"Late Roman Cavalry and Infantry Standards Question" Topic

What type of standards did Late Roman cavalry and infantry formations use?

Vexillum, draco, etc?

Who used what?

I have seen pictures showing cavalry with draco standards, but the Gripping Beast set only includes a draco standard with their infantry set.

I just got some Gripping Beast Late Roman light cavalry and they (finally) have a right arm with an open hand to hold the standards.

The light cavalry set has no standards. I am going to guess light cavalry did have standards for their unit.

Okay, I sort of found answers and I'm posting them in case anyone interested reads this or searches the site for the original question.

The Osprey Late Roman book states the units switched over to the Draco standard in the late period, but doesn't go into much detail. I believe it's claimed the wind sock part was purple most times.

The Wargames Research Group book on Romans states it was the cataphractii that used the Draco. The rest of the cavalry using vexillum. The WRG book states the emperor used purple for the sock while red was used otherwise.

The WRG book states the legions still used the Eagle, the imago was a large new type (statue) while the army cohorts used the Draco.

So, nothing completely consistent. Yet.

It seems that the cavalry, to include light cavalry, starting using the draco from about the mid 2nd century AD.
The infantry (at least the legions) were using the draco by the later part of the 3rd century AD.

link

The WRG book also says Late Roman legionaries wore leather muscle cuirasses and breeches.

Ten Fingered Jack, the Footsore Miniatures late Romans I have seem to have leather cuirasses on.

Are you saying that is not historically accurate? Or?

It would be nice if they explained sources (not just WRG). Tropical wear is different from summer wear which is different from fall/spring which, in turn is different from winter gear.

I know WRG makes the claim auxiliaries wore different pants than the legions. They also, like most reference works, cover a period of 200+ years in their descriptions.

10 Fingered Jack,

Your comment made me look for images of late Roman legions regarding the breeches.

This picture caught my attention:

Both 5 and 6, but especially 6. It is entitled Roman Legionary Evolution. I'm not sure the publication it is from.

What caught my eye was both being in breeches with #6 having what appears to be puttees/leg wraps below the bare knee and he's clearly wearing a tunic.

OK …

The Perge inscription, from the reign of Anastasius, lists among the complement of a legion, vexillari (carriers of the vexillum), imaginiferi (with the Imperial imago standard) and signiferi (carriers of signa, "standards" in general). See link

Useful reading on the draco in particular:
link
link – this is a transcription of Jon Coulston's important article from the JRMES. Not a perfect transcription, and no pictures, but still useful. Note that it has the reference to Julian being crowned by a draconarius of the Petulantes, who were an auxilia palatina unit – so the Aux. Pal. at least carried the draco.
link – see especially figure 6, which is a 4th-century rendering of infantry (the text suggests a legion) carrying a vexillum and a draco.

Finally, at link is a reference to an inscription naming "Fl(avius) Iovianus bearcus / draconarius ex numero / octava Dalmatas" – a draco-bearer from a unit of Dalmatian cavalry. This is a draco in a light cavalry unit, if you follow Phil Barker in believing that the Dalmatae were light cavalry, or at least in a conventional non-cataphract cavalry unit if you don't.

GurKhan, that's some really good stuff! I will have to take the time and read through it and respond after.

I think the idea of the draco being a personal standard is an interesting concept.

By the way, if you can wait a few months, link is out in January.

Thank you for the heads up!

That looks like an awesome work that will be welcomed by many!