Jump to content
UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums
Sign in to follow this  
longbow

Armour Change?

Recommended Posts

Anyone know why the legions changed from segmenta Armour to Chain/Scale Armour?

And why change from a pilum to martiobarbuli (throwing spears)?

thx L

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I actually thought they went from chain mail ::shudders:: to segmenta in the later years. I don't know the exact figures though.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

After Marcus Aurelius's son and successor Commodus died the Empire erupted into civil war, eventually won by Septimus Severus. These Wars of Succession, 193 AD - 197 AD, can be viewed as the last gasp of the segmentata. It was no longer standard issue to new recruits, and had already become a very rare sight. The period 180 to 235 AD was a transitional time. The old and the new would have intermixed a lot before the old segmentata fell into disuse completely.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since 3 CE an armour were used seldom. Probably, it is connected to falling discipline in the legions. Anarchy was typical for this century . It has touched the army too. The armour have remained at cavalry. They were scaly or such as a chain armour, length up to knees, with cuts on each side and with long sleeves. The chain armour weighed 55-65 pounds and was more flexible than segmenta.

 

Martiobarbuli has replaced pilum because it was more perfect weapon. It was the jagged dart with lead weighting. These improvements have made the throwing weapon more destroying. Besides, the additional weighting allowed to strike more exactly and advantaged the greater penetrative force. Military art does not stand on a place, the weapon will be improved at all times.

 

Excuse me for some mistakes.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
And why change from a pilum to martiobarbuli (throwing spears)?

thx L

i was confused to this question and term...

pilum is a javelin and martiobarbuli also, they differ only in size, soldier who use and function.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The pilum and the martiobarbuli are different weapons,allthough they are both a type of javelin.you say the they differ only in size, and function.Forgive me if im wrong but that seems quite a difference to me :thumbsup:<_<

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The pilum and the martiobarbul are not different weapons. The martiobarbul is the perfected pilum. The practical application of this weapon are not change.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
you say the they differ only in size, and function.Forgive me if im wrong but that seems quite a difference to me

Lacertus... The pilum and the martiobarbul are not different weapons. The martiobarbul is the perfected pilum. The practical application of this weapon are not change.

 

wargamer's reply is , here is how i understand it.

 

a Roman legiones have all this weapons, for example the Hastatus...

 

 

big spear................................=spear weapon.............. "hastae" primum weapon

small spear.............................=spear weapon.............. "hastula" ( use as reserve in case the hastae break ? )

big javelin...............................=thong javelin............... "amentata"

small javelin...........................= light trowing spear........"velitaris" ( with soft iron tip, terms could be ,small spear , javelin , or dart )

 

 

lets see what i mean...and have a comparative study.

 

soldier......................................hastatus.........................celtic soldier

big spear................................. "hastae".........................."bebra"

small javelin............................."velitaris"........................."martiobarbuli" ( with soft iron tip )

 

a hastatus have hastae...and a pilanus have pilus.and his javelin is called pilum,

 

here is my reply to longbow.

so a "hastae" is a spear and "hastula" is a small spear. to a detailed study of a military professional they are different, yes.

 

so that why i am getting confused, how the "martiobarbuli" with soft iron tip, become a primary weapon, maybe i am wrong on my notes.

 

please i only mean to make things clearer to me .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No probs m8,i too am confused about how the martiobarbul became the primary weapon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

According to Gibbon, the Roman troops in the late empire began complaining about the weight of the armour and the helmets. And their leaders actually consented to allow them to no longer wear their armour around camp, in town and even in battle!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

ok,so its the influx of the ill disiplined commanders and troops which changed the Armour/weapons.

Thx all. L

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Complex question, considering all the centuries (years, not troops! ;-) involved.

 

All these armor types coexisted for long periods of time. I agree completeyl that segmentata (as we now call it) was the height of armor development in Roman times.

 

Lacertus is very correct in that roles became reversed in later years. Cavalry became the star players on the battlefield, with infantry in a supporting (and therefore less well-funded) role. The later Empire relied on centralized, mobile units rather than static border guards. So we see cavalry armor becoming increasing developed while infantry fell by the less glamourous wayside.

 

One factor that no one's mentioned in these fine responses were the plagues that reduced manpower, and thus limited the empire's manpower. This impacted mining, and the ability of factories that produced segmentata.

 

Wargamer, the martiobarbuli is like a lead (American) football with a barbed spike on the front end and stabilizers on the back. Nasty little toy.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Wargamer, the martiobarbuli is like a lead (American) football with a barbed spike on the front end and stabilizers on the back.

yes , it stick in my mind that it is different from "velitaris" but very near when compared to size and function.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Map of the Roman Empire

×