03-24-2014, 09:30 AM
Steven, the Scutarii were not infantry, many of the quotes you give you need to check the Latin text as well as then you may get a different reading from Rolfe's translation. I have no idea why Rolfe keeps calling the Scutarii 'targeteers', the best translation would be 'shield-bearers' in my opinion. The Scutarii were an elite Guard cavalry unit, some historians believe they were 'light cavalry', although I'm not entirely sure why.
Personally I think your wrong about the Late Roman legiones containing Lanciarii, there is no mention of Legionary Lanciarii that I can think off apart from the Legion of that name. When skirmishers are mentioned they are invariable called Velites by Ammianus or Psiloi by Julian, and Libanius I believe. Even Velites were known to be sent off on special tasks and then Ammianus called them Velites expediti.
If you want some indication of what light troops were attached to the legion then I think Vegetius, for all his faults, is probably a good place to start as he does at least call them by their contemporary names.
Personally I think your wrong about the Late Roman legiones containing Lanciarii, there is no mention of Legionary Lanciarii that I can think off apart from the Legion of that name. When skirmishers are mentioned they are invariable called Velites by Ammianus or Psiloi by Julian, and Libanius I believe. Even Velites were known to be sent off on special tasks and then Ammianus called them Velites expediti.
If you want some indication of what light troops were attached to the legion then I think Vegetius, for all his faults, is probably a good place to start as he does at least call them by their contemporary names.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
