Legionary Officers and NCOs - Late Roman Army (284 - 565 AD)

[Robert Vermaat]

Hi Robert

...Angus McBride also once painted a draconarius (below), but I doubt that he would have survived for very long..

How much compensatory body defence would he have needed, then, if survival had been the issue and not quick-replacement?

For the sake of being complete I must draw attention to a reference by Vegetius, who seems to see the draconarius (and indeed every signifer) as being unarmoured..

Vegetius, Epitoma rei militaris 1.20:
... Quid ipsi draconarii atque signiferi, qui sinistra manu hastas gubernant, in proelio facient, quorum et capita nuda constant et pectora? ...
... What are the dragonbearers and standardbearers, which hold spears in their left hand, to do in battle, whose heads and breasts are naked ? ...'

I don't believe they were. But then, Vegetius wrote that all Late Roman soldiers threw their armour away, which was evidently incorrect.