Thinking of leggings

[AuxArcher]

Salve, all. I was going through the three Osprey Roman military clothing books, and like the look of the wool leggings they show in both the first and second volumes. Since my personae is a Germanic auxillary soldier, it would be in keeping with my character.

Has anyone tried making a pair, and do they work out well? I.e. do they stay up?

Thanks!

[M. Demetrius]

There's a thread on "puttees".
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... ht=puttees
Is that what you meant?

[garrelt]

They stay up running, fighting riding on a horse.
when you secure them, just below the knee and/or above the ankle, with a piece of string or a braid.

[AuxArcher]

Hi Garrelt. Thanks for the info. Any pics of how they look on reenactors?

I should have been clearer. Not putties / leg wraps, but the squarish leggings that tie just below the knee and above the ankles.

Dane

[garrelt]

I know there are some pictures some where, i will see if i can find them.

[M. Demetrius]

From experience a few centuries in the future of Roman reenacting, namely French and Indian War, leggings like you describe are easy enough to make, being just a tube or half tube-wrapped and tied, but they need to be attached at the top to the breeches, or else they'll fall down. You just can't tie them tightly enough above the calf to keep them up without cutting off the circulation to the foot.

A simple tie or loop from the hem of the braccae to the tie string of the legging would do it.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

there is a picture of Crispus wearing them in the thread demetrius posted a link to.

[AuxArcher]

Thanks, I will check it out later..have to, uhm, work now.

Dane

[garrelt]

For an impression:
Roman Military Clothing (2) page 36.
Top left picture

[Matthew Amt]

http://www.larp.com/hoplite/MTT07a.jpg

This is the Bronze Age camp at Marching Through Time last April, with myself at right. Two of us are wearing rectangular leg wraps, tied below the knee and at the ankle. We found them surprisingly effective at keeping us warm on a rather windy chilly day, and they never slipped or came loose. I don't think we were doing much running, but for a day of standing, squatting, kneeling, and walking they were fine.

My leggings have wool ties attached to one edge near the top and bottom, copied from a Danish bog find, while the other pair is just tied on with strips of deerhide, I believe. I'm wearing bronze greaves over mine, as you can see.

Valete,

Matthew

[Graham Sumner]

Hi
Just to avoid confusion as in some books I have read trousers long and short also called leggings the following might be helpful.

Leg bindings = The 'Puttee' type bandages.

Leg Wrappings = The square shaped piece of material tied at the top below the knee and at bottom around the ankle.

Leggings = The tube of material worn on each leg sometimes suspended from a belt around the waist, can also be called gaiters. Worn by the ice man but also as David pointed out common in the French and Indian wars worn by Indians and Europeans alike. (See 'Last of the Mohicans', Daniel Day Lewis.)

Graham.

[AuxArcher]

Very nice display, Matt. Tough to pick just one period, isn't it?

Graham, your books on Roman clothing are quite inspirational. Exceptional art, and are a wealth of ideas that luckily I can try out before the next campaigning season. In fact, some fabric just arrived today I will use for some Germanic-style trousers.

Off topic a bit, do you know of anyone producing some of the closed boots you illustrate in your work? In particular, the boots the Marine is shown wearing in Policing the Greek East, G1 in vol. 1, and 3rd Century Duro Europos boots in Vol II, AD 200 - 400. Those look like fantastic footgear, and remind me a bit of the German combat boots my unit allowed us to wear when I was stationed in Germany. Loved those boots, and miss them greatly.

[Graham Sumner]

Hello Dane
Thanks for the comments I am pleased that you find the books of some use. You will be pleased to hear that more are on the way.

As for boots, why not try RAT's very own Martin Moser!
Graham.

[Crispvs]

"there is a picture of Crispus wearing them in the thread demetrius posted a link to"

Actually there isn't but I can (just) be seen wearing leg wrappings in the photograph at the bottom of this page (where you may also note that they do not fall down when running when securely fastened):
http://www.romanarmy.net/events.htm

I can be seen wearing leg bindings (as opposed to wrappings) elsewhere, particularly when in my late Roman kit.

Crispvs

[AuxArcher]

Thank you, everyone. I think I have more than enough advice and information to make a pair or two. Seems a very simple project.

Dane