segmentata

[Robert Vermaat]

My feelings about the reason that mail eventually superceded plate in the legions is the legions were a completely different animal by that time, composed almost entirely of auxiliary blood (but citizen in title), bringing with them their own practices and preferences.

I don't think so. Non-Romans played a part in the Roman military before the tetrarchy too, does that mean the old auxulia wore the hamata as a 'non-Roman preference'? I think not. Tetyrarchy-legions were mostly manned by Roman citizens, as far as we can find out at least, it's a myth that the Late Roman army was mostly manned by barbarians! besides, it was the Roman state that equipped the troops, and the fabricae that manufactured the armour.

I therefore keep thinking that the changes in armour were mostly due to changes in manufacture and logistics, maybe.

And since the auxilia was known to bear the brunt of the heaviest fighting (at Mons Graupius the legions did not even take part?), I therefore also think the segmentata is not 'front-line armour' either.