What exactly were the Lanciarii?

[The Alexandrian]

I've read about Imperial lanciarii in several places - I was first introduced to the word in Ross Cowan's second title on the Roman Legionary for Osprey, but I have read a lot about them on the internet as well.

I am only aware of a small number of lanciarii soldiers attested in epigraphic evidence - Aurelius Mucianus, c. 218 AD, Apamea; and Aurelius Caius, a cavalry lanciarius from c. 300 AD.

I am under the impression that lanciarii have traditionally been intrepreted as light-armed legionaries functiong as skirmishers, but Aurelius Caius was neither a legionary nor a light-armed skirmisher, he was a cavalryman and there's no reason to assume he fought unarmored.

I recently read a web article that proposed that lanciarii were in fact battlefield bodyguards for generals and high-ranking officers, and they may have indeed fought with lighter equipment and less armor for increased mobility in the event of an assassination attempt.

I'm just seeking some opinions - what are your thoughts on the lanciarii?

[Tim Edwards]

Can you give us a reference for the bodyguard article? Would be very helpful.

It sounds like someone has confused lanciarii with beneficiarii. Early imperial beneficiarii are frequently described as carrying small shields and elaborate 'lances'. Traditionally beneficiarii would have been attached to high ranking Roman officers in various roles, from clerical to close protection.

[Marc Oliver]

Ross Cowan certainly thinks they were bodyguards, 'elite troops'.
It's a fairly plausible argument, the name being a hold-over I suppose.

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

IIRC somebody like Pliny describes themselves as having a bodyguard with lancea (and another with pilum?) - in fact I think it would be about the same period as Arrian and in the same sort of area.

All a vague memory though :o