How well armoured was the Roman army?

[Matthew Amt]

Theories abound as to when lorica segmentata was adopted (ie. Carrhae in 53 BC and Florus/Sacrovir in AD 21).

Actually, that's being narrowed down to the late first century BC. There are finds of fittings from Dangstetten, I believe, in a reasonably dated context. Of course, the finds from Kalkriese prove that segmentata was in use by 9 AD. Theories of that armor's origins DO still abound, though!

It would have been relatively easy to manufacture or mass produce, but it's susceptible to corrosion and wear...not something you want on long marches and battle conditions. Probably for these reasons, it falls out of favor around the 3rd century.

Any armor is susceptible to corrosion, and we know that various sorts were indeed worn on the march and in battle. Segmentata was lighter than a longer shirt of mail or scale, in any case. And it would not have taken 300 years for the Romans to have figured out any major problems, eh? There have been a couple LONG discussions on why the segmentata fell out of use.

The plates would have been good protection against downward sword blows (Germanic wars and conquest of Britain), but poor against piercing missile weapons (so probably not so popular in the east).

Eh? It is excellent protection against any sort of weapon! And better against blunt trauma than mail. And segmentata parts have been found in the East (Gamala), so we know it was used there. Also remember that spears are always the most common weapon.

Even at the height of its popularity, though, I think mail was still far more common.

It's possible, though I'd say that may have been true across the whole army. I still think Trajan's Column shows legionaries in segmentata because that was the common perception of the time, even if it was not entirely accurate. I certainly agree that it was never *universal* among legionaries, and that mail (and/or scale) predominated among auxiliaries.

From the number of finds, it seems to me that lorica segmentata was most common from early- to mid-first century AD to mid-second century. But I do think the whole idea of it being used by "specialist" troops is a little odd...

Valete,

Matthew