08-30-2016, 12:35 PM
It was considered a great dishonour for a unit to lose its standards, I can think of no better way to do this than to throw them into the middle of the enemy! Ammianus gave the example of the Batavi and Heruli Auxilia units that lost the standard they both shared and the shame that brought upon those units until they managed to recover it during a later battle.
In relation to the mail question, most deaths in a battle appear to have been caused when one side routed from the field, the pursuers then managing to strike at the unprotected necks, back and legs.
The Spatha became the standard sword when the Romans started to encounter barbarian armies fielding greater numbers of cavalry, the swords longer length allowing the wielder to strike at the rider more effectively.
In relation to the mail question, most deaths in a battle appear to have been caused when one side routed from the field, the pursuers then managing to strike at the unprotected necks, back and legs.
The Spatha became the standard sword when the Romans started to encounter barbarian armies fielding greater numbers of cavalry, the swords longer length allowing the wielder to strike at the rider more effectively.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
