02-12-2012, 06:17 PM
There are some indications that pilum may still have been in use when Ammianus wrote his history. He only mentions the use of the pilum twice in his entire work, and both times are during the reign of Valentinian I. Ammianus stated that Valentinian was 'an inventor of arms', and I have seen quotes elsewhere that he was also an innovator. It's mooted that the author of the rather odd 'De Rebus Bellicis' dedicated that work to Valentinian and we know that a number of the suggestions in that book were taken up by both Valentinian and Valens (mile forts, coinage changes, and possibly the infamous 'currus drepanus' scythed chariot as there is a mention of this within Vegetius which is almost identical with the written description plus the drawings in the De Rebus Bellicis).
However, whatever the case may be, it does appear the spiculum replaced the pilum as it performed the pilum's role with also the ability to be used as an effect hand to hand weapon. If only mention of spiculum were in Vegetius then we might query it, but as its also mentioned in Ammianus and the Scriptores Historia Augusta then its a good bet it was in wide use during the 4th Century AD at least.
However, whatever the case may be, it does appear the spiculum replaced the pilum as it performed the pilum's role with also the ability to be used as an effect hand to hand weapon. If only mention of spiculum were in Vegetius then we might query it, but as its also mentioned in Ammianus and the Scriptores Historia Augusta then its a good bet it was in wide use during the 4th Century AD at least.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
