Dominate Era - Lanciarius
Lanciarii are attested as names of late Roman units, including prestigious field formations. The connection of the name with a throwing spear does not make every lanciarius an exclusively light, unarmoured skirmisher. A unit’s name, individual weapons and tactical role are distinct questions.
For a mobile javelin-thrower impression, a shield and javelins are appropriate; sword, helmet and armour should follow specific evidence. Light troops could operate before the line, retire under heavy infantry protection and join pursuit. Vegetius offers recommendations for cooperation between troops, not proof of an identical fourth rank in every legion. Republican antesignani cannot simply be equated with later lanciarii units.
Equipment
The equipment of the lanciarii of the Dominate era may include the following elements:
Fabric and leather products:
- Upper sleeved tunic (tunica manicata), made of wool
- Linen undertunic with sleeves (tunica manicata)
- Pannonian cap (pileus pannonicus)
- Leggings (bracae)
- Cloak (sagum or chlamys)
- Military boots (campagi militaris)
- Cingulum
- Focale
- Socks
- Windings
Elements of protective equipment made of metal and wood:
Weapons:
- Spatha
- Light javelin (lancea)
- Heavy javelin (spiculum)
- Plumbatae
Other elements:
The lanciarius set may not contain all of the aforementioned items. The javelins might be of just one type, light or heavy, and the sword might not be present at all.
Reconstruction
A starting javelin-thrower reenactment kit can be relatively simple: clothing, footwear, belt, shield and javelins. This is a practical choice for an impression, not evidence that every lanciarius lacked armour. Tunic colour and the choice of sagum or chlamys should be considered against date, region and reenactment-group requirements.
Dominate-era lancearius with two lanceasRelated topics
Literature and sources
1) The Roman Army in the IV century. From Constantine to Theodosius. A.V. Bannikov
2) Armies of the Late Roman Empire. AD 284 to 476. History, Organization and Equipment. G. Esposito
3) De Re Militari. Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
4) Rerum Gestarum. Ammianus Marcellinus
5) Parallel lives. Plutarch
The Dominate-era lancearii, the Hunting mosaic from Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily. IV century CE
Legion lanciarius Aurelius Sabius from II Traiana Fortis, III century CE
Aurelius Mucianus, centurion of II Parthica, III century CE
Lucius Septimius Viator, lanciarius of II Parthica, 218 CE, Apamea, Syria
Marcus Aurelius Avitianus, lanciarius from I Adiutrix, III century CE, Hungarian National MuseumInterested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
