The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires

The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - Printable Version

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The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - julianus heraclius - 09-15-2007

Hi,

I'm trying to find out info on what armour and weapons legioanires of the mid - late 3rd C had.

I seem to get conflicting evidence as to whether they were spear armed or still retained the combination of missle weapons, then the use of the sword.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Re: The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - Longovicium - 09-16-2007

I am not sure but I think you have to include your real name at the bottom of your post as part of your profile! And you wouldn't be the famous 'JH' from IBFD would you, by any chance? :wink:

3rd C Roman Legionary weapons and armour - julianus heraclius - 09-16-2007

Quote:I am not sure but I think you have to include your real name at the bottom of your post as part of your profile! And you wouldn't be the famous 'JH' from IBFD would you, by any chance? :wink:

Well in fact I am. Thanks for the flattery, I didn't realise that i was famous Smile

I am trying to find some info on what 3rd Century AD roman legionaries were armed with.
You get differing views as to whether they were armed with long spears or still with pilum.

I think they were still armed with pilum, but I need to confirm it.

Thanks
Geoff

Re: The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - Tarbicus - 09-16-2007

There's a recent thread on the subject of 2nd-C legionaries, so it should be okay to garner info on 3rd-C from there.

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=18158
plus
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=17581
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=152445

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=1550
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=5376
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=9518

Re: The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - caiusbeerquitius - 09-16-2007

Quote:You get differing views as to whether they were armed with long spears or still with pilum

This is mainly so because both weapons were still in use, as far as archaeological evidence suggests. During the third century you have despite the similarity of fibulae and baldric fittings etc. over the empire still some kind of local differences, which are mainly visible by such things. So whereas in Raetia around 270 AD the soldiers along the limes may have been mainly using the hasta, the soldiers in the hinterland here and there were still using pila, e.g.

Re: 3rd C Roman Legionary weapons and armour - Robert Vermaat - 09-16-2007

Quote:I am trying to find some info on what 3rd Century AD roman legionaries were armed with.
You get differing views as to whether they were armed with long spears or still with pilum.

I think they were still armed with pilum, but I need to confirm it.

Â´The 3rd c.Â´is quite a long time Geoff. There was a lot going on, leading to all kinds of developments. besides, we know the Roman army was not a organisation that phased out older types of weapons, or introduced some new type within a few years.

Re: The armour and weapons of mid - late 3rd C legionaires - julianus heraclius - 09-18-2007

Thank you all very much for your help

Regards

Geoff Smile