Legionaire light infantry

[drsrob]

That is an distinction ultimately derived from Traian's Column. Heavy infantry = legionary, light infantry = auxiliary. But you agree that he is light infantry, on the basis of the oval shield and multiple javelins, do you not? So why do you refuse to consider that a legionary with oval shield and two javelins is or at least might be a light infantryman?

So by your reckoning the figures that are taken to be Auxillia on Trajan's column could/ should be seen as Legionary light infantry?

Did I say that? No, on the column they are allmost all auxilia, though the legionary standardbearers are given exactly the same equipment. In scene XXXVI however there are some light infantry wearing animal skins like the standard-bearers. These were in my opinion very likely intended to depict antesignani or legionary light infantry. After all, Vegetius stated that standard-bearers and antesignani both wore light equipment and animal skins.
And yes, I did say before that antesignani no longer used animal skins. However, the column uses a kind of pictorial shorthand to make it easier to identify certain classes of troops, and the Romans of the city would have been more familiar with the literary descriptions (not Vegetius of course, but one of his sources) than with the actual looks of a particular type of soldier.