Severus Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Looking to start collecting a Caesarean army of 28mm figures. I went to the foundry site and came across models that are shown with the hamata armor I am familiar with, but there are also units of legionnaires shown wearing only a cloth tunic, helm and shield. Could anyone enlighten me on this and point me to some source that would show Caesar's legions going to battle without armor? http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/CR/1/index.asp I have read the Gallic Wars and Civil Wars (not recently mind you) and I have no recollection of this sort of attire. Thanks in advance, Severus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Looking to start collecting a Caesarean army of 28mm figures. I went to the foundry site and came across models that are shown with the hamata armor I am familiar with, but there are also units of legionnaires shown wearing only a cloth tunic, helm and shield. Could anyone enlighten me on this and point me to some source that would show Caesar's legions going to battle without armor? http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/CR/1/index.asp I have read the Gallic Wars and Civil Wars (not recently mind you) and I have no recollection of this sort of attire. Thanks in advance, Severus Could these maybe the slingers or even archers?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Posted August 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Could these maybe the slingers or even archers?? Nope check the link http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/CR/1/index.asp Top row center and top row left. Legionaries Throwing Javelin (they have pilums in their hands) Legionaries Attacking with Sword (they are armed with a gladius) these are legionaries without body armor. . . Foundry seems like a knowledgable company that bases its molds on historical fact. What gives here? Severus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted August 29, 2006 Report Share Posted August 29, 2006 Could these maybe the slingers or even archers?? Nope check the link http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/collections/CR/1/index.asp Top row center and top row left. Legionaries Throwing Javelin (they have pilums in their hands) Legionaries Attacking with Sword (they are armed with a gladius) these are legionaries without body armor. . . Foundry seems like a knowledgable company that bases its molds on historical fact. What gives here? Severus Mmmmm a tricky one i'll continue to look into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Another site you may want to check out for similar figures is Lead Warrior I have a few of their figurines, they are top quality (though unpainted) and they even come wrapped in bits of Russian newspaper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Another site you may want to check out for similar figures is Lead Warrior I have a few of their figurines, they are top quality (though unpainted) and they even come wrapped in bits of Russian newspaper! Thanks for the link but I am not looking for miniatures, I am looking for the reasons (historical hopefully) that caused foundry to cast a whole line of Caesarean legions without any body armor at all? Severus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 lol I thought when you said you were looking to start collecting that you were...well...collecting. my mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 (edited) In the republican army, the armor you got was the stuff you could afford. Perhaps they were poor men. Since Caesar's army was after the Marian Reforms... I wouldn't know why they don't have armor. Edited August 30, 2006 by Antiochus of Seleucia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 In the republican army, the armor you got was the stuff you could afford. Perhaps they were poor men. I disagree with your statement. Since Marius' reforms of the army and the use of landless citizens in the legions soldiers were, for the most part, issued their gear. Before the time of Marius Roman soldiers were responsible for equipping themselves. I do not think it was so during the time of Caesar's Gallic wars. P.S. Lost Warrior, I am collecting an army but I have already decided on Caesarean Romans from either the Foundry or Gripping Beast line of miniatures Severus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Read the second half of my post please... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Posted August 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 Read the second half of my post please... You edited your original post and added the second half about Marius as I was typing a reply. I have quoted your original post in my post above . . . Severus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 I see! I typed the first half and realized my mistake, so I typed the second half out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 I've spent a couple of hours browsing De Bello Gallico looking for any instance where Caesar describes his legions have been involved in combat without armor. Caesar mentions no such detail in the following encounters which would seem most likely. In no particular order... The ambush of Sabinus and Lucius Cotta by Ambiorix The precarious battle against the Nervians The first landing in Britain involving a heroic effort by a standard bearer of the 10th A Legion that was ambushed while foraging in Britain The siege of Gergovia that almost ended in disaster and the attack against Labienus immediately thereafter There are any number of possibilities I suppose, but I am well convinced that the miniature maker has taken some artistic liberty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Severus Posted August 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks for the help guys. From my own knowledge of Ceasars troops I have no recollection of unarmored troops. I emailed the company that made the models. They had no answers and the sculptors have since left the employ of Foundry. I have also found that another model maker (Gripping Beast) also has a line of unarmored Caesareans. I will assume that no one has any ready knowledge of unarmored Romans and that the model makers have been taking some liberties (shame on them!) Look forward to more interesting debates and informative posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Thanks for the help guys. From my own knowledge of Ceasars troops I have no recollection of unarmored troops. I emailed the company that made the models. They had no answers and the sculptors have since left the employ of Foundry. I have also found that another model maker (Gripping Beast) also has a line of unarmored Caesareans. I will assume that no one has any ready knowledge of unarmored Romans and that the model makers have been taking some liberties (shame on them!) Look forward to more interesting debates and informative posts. Indeed, this may simply be a case of generating revenue by offering a different sort of model. Seriously, they didn't reply to your inquiry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.