Armor of the
Middle Imperial Romans
By Scutatus

Middle Imperial Romans > Armies > Resources > Fanaticus

Lorica Segmentata, never universally adopted even in it's prime, began to lose what favour it did have from the late 2nd century AD. It appears to have died out from common usage almost completely by 240 AD, although some few numbers may have continued to be in use for a while longer, here and there.

The oval shields also seem to start being adopted by legionaries in the late 2nd century, and again by the 240's the "classic" Legionary scutum was essentially history.

A general rule of thumb I find useful is this; Marcus Aurelius's Marcomannic wars (Circa 170 AD - 180 AD)seem to be the last wars where "classic" Imperial Roman Legionaries with scutum and segmentata still dominated the field. This was their swan song. About this time the oval shield had begun to be adopted by the legionaries and segmentata fell into disfavour.

After Marcus Aurelius's son and successor Commodus died the Empire erupted into civil war, eventually won by Septimus Severus. These Wars of Succession, 193 AD - 197 AD, can be viewed as the last gasp of the segmentata. It was no longer standard issue to new recruits, and had already become a very rare sight. The scutum, being merely a wooden shield with a metal boss, had vanished almost completely.

By the end of the rule of the Severan Dynasty in 235 AD, lorica segmentata was no longer in common usage. Although some obsolete items may have survived in use for a while longer, still employed here and there by individuals, loricasegmentata had gone the same way as the famous scutum and had essentially been consigned to history.

The period 180 to 235 AD was a transitional time. The old and the new would have intermixed a lot before the old segmentata and scutum fell into disuse completely. So, the prospect of a unit of Middle Imperial Legionaries with Segmentata and oval shield is entirely plausible, so long as they are late 2nd century troops. After the turn of the century segmentata becomes too rare for a whole unit to plausibly be so equipped, but if mixed in with mail or scale troops you could field them for periods up to 235 AD.

With respect to shield designs, there was no sudden switch as far as I can see. The shields appear to evolve over time. Early Imperial legion shield designs can be compared with their late Roman shield designs and one can see how the shields have undergone a very gradual transition. Sadly, for the most part, we only have a few "early Imperial" designs and many "late Roman" designs, and very little in between. But we do have just enough from "in between " to see shields with similarities (but not identical) to earlier/later designs, showing us a transitional step of the shield design. So, if you want Middle Imperial shields, look at the Early Imperial shield designs, look at a late Imperial shield design (of the same unit if possible) and create something in between.

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Centurio Andy: Variations of the wing and lightening bolt motif were used by numerous legions. Sculptural evidence for these designs appears in the 1st century BC and extends to mid 2nd century AD.

The geometric designs seen in the document, Notitia Dignitatum, are from the 5th century A.D. and probably reflect the designs used in the 4th.

For the late 2nd to 4th century AD, there is not too much evidence available. I have "Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284 " and all the shield blazons in the illustrations are based loosely on coins, rather than sculptural representations.

Middle Imperial Romans > Armies > Resources > Fanaticus

Last Updated:   25 March 2005

This short essay is reproduced from a posting to The Miniatures Page on-line forum.

Questions, comments, suggestions welcome.
Send them to Chris Brantley at IamFanaticus@gmail.com.