Roman body armour
LORICA SEGMENTATA
The Roman lorica segmentata (segmented cuirass) is formed of four primary sections: left/right upper shoulder, breast and back plates, and left/right lower girth hoops of overlapping metal strips for torso protection, all fastened to internal leather straps. It was compact and easy to transport when not being worn.
The Roman lorica segmentata (segmented cuirass) is formed of four primary sections: left/right upper shoulder, breast and back plates, and left/right lower girth hoops of overlapping metal strips for torso protection, all fastened to internal leather straps. It was compact and easy to transport when not being worn.
Kalkriese Type
Named after the site in Germany of the Teutoburg Forest Massacre where a barbarian ambush destroyed the 3 legions of Quintus Varus in AD 9. The Kalkriese type includes a preserved breastplate with fragments of leather strapping still attached and several loose fittings. Simple scalloped or square hinges articulated the shoulder guards and chest section, and straps and buckles (riveted directly to the plates) held the sections together and closed the girth hoops. It was probably in use from 10 BC to about AD 50, but could have been used in the second century AD.
Named after the site in Germany of the Teutoburg Forest Massacre where a barbarian ambush destroyed the 3 legions of Quintus Varus in AD 9. The Kalkriese type includes a preserved breastplate with fragments of leather strapping still attached and several loose fittings. Simple scalloped or square hinges articulated the shoulder guards and chest section, and straps and buckles (riveted directly to the plates) held the sections together and closed the girth hoops. It was probably in use from 10 BC to about AD 50, but could have been used in the second century AD.
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Corbridge Types A, B and C
The Corbridge Hoard found in Britain of twelve different cuirasses is divided into three distinct types called Corbridge A, B and C. Dating around the reign of Hadrian, it was probably in use from 40-140 AD. This is the main type worn by our legion. The overall form is similar to the Kalkriese type, but there is considerable difference in detail and decoration. The hinges on the upper shoulder guards and chest/back sections have an elaborate “lobate” form, floral bosses are used under some rivets, most strap-and-buckles on the upper sections are now hinged, and the girth hoops are now fastened down the front and back with brass loops and leather ties instead of straps and buckles. On the B and C variants, metal hooks and eyelets are used to hold the upper and lower sections together. Right: Marin Layzell in Corbridge A type lorica segmentata LEGIO XX ONLINE HANDBOOK - LORICA SEGMENTATA - construction notes for the Corbridge type.
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Newstead Type
Found in Newstead, Scotland, this type is more robust with much larger hinges. The upper section is joined by a turnkey arrangement, with a vertical pin on the rear. The torso is fastened by brass hook-and-eyelet. Used from 130-250 AD when the chaos engulfing the Roman Empire disrupted the armament industry leading to the abandonment of lorica segmentata altogether. Click on image for full-size view |
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LORICA HAMATA
Lorica hamata (ring-mail cuirass) was adopted by the Romans from the Celts around 350 BC, and remained in use throughout Roman history. The mail is formed from alternating rows of rings punched from iron sheets and riveted rings made from drawn wire that ran horizontally, producing a flexible metal "fabric" shirt. In the 2nd-century AD the Romans commonly wore a short-sleeved mail shirt, often with a pointed “dagged” hem. Earlier Roman shirts usually had shoulder-doubling (like a Greek linothorax muscle cuirass) that was fastened by a pair of brass hooks across the chest.
Mail shoulder-doubling doesn't appear on Trajan’s column, but is shown on the Adamklissi reliefs in Romania, dating from the same period of 110 AD. Both doubled and undoubled mail shirts are acceptable for use with Legio VI Ferrata.
Mail was the favoured body armor for auxiliary troops, specialist Roman troops such as standard bearers (signifiers, imagnifers, aquilifers), musicians, and centurions.
Right: Pete Rogers wearing the lorica hamata of a centurion.
Lorica hamata (ring-mail cuirass) was adopted by the Romans from the Celts around 350 BC, and remained in use throughout Roman history. The mail is formed from alternating rows of rings punched from iron sheets and riveted rings made from drawn wire that ran horizontally, producing a flexible metal "fabric" shirt. In the 2nd-century AD the Romans commonly wore a short-sleeved mail shirt, often with a pointed “dagged” hem. Earlier Roman shirts usually had shoulder-doubling (like a Greek linothorax muscle cuirass) that was fastened by a pair of brass hooks across the chest.
Mail shoulder-doubling doesn't appear on Trajan’s column, but is shown on the Adamklissi reliefs in Romania, dating from the same period of 110 AD. Both doubled and undoubled mail shirts are acceptable for use with Legio VI Ferrata.
Mail was the favoured body armor for auxiliary troops, specialist Roman troops such as standard bearers (signifiers, imagnifers, aquilifers), musicians, and centurions.
Right: Pete Rogers wearing the lorica hamata of a centurion.
LORICA SQUAMATA
Lorica squamata (scale cuirass) is made of small metal scales sewn to a fabric backing. Monuments and grave steles often depict standard bearers, centurions, and auxiliary cavalry wearing squamata, but the Adamklissi metopes also show regular legionaries wearing it too, augmented with laminated manica for limb protection and leather pteruges at the hips and shoulders.
Scale armor shirts were sometimes shaped in the same way as a lorica hamata, mid-thigh length with shoulder-doublings or cape; however, many depictions show no doubling at the shoulders.
A new form of scale armor known as “locking scale” with narrow individual scales wired to each other on all sides became popular in the Antonine era 138-192 AD. This fairly rigid cuirass didn't require a fabric backing, but was probably worn with a padded subarmalis.
Right: Hans-Dieter Bader in lorica squamata
LEGIO XX ONLINE HANDBOOK - LORICA SQUAMATA - construction notes for the squamata mail armour.
Lorica squamata (scale cuirass) is made of small metal scales sewn to a fabric backing. Monuments and grave steles often depict standard bearers, centurions, and auxiliary cavalry wearing squamata, but the Adamklissi metopes also show regular legionaries wearing it too, augmented with laminated manica for limb protection and leather pteruges at the hips and shoulders.
Scale armor shirts were sometimes shaped in the same way as a lorica hamata, mid-thigh length with shoulder-doublings or cape; however, many depictions show no doubling at the shoulders.
A new form of scale armor known as “locking scale” with narrow individual scales wired to each other on all sides became popular in the Antonine era 138-192 AD. This fairly rigid cuirass didn't require a fabric backing, but was probably worn with a padded subarmalis.
Right: Hans-Dieter Bader in lorica squamata
LEGIO XX ONLINE HANDBOOK - LORICA SQUAMATA - construction notes for the squamata mail armour.
LORICA MUSCULATA
The muscle cuirass dates back in Greek form to 600 BC, and Italo-Greek finds to 300 BC. It is made of hammered bronze joined at the sides by hinged-pins. Roman muscle cuirasses from the late Republic and Empire have two hinged straps of metal (or thick leather) over the top of the shoulders, and secured to the upper chest with turning pins or tie-downs. During the early Republic (510-260 BC) , the muscle cuirass was apparently worn by many rank-and-file soldiers, but by the later Republic its use appears to have been restricted to senior officers of the rank of Tribune or above. One type terminated in a straight line at the upper waist (“short” version), and one with a curved extension to cover the lower abdomen. Pictorial evidence suggests that some Roman muscle cuirasses were made of boiled leather (as worn by David Layzell, right) or other partially flexible material, such as layered linen.
The muscle cuirass dates back in Greek form to 600 BC, and Italo-Greek finds to 300 BC. It is made of hammered bronze joined at the sides by hinged-pins. Roman muscle cuirasses from the late Republic and Empire have two hinged straps of metal (or thick leather) over the top of the shoulders, and secured to the upper chest with turning pins or tie-downs. During the early Republic (510-260 BC) , the muscle cuirass was apparently worn by many rank-and-file soldiers, but by the later Republic its use appears to have been restricted to senior officers of the rank of Tribune or above. One type terminated in a straight line at the upper waist (“short” version), and one with a curved extension to cover the lower abdomen. Pictorial evidence suggests that some Roman muscle cuirasses were made of boiled leather (as worn by David Layzell, right) or other partially flexible material, such as layered linen.
SUBARMALIS
Body armour was worn with a subarmalis vest with padded shoulders to help distribute the weight and make the shoulder sections line-up squarely, so putting less strain on the closure strap on the pectoral plates. Ancient texts describe this undergarment as a thoromachus (Greek) or subarmalis (Latin). It was made of linen, felt, or leather, and could have leather or layered linen straps called pteruges (“feathers”) attached to the hips and shoulders. Pteruges worn with lorica segmentata are shown on the Column of Marcus Aurelius, 180 AD.
Right: Jason Saunders' leather subarmalis with decorative shoulder-doublings and double-row of fringed pteruges. Front laced by leather thonging.
LEGIO XX ONLINE HANDBOOK - LORICA SUBARMALIS - construction notes for the subarmalis.
Body armour was worn with a subarmalis vest with padded shoulders to help distribute the weight and make the shoulder sections line-up squarely, so putting less strain on the closure strap on the pectoral plates. Ancient texts describe this undergarment as a thoromachus (Greek) or subarmalis (Latin). It was made of linen, felt, or leather, and could have leather or layered linen straps called pteruges (“feathers”) attached to the hips and shoulders. Pteruges worn with lorica segmentata are shown on the Column of Marcus Aurelius, 180 AD.
Right: Jason Saunders' leather subarmalis with decorative shoulder-doublings and double-row of fringed pteruges. Front laced by leather thonging.
LEGIO XX ONLINE HANDBOOK - LORICA SUBARMALIS - construction notes for the subarmalis.
BALTEUS CINGULUM
In the 2nd century AD the balteus or cingulum was a decorated Roman military belt with an apron, and often had fixings for the pugio dagger. Previously the sword was attached, but this was now held by a separate baldric over the shoulder, and the balteus tied over the baldric to keep the sword firmly in place. Scholars argue over the actual purpose of the balteus, perhaps to prevent the tunic from blowing up, although our group know from experience that the apron does serve an effective protection as we saw it deflect an arrow from one man's groin that saved him from major discomfort. The balteus is well decorated and a good way for a legionary to show off some individuality and bling. Comprised of leather and metal, they are an enjoyable construction project.
In the 2nd century AD the balteus or cingulum was a decorated Roman military belt with an apron, and often had fixings for the pugio dagger. Previously the sword was attached, but this was now held by a separate baldric over the shoulder, and the balteus tied over the baldric to keep the sword firmly in place. Scholars argue over the actual purpose of the balteus, perhaps to prevent the tunic from blowing up, although our group know from experience that the apron does serve an effective protection as we saw it deflect an arrow from one man's groin that saved him from major discomfort. The balteus is well decorated and a good way for a legionary to show off some individuality and bling. Comprised of leather and metal, they are an enjoyable construction project.
