"Difference between Roman Shield Designs" Topic

I've just started doing my research on Roman Shield designs and I'm now a bit confused and look forward to your help.

I understand that the various legions had their own shield designs, but I can't seem to find anywhere where it states what legion had what design. Does such a reference exist?

We know very little about Roman shield designs, except from what is found on monuments and discovery of a few shields (and fragments of shields).

It's unknown if legions had the same design. Some believe that units (centuries, cohorts) may have had their own designs, other claim that Romans were individualists and were encouraged to decorate their equipment as they liked.

Get a copy of the OOP "Armies & Enemies of Imperial Rome" by Phil Barker–it has over 200 shield patterns for the Republican, Early and Late Imperial Roman periods.

For the Later Empire there is the Notitia Dignitatum which gives shield designs for assorted units around the empire. But for the Early Empire we have some designs, but don't know which legions they match up with. For the Later Republic there are some speculations about designs, but nothing definite and it's even vaguer for the Punic Wars and Early Republic.

However, this means that within some fairly broad parameters you can make it up and some uniform-nazi can't contradict you.

James

James

One of the dreams come true for many of us would be to have someone find a key to sheild designs in the early to late Empire. I feel there had to be some rationale.

While the chances are slim we may ever know, stranger things have turned up.

Given that they were pretty smart guys, and that it is easier to direct a large army with some different markings colors seen at a distance, I would suspect there was a pattern to what they did.

That the Notita Dignatatum shows they used different designed later on adds to the theory.

Watch for Part IV of the Roman Imperial Army at:

link

Parts one and two are out there and part three is in the hands of the publisher.

I am working on part four, which includes the information you seek by legion, for those we know about.

- Greg

Patrick R said:

"It's unknown if legions had the same design. Some believe that units (centuries, cohorts) may have had their own designs, other claim that Romans were individualists and were encouraged to decorate their equipment as they liked."

There is the bit in Tacitus on one of the Cremona battles in 69AD where 2 legionarii picked up enemy shields to infiltrate their lines to diable the large stone thrower that was causing problems. This appears to show that units had distinctive patterns.

For the later empire there is the bit in Ammianus that says some Germans recognised a Roman unit as one they had defeated before which agin suggests that individual units would have recognisable patters (the shields being the most obvious thing to recognise troops by) which supports the Notitia.

jgawne said:

"Given that they were pretty smart guys, and that it is easier to direct a large army with some different markings colors seen at a distance, I would suspect there was a pattern to what they did."

Nice idea but as you'd be directing the army from behind your troops you wouldn'r be seeing their shields very well.

not always. units come in on flanks, lines waver. you can tell who is coming up behind you.

It is that smnall edge that can spell victory on a battlefield where word travels by fastest horse.

There are some designs that Are well documented. The 10th legion had a bull Icon on there sheild and Standard. This was from where they were first formed in spain. The 14th Legion had I believe the Lighting Bolt Design and one legion had an Elephant incorpareted into there sheild it I can't remember which one but they got it after the Civil they fought on Ceasars Side and they fought the Elephants at a battle and after there bravery and skill Caesar had them incorparte the elephant into the sheild. I believe the German Cav (that were roman) had scorpians on there sheild.

The most comprehensive source on shield designs in my opinion.

…"Get a copy of the OOP "Armies & Enemies of Imperial Rome" by Phil Barker - it has over 200 shield patterns for the Republican, Early and Late Imperial Roman periods."