12-21-2017, 02:26 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-21-2017, 03:12 PM by Michael Kerr.)
Tacitus describes metal armour in his Histories Book 1.79 when giving a description of the Roxalani in 69 AD who were caught in unsuitable conditions on the lower Danube while laden with loot. In his description Tacitus harshly wrote of the Roxolani cavalry. "No people is so cowardly when it comes to fighting on foot, but when they attack the foe on horseback, hardly any line can resist them. On this occasion, however, the day was wet and the snow melting: they could not use their pikes or the long swords which they wield with both hands, for their horses fell and they were weighted down by their coats of mail. This armour is the defence of their princes and all the nobility: it is made of scales of iron or hard hide, and though impenetrable to blows, nevertheless it makes it difficult for the wearer to get up when overthrown by the enemy's charge; at the same time they were continually sinking deep in the soft and heavy snow. The Roman soldier with his breast-plate moved readily about, attacking the enemy with his javelin, which he threw, or with his lances; when the situation required he used his short sword and cut down the helpless Sarmatians at close quarters, for they do not use the shield for defensive purposes."
Tacitus also mentioned Sarmatians using the familiar charge, although we don't know what tribe fighting for the Armenians against the Parthians in 35 AD in his Annals Bk 6.34-35. " In the Sarmatian ranks, however, speech was not limited to a leader: man encouraged man not to permit a battle of archers; better to anticipate matters by a charge and a hand-to‑hand struggle! The encounter, in consequence, wore a variety of aspects. For the Parthians, habituated to pursue or flee with equal art, spread out their squadrons and manoeuvred for room for their flights of missiles: the Sarmatians, ignoring their shorter-ranged bows, rushed on with pike and sword."
Strabo in his Geography Book 7.3.17 writing about the Roxolani fighting Mithradates general Diaphantus in 2nd century BC gives a slightly different description "They use helmets and corselets made of raw ox-hides, carry wicker shields, and have for weapons spears, bow, and sword; and most of the other barbarians are armed in this way." But their armament and tactics would have changed over a 300 to 350 year period up to the time of Trajan and in that time the adoption of the two handed contus would have meant the loss of the shield. The Roxolani on the column appear to be fleeing so they probably discarded or used their contuses earlier on in the melee or battle.
Pausanias on the other hand viewed a Sarmatian breastplate amongst votive offerings near the Athenian Acropolis in 2nd century AD. "Their breastplates they make in the following fashion. Each man keeps many mares, since the land is not divided into private allotments, nor does it bear any thing except wild trees, as the people are nomads. These mares they not only use for war, but also sacrifice them to the local gods and eat them for food. Their hoofs they collect, clean, split, and make from them as it were python scales. Whoever has never seen a python must at least have seen a pine-cone still green. He will not be mistaken if he liken the product from the hoof to the segments that are seen on the pine-cone. These pieces they bore and stitch together with the sinews of horses and oxen, and then use them as breastplates that are as handsome and strong as those of the Greeks. For they can withstand blows of missiles and those struck in close combat."
Valerius Flaccus a 1st century poet wrote about the Sarmatians (assuming Roxolani as they were the tribe threatening the Danube in his lifetime). "'A fierce band of Sarmatians came thronging with savage yells; stiff are their lorica (body armours with supple chains; and such too the coverings of their steeds; but stretching out over the horse's head and shoulders the fir wood shaft, firmly resting on their knees, casts a long shadow upon the enemy's field, and forces its way with all the might of both warrior and steed."
While not technically cataphracts but more likely contarius units, the Roxolani nobles and their horses would have been quite well armoured as they could afford to buy iron.
I am not sure of the date of this relief and probably not a Roxolani but possibly a Sarmatian-Bosporan rider carrying a contus from Tanais, some would say a cataphract but others would disagree..
Tacitus also mentioned Sarmatians using the familiar charge, although we don't know what tribe fighting for the Armenians against the Parthians in 35 AD in his Annals Bk 6.34-35. " In the Sarmatian ranks, however, speech was not limited to a leader: man encouraged man not to permit a battle of archers; better to anticipate matters by a charge and a hand-to‑hand struggle! The encounter, in consequence, wore a variety of aspects. For the Parthians, habituated to pursue or flee with equal art, spread out their squadrons and manoeuvred for room for their flights of missiles: the Sarmatians, ignoring their shorter-ranged bows, rushed on with pike and sword."
Strabo in his Geography Book 7.3.17 writing about the Roxolani fighting Mithradates general Diaphantus in 2nd century BC gives a slightly different description "They use helmets and corselets made of raw ox-hides, carry wicker shields, and have for weapons spears, bow, and sword; and most of the other barbarians are armed in this way." But their armament and tactics would have changed over a 300 to 350 year period up to the time of Trajan and in that time the adoption of the two handed contus would have meant the loss of the shield. The Roxolani on the column appear to be fleeing so they probably discarded or used their contuses earlier on in the melee or battle.
Pausanias on the other hand viewed a Sarmatian breastplate amongst votive offerings near the Athenian Acropolis in 2nd century AD. "Their breastplates they make in the following fashion. Each man keeps many mares, since the land is not divided into private allotments, nor does it bear any thing except wild trees, as the people are nomads. These mares they not only use for war, but also sacrifice them to the local gods and eat them for food. Their hoofs they collect, clean, split, and make from them as it were python scales. Whoever has never seen a python must at least have seen a pine-cone still green. He will not be mistaken if he liken the product from the hoof to the segments that are seen on the pine-cone. These pieces they bore and stitch together with the sinews of horses and oxen, and then use them as breastplates that are as handsome and strong as those of the Greeks. For they can withstand blows of missiles and those struck in close combat."
Valerius Flaccus a 1st century poet wrote about the Sarmatians (assuming Roxolani as they were the tribe threatening the Danube in his lifetime). "'A fierce band of Sarmatians came thronging with savage yells; stiff are their lorica (body armours with supple chains; and such too the coverings of their steeds; but stretching out over the horse's head and shoulders the fir wood shaft, firmly resting on their knees, casts a long shadow upon the enemy's field, and forces its way with all the might of both warrior and steed."
While not technically cataphracts but more likely contarius units, the Roxolani nobles and their horses would have been quite well armoured as they could afford to buy iron.
I am not sure of the date of this relief and probably not a Roxolani but possibly a Sarmatian-Bosporan rider carrying a contus from Tanais, some would say a cataphract but others would disagree..
Regards
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
