Roman Soldiers
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Roman Legionary
1. White parade tunic or red campaign tunic, and red scarf. A free red cloak is supplied by the club (cloak pin optional, as cloaks are easily knotted in place). Roman caligae hobnail sandals (socks optional). Roman bracae pants optional. All items can be purchased, or handmade. 2. Gladius sword. The club provides combat-ready swords at discounted prices, fitted with a riveted leather baldric shoulder strap custom-fitted to suit your size. 3. Roman helmet (with crest), and lorica segmentata armour or lorica hamata chainmail. Balteus, and pugio dagger. We will provide advice on purchase, club discounts, or help in making your own custom-fitted. A linen or leather subarmalis padding under the armour (and fascia ventralis cloth under the belt) is optional. 4. The club provides decorated lightweight Parade shields, heavy-duty battle-ready combat shields, and pilum javelins. You may purchase these at discounted prices if you would like your own. Right - club member David Layzell showing tunic, scarf, bracae pants, caligae sandals, helmet with crest, lorica segmentata body-armour, gladius sword, decorative balteus, pugio dagger, and pilum javelin. Please refer to the Roman Legionary checklist. |
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Gear purchase - Please check with club members for advice before purchasing any gear, to ensure that it is suitable and at a reasonable price. Here are some examples of purchase prices from merchants.
Caligae - kult of athena sizes 6-11 US$ 44.00. Postage expensive.
Helmet - Gallic G history revisited US$ 108.00, with cheap postage to NZ. Their ebay store sometimes has cheaper prices
Gladius - kult of athena US$ 50.00 (NZ$ 50.00 to our club members)
Lorica segmentata - ebay around $NZ 170.00 (including delivery to NZ) - history revisited US$ 150.00
Balteus - kult of athena US$ 150.00 various styles - history revisited US$ 150.00
Caligae - kult of athena sizes 6-11 US$ 44.00. Postage expensive.
Helmet - Gallic G history revisited US$ 108.00, with cheap postage to NZ. Their ebay store sometimes has cheaper prices
Gladius - kult of athena US$ 50.00 (NZ$ 50.00 to our club members)
Lorica segmentata - ebay around $NZ 170.00 (including delivery to NZ) - history revisited US$ 150.00
Balteus - kult of athena US$ 150.00 various styles - history revisited US$ 150.00
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Roman military clothing
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Roman officers
Cornicen (horn-blower) works with signifer to convey commands for the century.
Signifer - carries the century-standard open-hand emblem and is in charge of the funeral fund.
Aquilifer - carries the legion-standard Eagle (one per legion).
Vexillifer - carries a vexillum depicting the legion name and emblem.
Imaginifer - carries the standard bearing the emperor's image. First cohort only.
Cornicen (horn-blower) works with signifer to convey commands for the century.
Signifer - carries the century-standard open-hand emblem and is in charge of the funeral fund.
Aquilifer - carries the legion-standard Eagle (one per legion).
Vexillifer - carries a vexillum depicting the legion name and emblem.
Imaginifer - carries the standard bearing the emperor's image. First cohort only.
Tesserarius - second to Optio. Organises sentry-duty and daily watchword written on a tessera (wax-tablet). Examples of the watchword are Victoria, Palma, Virtus, Deus nobiscum (“God with us”), and Triumphus imperatoris (“Triumph of the Emperor”’)
Optio - second to Centurion. He is distinguished by feathers in his helmet, and carries an optio staff used to direct soldiers, or push them forward into battle from behind and ensure that nobody retreats.
Centurion - commands a Century (80 soldiers). Fights at the front right of the legion where he can direct operations, and observe which soldiers should be rewarded for bravery. He is the toughest fighter always in the thick of the action and the real backbone of the army. Julius Caesar famously said that he would rather lose ten military tribunes than one centurion.
Tribune angusticlavus ("narrow-stripe" tunic) military tribune to oversee camp administration. The six tribunes were young men from leading Roman families, with no previous military experience and served for just a year before returning to Rome to commence their civil service careers. They took turns commanding the legion for two months each, and for the remaining ten months each tribune commanded two of the ten cohorts of the legion. Some of the tribunes proved exceptionally able, and went on to become famous generals, but most were far from equipped to lead men in battle, and in practice the leadership of a legion fell to its centurions.
Praefectus castrotum - Camp prefect in charge of the camp. Usually a retired First Spear centurion.
Tribune laticlavus ("broad-stripe" tunic) - second in command. Usually a young senator gaining experience.
Legion legate - army commander, senator, and perhaps provincial governor. Appointed by the emperor for about 3 years.
Optio - second to Centurion. He is distinguished by feathers in his helmet, and carries an optio staff used to direct soldiers, or push them forward into battle from behind and ensure that nobody retreats.
Centurion - commands a Century (80 soldiers). Fights at the front right of the legion where he can direct operations, and observe which soldiers should be rewarded for bravery. He is the toughest fighter always in the thick of the action and the real backbone of the army. Julius Caesar famously said that he would rather lose ten military tribunes than one centurion.
Tribune angusticlavus ("narrow-stripe" tunic) military tribune to oversee camp administration. The six tribunes were young men from leading Roman families, with no previous military experience and served for just a year before returning to Rome to commence their civil service careers. They took turns commanding the legion for two months each, and for the remaining ten months each tribune commanded two of the ten cohorts of the legion. Some of the tribunes proved exceptionally able, and went on to become famous generals, but most were far from equipped to lead men in battle, and in practice the leadership of a legion fell to its centurions.
Praefectus castrotum - Camp prefect in charge of the camp. Usually a retired First Spear centurion.
Tribune laticlavus ("broad-stripe" tunic) - second in command. Usually a young senator gaining experience.
Legion legate - army commander, senator, and perhaps provincial governor. Appointed by the emperor for about 3 years.
