French riot police, lorica segmentata, and knee greaves

[Caballo]

Mrs Caballo and I were lucky enough to be in Paris last weekend, and were strolling around the Left Bank where there were a group of CRS riot police looking menacingly at two groups- Catholic fundamentalist demonstrators and people giving out free bio-yoghurt (haven't worked out the connection, but French politics are a mystery to me).

Mrs Caballo suddenly said"Oooh look, they are wearing shoulder lorica segmentata!". I was too wimpy to take a picture there and then, but found this picture- and yes, they were. Also note the knee coverings for the greaves- perhaps the Straubing greaves were not necessarily just for cavalry?