standardized and even that produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin. Likewise the Romans had no concept of obsolescence. Provided it remained serviceable, soldiers were free to use armour handed down by family money, buy armour from soldiers who had completed their service, or wear discontinued styles of armour if they preferred it to (or could not afford) the latest issue. Thus, it was common for legions to wear a mix of various styles that could cover a considerable time period. 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 A centurion (; la, centurio , . la, centuriones, label=none; grc-gre, κεντυρίων, kentyríōn, or ) was a position in the Roman army during classical antiquity, nominally the commander of a century (), a military unit of around 80 ...

s, who made up the long serving backbone of the legions, were distinguished by transverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments 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 The Coolus helmet (named for Coolus, France) was a type of ancient Celtic and Roman helmet. It was typically made in bronze or brass and, like the Montefortino type with which it co-existed, was a descendant of Celtic helmet types. The expl ...

Montefortino helmet The Montefortino helmet was a type of Celtic, and later Roman, military helmet used from around 300 BC through the 1st century AD with continuing modifications. This helmet type is named after the region of Montefortino (''frazione'' of Arcevia) ...

, and

Imperial helmet The Imperial helmet-type was a type of helmet worn by Roman legionaries. Prior to the Empire, Roman Republican soldiers often provided their own equipment, which was passed down from father to son. Thus, a variety of equipment, from different ...

. *

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

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

armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

), 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 A manica ( la, manica , "sleeve") or cheires by the Greeks was a type of iron or bronze arm guard, with curved and overlapping metal segments or plates, fastened to leather straps, worn by Roman gladiators called crupellarii, and later optional ...

'' (arm guards) ** ''

Lorica plumata The ''lorica plumata'' () also known the ''lorica hamata squamatque'' was a set of Roman armor. The name ''lorica plumata'' translates to feathered cuirass. It was named for its a feathered appearance due to the feather-like scales called plume ...

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

Lorica segmentata The ''lorica segmentata'' (), also called ''lorica lamminata'' (see §Name), 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 leather strap ...

'' (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'' ha ...

'' (scale armour) ** '' Lorica musculata'' (muscle armour) Other garments and equipment included: * A

tunic A tunic is a garment for the body, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the knees. The name derives from the Latin ''tunica'', the basic garment worn by both men and women in Ancient Rome ...

* 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 may ...

, 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 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 tended to ...

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

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

, 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 The ''focale'' (plural ''focalia''), also known as a ''sudarium'' ("sweat cloth"), was a woolen or linen scarf worn by ancient Roman military personnel. It protected the neck from chafing by the armor. The ''focale'' is depicted widely in military ...

, a scarf worn by the Roman legionary to protect the neck from chafing caused by constant contact with the soldier's armor * The

loculus Loculus may refer to: *Loculus (satchel) *Loculus (architecture), a burial niche *An alternative name for a locule, or compartment in an organism. *Loculus of Archimedes or Ostomachion ''Ostomachion'', also known as ''loculus Archimedius'' ...

, a satchel, carried by legionaries as a part of their

sarcina The ''sarcina'' was the marching pack carried by Roman legionaries The Roman legion ( la, legiō, ) was the largest military unit of the Roman army, composed of 5,200 infantry and 300 equites (cavalry) in the period of the Roman Republ ...

(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 e ...

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

sagum The sagum was a garment of note generally worn by members of the Roman military during both the Republic and early Empire. Regarded symbolically as one of war by the same tradition which embraced the toga as a garment of peace,{{cite encyclopedi ...

'' instead of a ''paludamentum''.

References

{{reflist

External links

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

See also

References

External links