The Late Roman Army

[Robert Vermaat]

We love the plumbatae - but there is much skill involved in their use ...

Duh.. Like what? Plumbatae, it seems, were a weapons without too much skill needed. Easy to make, easy to throw, you don´t need to target it as long as you hurl it far enough to reach the massed enemy in front of you. Or in front of your comrades arranged in anks before you.

The way I understand it (not neccesarily the correct way!) is that each legion became multi-purpose, using most weapons within the same unit. Perhaps archers and slingers to rear or skirmishing, legionnaries throwing plumbatae (they are noted as being sometimes carried in shields by infantry).

I agree. Although I seem to agrre with Everett Wheeler in thinking that even manipular legions could form a single front line (dare I call it as phalanx hock: ), it seems clear that Late Roman forces became less specialist, the heavy infantry could also be engaged in missile fire.

I don't understand the use of spears versus spiculum (the Late version of the pilum). I like the idea of spears being used by front rankers in heavy armour, with less-well armoured troops carry spicula, with which they can therow over the first couple of ranks - or skirmish in open order. I wouldn't like people throwing spicula over my head though!

Yes, lances were the primary weapons of the front rankers, but it seems that, contrary to the exchange of pilae, Late Roman forces kept up the missile exchange all through the battle, the back 4 ranks throwing over the front 4 ranks. Sure, why not throwing spicualae/verutae over the front ranks?