09-30-2005, 07:00 PM
When a Roman historian recommends that the Army return to felt subarmallis which it had used in its heyday because of its better defensive qualities (than whatever was being used in the late empire--linen???), this is probably the best information we could hope for. This would seem to imply that it might be okay to use linen for a late impression, but cerntainly not for an early one (Unless the Roman historian is lying, and there is no reason to suggest this). For he specifically states the felt subarmallis was used in the earlier Roman Army.
We know from several accounts that padded linen armor/armor padding was often filled with straw, which strongly suggests it was not washed.
Felt on the other hand is often exposed to water, and can be washed out. A good example is the felt "slouch hat" or "cowboy hat".
Felt rubbing against metal would last far longer than linen, the small threads quickly wearing away and exposing the lint filling. The answer seems very clear. In the early Empire when the army was lavished with the best possible equipment, then the more expensive and durable felt subarmmalis was used. When the army became something more resembling a poorly equipped peasant conscript army, then cheap linen padding was used, exactly like the peasant conscript armies that were to follow, and in which padded linen is documented.
Yes, I believe there are accounts of leather paenula, probably much the equivalent of a raincoat. Soldiers may have had them, but if you could only carry one, leather or wool, the wool one would be more practical. A very good wool paenula, in which the natural oil of the wool has not been washed out, is good at repelling water, though not as good as a fat impregnated leather one.
And now to a reenactment this weekend.
We know from several accounts that padded linen armor/armor padding was often filled with straw, which strongly suggests it was not washed.
Felt on the other hand is often exposed to water, and can be washed out. A good example is the felt "slouch hat" or "cowboy hat".
Felt rubbing against metal would last far longer than linen, the small threads quickly wearing away and exposing the lint filling. The answer seems very clear. In the early Empire when the army was lavished with the best possible equipment, then the more expensive and durable felt subarmmalis was used. When the army became something more resembling a poorly equipped peasant conscript army, then cheap linen padding was used, exactly like the peasant conscript armies that were to follow, and in which padded linen is documented.
Yes, I believe there are accounts of leather paenula, probably much the equivalent of a raincoat. Soldiers may have had them, but if you could only carry one, leather or wool, the wool one would be more practical. A very good wool paenula, in which the natural oil of the wool has not been washed out, is good at repelling water, though not as good as a fat impregnated leather one.
And now to a reenactment this weekend.
