segmentata

[Robert Vermaat]

Non-Romans played a part in the Roman military before the tetrarchy too, does that mean the old auxulia wore the hamata as a 'non-Roman preference'?
I think not.

Are you sure about that?

Pretty sure.
I mean, who decided what armour the pricipate auxilia wore, the recruits or the Roman military? Yet we see the auxilia today as using the hamata whilst the legions used the segmentata. Should we then conclude that the principate auxilia

a) preferred the hamata? I've heard many say 'Yes' to that, because they see 1) the hamata as better than the segmenta ta and 2) also because the hamata allows for more diverse tactics than the seg which seems to be best in a role for heavy infantry

b) brought the hamata with them? That I have not seen any evidence of.

Therefore I think (mind you, nothing for sure) that the principate auxilia wore the hamata most probably because it fitted their tasks better, not because they, as non-Romans, liked it better.

My two cents.