11-26-2015, 04:50 PM
Hmmmmmm....
I cannot agree with that old Canard that the Late Roman military forces pre-Adrianople were inferior to those who existed up to the reign of Diocletian.
The Roman's did mount several campaigns beyond the frontier of the Empire during the 4th Century, against the Germanic tribes north of the Rhine, against the Goths north of the Danube and against the Sassanids. Constantine, Constantius II and Valen's all planned massive invasion of Sassanid Persia, their untimely death's prevented the invasions from happening whilst Julian perished on his invasion of the Sassanid's. The aim of those invasions was the elimination of the Sassanids and the incorporation of Sassanid territory into the Roman Empire.
My own personal view is that the Segmented armour fell out of favour because it was difficult to manufacture and repair, whilst mail is a bit easier to both make and repair in the numbers required for the increased size of the army.
I cannot agree with that old Canard that the Late Roman military forces pre-Adrianople were inferior to those who existed up to the reign of Diocletian.
The Roman's did mount several campaigns beyond the frontier of the Empire during the 4th Century, against the Germanic tribes north of the Rhine, against the Goths north of the Danube and against the Sassanids. Constantine, Constantius II and Valen's all planned massive invasion of Sassanid Persia, their untimely death's prevented the invasions from happening whilst Julian perished on his invasion of the Sassanid's. The aim of those invasions was the elimination of the Sassanids and the incorporation of Sassanid territory into the Roman Empire.
My own personal view is that the Segmented armour fell out of favour because it was difficult to manufacture and repair, whilst mail is a bit easier to both make and repair in the numbers required for the increased size of the army.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
