"Soldiers fighting in cloaks" Topic

Hi Everyone,

I'm pretty close to finishing my greens of what I hope to be 1st Age Edain from the Silmarillion. The question is this. Did ancient and up to dark age soldiers fight wearing cloaks? With bowmen I can see good reasons why they would not, but what about spears and swords? As these figures are fantasy ones I guess anything goes, but what about historicals? Would a cloak be a hinderance? All thoughts welcome.

I cannot imagine wearing a cloak in battle. More likely you'd roll and wear it over your shoulder. They can be quite a nuisance to wear while doing a lot of activities.

I guess if it was really cold you would wear one.

Many of my LOTR figures have cloaks. They are fun to paint (easiest part for me as I don't have much skill)

Having managed to lift my own cloak over my head with the backswing of my own weapon during re-enactment completely blinding myself I can say that people should not fight with cloaks on. I am sure this issue would have been well known when cloaks were common wear.

Robert

I suspect anything that could be grabbed by the enemy or trip you up, would be left in camp unless it was particularly useful to keep you alive or the other chap dead.

If your figs are not in active fighting poses cloaks might look fine – suggesting the men were just marching about.

If we're going to speculate, then it would depend on the style of combat, wouldn't it?

If the soldiers are in a line in close order, the enemy really doesn't have an opportunity to grab the cloak, so it's not much of a risk on that point. If an enemy weapon were to snag in the cloak, that would be as much if not more of a hindrance to the enemy, and a little added "armor" for the cloak wearer. So much for speculation!

As to the historical question, I don't know. But I think speculation really won't produce an answer.

I believe that Sumerian close combat infantry wore cloaks with scale armour – they fought in a sort of phalanx. I can recall some speculation about skirmish light infantry using leather cloaks as a form of crude armour

Otherwise I suspect not for the reasons stated above – notably when in close combat because actual armour is way better than a cloak with scales on it!

Since it's fantasy and Tolkien doesn't say, the question is, do you want cloaks or not?

If you do, there are depictions of historical Spartans and Romans with cloaks. Also in Tolkien's fiction, their descendants, Aragorn and the Dunedain, are depicted with hooded cloaks.

If you don't, as everyone notes above, cloaks are impractical to fight in, and the historical depictions noted above may be fanciful.

Thanks guys,

I think I'll cast up the figures without cloaks first and then see if I will add cloaks later. The only proper cloak I've ever worn was very heavy but it was cool as it had a hood.

Cloaks are cool.

Swirling cloaks are SUPER cool!

No capes!

Heros wear capes!!!!

Just prior to hand to hand combat I doubt if anyone noticed the cold weather probably more worried about cold steel. It is all about the adrenaline rushing into your system and focusing all that energy to demobilize your enemy.

A leather cloak or 'brat' was an Irish warrior's battledress and Maori wore decorated capes into battle too. I'm sure there must have been other historical instances of cloaks being worn in battle.

Maybe its an officer/other ranks thing. A sign of status. Looking at Roman legionnaires they don't wear cloaks but their command does it seems. Only going on the Foundry stuff I looked at. Can't imagine Roman's in their dense battle order wanting the hassle of cloaks or packs.

Multiple comic books show Conan wearing a cloak into battle. You can't get any more authoritative than that.

Maurice's Strategikon (a Byzantine military manual) says that cavalry should have an extra large cloak or hooded mantle with large sleeves which allows them to protect their weapons from rain or dew "and still not find it awkward to use the bow or lance".
It goes on to say that the cloak is also useful when on patrol to hide the brightness of the armour and also to provide some protection against arrows.

Thanks again folks. Seems the answer is both yes and no.

You need a cloak. Do you have any idea how much stolen stuff you can sew into one.?