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+--- Thread: A shield fit for an emperor (/showthread.php?tid=19586)
A shield fit for an emperor - Robert Vermaat - 09-28-2011
In a recent discussion the quastion came up what shield design a Late Roman emperor would carry if he was fighting within the ranks.
Only a few emperors would go on campaign, even, but some did. Probably they would stay out of the fighting, surrounded by their bodyguard obviously, but even then some actually fought. Take Julian for example, who dies when fighting the attacking Persians.
Of course, this question can be asked of any fighting emperor, not just a Late Roman one.
The same question would apply to any commanding officer or any commander who was in command of more than one unit. What shield design, perhaps one of the units under his command, or something neutral?
Re: A shield fit for an emperor - Virilis - 09-28-2011
This is interesting! I am sure that there must have been a full kit for an emperor in the field / camp, if not anything else but for propaganda purposes at least. Emperors might have also used some more basic gear, just for convincing the common legionary in the camp (think for example Caracalla). This must have been especially true for a bookworm like Julian who had to make himself credible as a military leader in front of his troops from the scratch...
Re: A shield fit for an emperor - Gaius Colletti - 09-28-2011
This is a very good question. I am surprised Emperors who did go on campaign didn't build statues or reliefs of themselves in battle kit after a victory as some sort of propaganda