Marriages

Евсеенков А.С., Гончарова О.А.

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Braccas are a type of ancient Roman trousers. The braki's length was slightly below the knees, which distinguishes them from the barbarian trousers that reached to the ankles. For a long time, the Romans considered trousers an attribute of uncivilized barbarians, and for wearing them you could incur severe punishment. However, after the conquest of the northern territories, there was a need for warmer clothing, and marriages became part of the legionnaire's equipment .

Archaeological finds of pants have been made in the Netherlands, Germany and France. Wool and leather marriages were found.

Leather marriages from Valkenburg, Netherlands, 1st-2nd century AD

Marriages, Kunstpalast Museum, Dusseldorf, inv. no. 12754, 1-2 century AD

The woolen trousers found in Damendorf and Thorsberg cannot be called marriages, as they are ankle-length and belong to barbaric clothing, for example, they could be worn by Celts and Germans. In addition, the trousers were sewn from a fabric not of linen, but of twill weave, more common among barbarian peoples.

Damendorf trousers, pattern, 135-335 AD

Pants from Damendorf, 135-335 AD.

Damendorf trousers, pattern, 135-335 AD

There are also many visual sources. Starting in the second century AD, marriages began to enter the Roman fashion, and not only in the northern regions. On the column of Trajan and the monument of Adamklissia, you can see legionnaires and auxiliaries in marriages, but there are examples with Praetorians.

Praetorian in marriages. Column of Antoninus Pius. Second half of the 2nd century AD

Image of marriages on Trajan's column, early 2nd century AD

Literature

Ancient Danish Textiles from bogs and burials, a comparative study of Costume and Iron Age Textiles by Margrethe Hald. The National museum of Denmark 1980. ISBN 87-480-0312-3.

Schlabow, Karl: Textilfunde der Eisenzeit in Norddeutschland, Göttinger Schriften zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte, Band 15, Karl Wachholtz Verlag Neumünster, 1976, ISBN 3-529-01515-6.

Hald, Margrethe: Olddanske tekstiler, komparative tekstil- og dragthistoriske studier paa grundlag af mosefund og gravfund fra jernalderen, Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskriftsselskab, femte bind, Nordisk Forlag 1950.