07-14-2012, 07:17 PM
Quote:It's not clear why Vegetius stated that the Roman infantry when he wrote abandoned not only body armour but their helmets when Late Roman artwork and monumental works created after Adrianopolis shows infantry wearing body armour and wearing helmets.
I recall reading Elton but wonder--could the depictions pertain to the eastern army, which had the benefit of more resources?
Quote: It may be that the troops Vegetius was grumbling about were Gothic recruits, he was railing against the barbarisation of the army after all.
Or maybe Roman soldiers of c 450, after the loss of the west's best revenue sources severely limited its ability to pay and equip soldiers?
