Palestinian Clubmen

[julianus heraclius]

Alright all you researchers out there. Here's another intriguing question for you.

Who were the Palestinian Clubmen. From my readings it seems that they were a form of local auxiliary but I have also read that they may in fact have been roman troops, either legionnaries or auxliaries who were armed with clubs. Your thoughts and opinions on this matter would be extremely helpful as it will help determine how these men should look.

Thanks

[Diocletianus]

Zosimus talk of them in his New history book 1:

«After this defeat, the remains of the enemy fled into Antioch, Labdas, the general of Zenobia, fearing that the Antiochians on hearing of it should mutiny, chose a man resembling the emperor, |26 and clothing him in a dress such as Aurelianus was accustomed to wear, led him through the city as if he had taken the emperor prisoner. By this contrivance he imposed on the Antiochians, stole out of the city by night, and took with him Zenobia with the remainder of the army to Emisa. In the meantime, the emperor was intent on his affairs, and as soon as it was day called the foot soldiers around him, intending to attack the defeated enemy on botli sides; but, hearing of the escape of Zenobia, he entered Antioch, where he was joyfully received by the citizens. Finding that many had left the city, under apprehensions that they should suffer for having espoused the party of Zenobia; he published edicts in every place to recal them, and told them, that such events had happened more through necessity than of his own inclination. When this was known to the fugitives, they returned in crowds, and were kindly received by the emperor; who having arranged affairs in that city proceeded to Emisa. Finding that a party of the Palmyrenians had got possession of a hill above the suburbs of Daphne, thinking that its steepness would enable them to obstruct the enemy's passage, he commanded his soldiers to march with their bucklers so near to each other, and in so compact a form, as too keep off any darts and stones that might be thrown at them. This being observed, as soon as they ascended the hill, being in all points equal to their adversaries, they put them to flight in such disorder, that some of them were dashed in pieces from the precipices, and others slaughtered in the pursuit by those that were on the hill, and those that were mounting it. Having gained the victory, they marched on with great satisfaction at the success of the emperor, who was liberally entertained at Apamea, Larissa, and Arethusa. Finding the Palmyrene army drawn up before Emisa, amounting to seventy thousand men, consisting of Palmyrenes and their allies, he opposed to them the Dalmatian cavalry, the Moesians and Pannonians, and the Celtic legions of Noricum and Rhaetia, and besides these the choicest of the imperial regiment selected man by man, the Mauritanian horse, the Tyaneans, the Mesopotamians, the Syrians, the Phoenicians, and the Palestinians, all men of acknowledged valour; the Palestinians besides other arms wielding clubs and staves. At the commencement of the engagement, the Roman cavalry receded, lest the Palmyrenes, who exceeded them in number, and were better horsemen, should by some stratagem surround the Roman army. But the Palmyrene cavalry pursued them so fiercely, though their ranks were broken, that the event was quite contrary to the expectation of the Roman cavalry. For they were |27 pursued by an enemy much their superior in strength, and therefore most of them fell. The foot had to bear the brunt of the action. Observing that the Palmyrenes had broken their ranks when the horse commenced their pursuit, they wheeled about, and attacked them while they were scattered and out of order. Upon which many were killed, because the one side fought with the usual weapons, while those of Palestine brought clubs and staves against coats of mail made of iron and brass. The Palmyrenes therefore ran away with the utmost precipitation, and in their flight trod each other to pieces, as if the enemy did not make sufficient slaughter; the field was filled with dead men and horses, whilst the few that could escape took refuge in the city.»

Palestinia was under the control of Palmyra during the 272 campaign of Aurelian. However, theses mens could have been auxilary regiments ( like the ''old'' auxilia regiments ) or some kind of militia assembled by emperors before Aurelian. If they were legionnaries, I think they would have been noted as legions in Zosimus writtings. Maybe they came from independant cities in Palestinia where their kings supported Rome and send troops to Aurelian for his campaign against Palmyra. This is my opinion but we can only guess about who they were exactly.

[Constantius]

At the battle of Hemesa Aurelians infantry drove off the Palmyrene Catafractarii, as Diocletianus as kindly quoted Zosimus abouve I won't have to, but will repeat these lines- "Some went at them with the usual weapons, but those from Palestine struck their iron and bronze-clad foes with clubs and maces with in great part won the day, for the foe was terror-struck by the outlandish attack with clubs" Michael Speidel highlights several points, first glaringly obvious statement clubs are not standard legion issue. At the time of the battle Palestine was still under Palmyrene control- or just liberated-so would of been extremely difficult to raise troops for the battle from this region, Zosimus describes how the Palmyrene Catafracts were 'struck by the outlandish attack' which according to Speidel must indicate that the club wielding troops must of come from another region away from the eastern frontier! He also explains the Zosimus reference to 'men from Palestine' by pointing out that the emperor Gallienus had in fact stationed vexillations from Palestine in the west. Aurelian then would then have brought these troops up to strength with perhaps Germanic recruits for the campaign in the east- and it was these Germans that were the clubman mentioned by Zosimus.
Speidel goes on to discuss Frankish and Alamannic warriors had by Aurelians day gained some experience fighting Catafract cavalry. He also mentions the fact that at the battle of Torino- Constantines Auxillia Palatine raised also from Germans used clubs to defeat the Catafracts of Maxentius.

In short they could well be Auxillia bolstered with Germans

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

In terms of Roman clubmen in general: there is a tombstone picturing a Roman soldier, 'Marcus Aurelius Alexys, (son of) Theon, killed serving against the Persians, lived for 30 years.' It pictures him with a heavy club in the right hand, an oval shield, a spatha gripped in the left hand. He is wearing some form of lorica segmentata under a military cloak and a rounded cap. His club (clava) seems to be reinforced around the head. Ancient Warfare (III, 5) argues that he is a Spartan recruited by Caracella into a specific 'Spartan' cohort for his Parthian campaign and that he may have died at Nisibis. Not quite our period but an interesting visual representation.

[tomySVK]

This is a famous tombstone, I read somewhere that the club is representation of military fustis, or some connection/attribute to Hercules.

In the Sassanid preview is one great screenshot which depicted Palestinian clubmen and two wonderful Roman legionaries. There are excellent work, so I´m really curious how do you intend to improve them

[Bashar]

Interesting, although I am going to point out once again for history's sake that there is and never was or will be any "Palestine", let alone "Palestinians", the Philistines having disappeared from history 703 BCE. The native Jews (Judeans) would never and still don't recognize that fictive name concocted by the Romans in their failed ethnic cleansing program after the Second Great Revolt. It's Israel, Eretz Yisrael, Judea and Samaria.

[Diocle]

Sorry Bashar but I don't see the problem, if the Romans called the land Palestine, well it is Palestine, indipendently from ethnic names of the peoples living there. The Romans called the provinces of their Empire using the names they liked more: like Germania Superior, Germania Inferior, Africa Proconsularis, etc...
About ethnical cleanising, well it was the system they adopted with all the peoples refusing stubbornly the Romanization of their land and culture.

[Joar]

Sorry Bashar but I don't see the problem, if the Romans called the land Palestine, well it is Palestine, indipendently from ethnic names of the peoples living there.

Right, the name does not refer to any ethnicity, but rather a geographical place of recruitment.