how did Roman Cavalry of 3rd century look like? Post Pics

[romano britones]

Just want to know how they looked like and if they had any cataphracts or Clibanarii.

[First Citizen Gallienus]

Yes they had cataphracts and clibinarii as well I believe. The first cataphracts they basically used were hired Sarmatians during Hadrian's rule in the early 2nd century.

On a side note, I was wondering if anyone knows if the helmet in the following picture was used during the late 3rd century. It's a Late Roman cavalry officer. Here's the link where I found it: http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?...=120990&page=1

The 2nd picture is 4th century, but I found it too good to pass up.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[romano britones]

I think that the first one is wearing is a variant of the Spangenhelm helmet as they were starting to become popular in the late third century.
Thanks for the pictures.

[Renatus]

If you're interested in cataphractarii and clibanarii, you may find this thread helpful:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=313018

[First Citizen Gallienus]

If you're interested in cataphractarii and clibanarii, you may find this thread helpful:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=313018

So the clibanarii term doesn't even come about till the 4th century eh? Interesting.

[Renatus]

So the clibanarii term doesn't even come about till the 4th century eh? Interesting.

Well, it is not evidenced before then (depending upon the date of the Claudiopolis inscription). See my post #224 in the earlier thread for the possibility of the term having been established earlier.

[Constantius]

This is of course assuming that the two cavalry types are not one and the same. Catafract coming from a much earlier Hellenistic Katafractoi, which in turn was borrowed from the steppe, whereas Clibanarii seem to be more of a nickname! Perhaps just a name that stuck from the average soldier

[Renatus]

Ah well, you know my views on that.

[M. Licinius Ibeii]

I once did an analysis of Third Century cavalry representations in art and literature. The work is at least 20 years out of date now, but for what it's worth, here are the general conclusions:
1) Analysis of Roman cavalry tactics at the battles of Naissus, Immae and Emesa clearly show that the cavalry used hit & run tactics against a much more heavily armoured opponent (Palmyrene cataphracts at Immae & Emesa), luring the enemy into an ambush set by the legions.
2) Though the Ala I Ulpia Contariorum and the Ala 1 Gallorum et Pannoniorum Catafractorum date from the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian, there is no evidence for the systematic use of armoured heavy cavalry in the Roman army until the late C3.
3) 'Clibanarius', meaning 'kettle pot', is a nickname attributed to Sassanian heavy cavalry by Roman soldiers in the latter half of the C3. As such cataphract cavalry became more common in the late C3, it slipped into common usage as a term for 'armoured cavalryman'.
4) There is absolutely no evidence for the existence of 'clibanaria' (armament factories capable of producing heavy cavalry armour) until the reign of Diocletian. This coupled with the Arch of Galerius and rise of the cataphract in the Fourth Century suggests that the systematic recruitment of armoured heavy cavalry was 'regularised' (if not instituted) by Diocletian.
5) There is ABSOLUTELY NO firm evidence that Gallienus created an 'Independent Mobile Cavalry Army'. The forces of Aureolus besieged in Milan were an exercitus made up of vexillated legionaries from Raetia supported by auxiliaries (including equites Delmatae), intended to guard the Po Valley against the Gallic Empire. The fact that Aurelian at the time of Aureolus' revolt is specifically referred to as the 'commander of the cavalry' and was campaigning with Gallienus at the time further confirms this fact.

Since then, James' publication of the Dura evidence confirms that cilbanarii-style cataphracts were being used as Roman auxiliaries on the eastern frontier as early as AD256, but cannot tell us how widespread this was. Since this is the only evidence of equites catafractarii at the time of Valerian & Gallienus, and none of the sources mention equites catafractarii alongside the common mentions of equites Delmatae and equites Mauri, I would assume that their use was not widespread.

So, to sum up, until the reign of Diocletian, the majority of Roman cavalry probably used unarmoured horses. I would argue that the equites Delmatae were armoured horsemen wearing lorica hamata or squamata on unarmoured horses. The equites Mauri were famously elite light cavalrymen, riding unarmoured on horses without even a saddle. Then, as the Sassanian (and Palmyrene) threat grew, the Roman Army took to recruiting heavier-armoured cavalry, which became a regular part of the army from the reign of Diocletian onwards.

[tomySVK]

I found this article several weeks ago, it´s about the development of the Roman mailed cavalry: http://www.themailresearchsociety.erikds.com/pdf_files/tmrs_pdf_15.pdf
Maybe it will help.

[First Citizen Gallienus]

Anyone know how long the Theilenhofen helmet lasted during the 3rd century? I'm kind of wondering if there's a chance we might see it in the mod for the cavalry.



Oh and is the following helmet (called the Buch), the same as a Neiderberber or would that be a misnomer? My guess is the latter...

[Diocle]

I know the first exemplar in your post with the name of Guisborough type I, I think it lasted until the mid of the century...., the second is very similar to the most Magnificent helmet of the History of Humankind: the Niederbieber type D or E, but....but... I do not see the crossed crests on the top of the helmet....so I have some dubt about the quality of the reconstruction...... +rep for superFCG!!

[First Citizen Gallienus]

the second is very similar to the most Magnificent helmet of the History of Humankind: the Niederbieber type D or E, but....but... I do not see the crossed crests on the top of the helmet....so I have some dubt about the quality of the reconstruction......

Well here's the link so you can read the description.
https://www.armamentaria.com/store/i...ndex&cPath=1_3