Lorica segmentata
Lorica segmentata (lat. Lorica segmentata, lorica out of segments) – is an armor made out of metal segments, protecting torso and part of the shoulders. Roman army used the armor approximately from the Augustan period into the third century CE.
The main lorica segmentata’s difference from other roman armours is its design – iron strip segments (which can be considered from the name), which are by pairs connected with leather straps on the chest and on the back. The construction wraps around legionary’s torso protecting it. Shoulders and upper back had additional armor plates. Those segments were interconnected by hooks or by straps or buckles.
Loirca segmentata’s designHistory
Lorica segmentata is a modern conventional name. Its exact ancient name is unknown; assigning the term’s origin exclusively to the Victorian period is incorrect.
The separable construction allowed maintenance of individual components. The Corbridge Hoard, discovered in 1964, contained pieces of several armours and other military equipment in a wooden chest. It provided crucial evidence for reconstructing the armour. Why the chest was stored or abandoned is unknown: the find does not itself establish a hurried garrison retreat.
Reconstruction of the wooden chest of the Corbridge Hoard. The objects were packed as a store, repair group or property awaiting its owner's return.Weight and protection depended on plate thickness, size and construction. Articulated armour covered the torso and shoulders, but did not make its wearer invulnerable to every weapon.
Tests of modern replicas help compare constructions. Results depend on materials, padding and experimental conditions; one test cannot guarantee an ancient soldier’s protection against a sword, arrow or scorpio bolt. The lower body remained less protected. The military belt’s hanging straps were not equivalent to a metal cuirass.
Other nations’ segmented armors
Composite metal armour existed before Roman lorica segmentata. The Dendra panoply belongs to the Mycenaean period and combines large plates. Similarities between individual components do not demonstrate direct ancestry for the Roman construction.
Tacitus describes the Gallic crupellarii as heavily protected with iron. His account does not establish that they wore lorica segmentata of a known archaeological type.
Dendra’s segmented armor, XV century BCE, archeological museum of NafpiloMore than that, there is a depiction of Sarmatians wearing segmented armor on Trajans’Column. This shows us, that other tribes also have similar armor, but built differently.
Sarmatians on Trajan’s Column. Segmented armor's depiction can be seen a little bit on the right from the middle. Beginning of the second century CEAncient roman army's segmented armor.
There is a theory, that Romans were inspired to create segmented armor by Hellenic armor type, depiction of which we can see in Domus Aurea.
Domus Aurea’ fresco, I century CE, RomeHistorians associate the appearance of lorica segmentata in roman army with Germanic Wars (year 12 BCE – year 12 CE) during Octavian Augustus reign, when there was a need to protect better legionary’s torso in battles with Germanic tribes. The earliest lorica segmentata’s fragments were found, where Battle of the Teutoburg Forest happened (year 9 CE) and the lorica segmentata is attributed to kalkriese type.
Throughout roman history, lorica segmentata experienced multiple modifications. Leather attachments – buckles and leather straps, were substituted for metal pins and pivots, which made armour sturdier and at the same time did maintenance and production a lot easier. The most common lorica segmentata types can be distinguished according to the findspot in following way:
• Kalkriese
• Corbridge
• Newstead
Kalkriese
The Kalkriese type is an early form of Roman articulated armour. Initially its construction was studied through individual plates and fittings.
A much more complete armour was discovered at Kalkriese in 2018 and presented in 2020. The find preserved important fittings and organic remains. Its shoulder construction differs from later variants, but the claim that it lacked shoulder protection altogether is incorrect.
Graphic reconstruction of the lorica segmentata Calcrise found in 2020.
Reconstruction of the lorica segmentata Calcrise found in 2020.Corbridge A
The Corbridge Hoard, found in 1964, contained fragments of several armours rather than two complete cuirasses. Comparison of the components allowed reconstruction of variants designated A and B. Type A included connections using straps and buckles. The hoard’s deposition date and the type’s period of use are different questions: the chest is conventionally dated to deposition between AD 122 and 138.
Lorica segmentata type ACorbridge B
There is another found lorica segmentata type. Corbridge B features hooks chest attachment. The rest is quite similar to type A.
On the left – lorica segmentata B reconstruction, on the right the fragments of found lorica segmentata B typeNewstead
Newstead is the latest lorica segmentata type (year 110 CE – year 250 CE). Compared to Corbridge, the construction is significantly eased, which is most likely connected with production process optimization. Brass decorations are minimized, and chest pieces are interconnected by common bolts. The lorica segmentata was found in Newstead, in the beginning of XX century.
Newstead lorica segmentata, reconstruction, front view
Newstead lorica segmentata, reconstruction, back viewArticulated armour is often associated with legionaries, especially through Roman monumental imagery. Finds at auxiliary forts, however, prevent treating it as exclusive to the legions. An image’s absence from reliefs does not prove that every centurion or other category of soldier was prohibited from wearing it. Mail and scale armour coexisted with it.
Lorica segmentata depicted on Trajan’s Column, beginning of the II century CE
Lorica segmentata depicted on Trajan’s Column, beginning of the II century CEArticulated armour ceases to be prominent in late Roman archaeological material. A single army-wide withdrawal date cannot be established. Vegetius’s complaint about infantry abandoning protection is not a specific decree abolishing lorica segmentata under Gratian. Changes in armour cannot be explained solely by general “decline” or “barbarisation”.
Reenactment
The main reenactment period of our club is middle of the I century CE – beginning of the second century (year 50 CE – year 125 CE). So, according to that, lorica segmentata which fits best for an early legionary is Corbridge, and lorica segmentata which fits best for later periods (the beginning of the second century) - Newstead. To make lorica segmentata you need – iron, brass (bronze), leather, rivets.
Legionary wearing lorica segmentata Corbridge B
Legionary wearing lorica segmentata Corbridge A
Legionary wearing lorica segmentata KalkierseSimilar topics
Legionnary, Lorica Squamata, Cingulum, Lorica hamata, Gladiator, Krupelarium
Literature and sources
- Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Epitoma rei militaris (Epitome of Military Science).
- M. C. Bishop. Lorica Segmentata, Volume I: A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour. Armatura Press, 2002.
- Peter Connolly. Greece and Rome at War. Russian translation by S. Lopukhova and A. Khromova. Moscow: Eksmo-Press, 2000.
Bas-Reliefs
Battle of Actium. Marble bas-relief of Avellino. 14-37 CE
Lorica segmentata depicted on Trajan’s Column, beginning of the II century CE
"Portonaccio sarcophagus’" piece with a solider wearing lorica segmentata, there is a theory, that the lorica segmentata was made out of leather, 180 CE. National Roman Museum.
Lorica segmentata depicted on Trajan’s Column, beginning of the II century CE
Pretorian wearing lorica segmentata, Column of Antoninus Pius, mid to late second century CE
Marcus Aurelius, II century CE, detail from the Arch of ConstantineArcheology
National Museum of Scotland I-II century CE 
Detail of segmented armour from the Corbridge Hoard. 1st-2nd century AD; Corbridge Roman Site Museum.
Lorica segmentata’s parts, Cortesia Archäologisches Museum Carnuntinum - Bad Deutsch-Altenburg-A, I-II century CE
Lorica segmentata’s parts, Cortesia Archäologisches Museum Carnuntinum - Bad Deutsch-Altenburg-A, I-II century CE
Kalkriese-type lorica segmentata fitting from Museum und Park Kalkriese. Armour fragments show the break-up and stripping of equipment after battle.
A sketch, depicting Corbridge lorica segmentata finding parts, Drawings from Roman Military Equipment by Bishop & Coulston, Edition 2, 2006 © M.C. Bishop
Lorica segmentata in the Corbridge museum. The Corbridge type of armour takes its name from finds in this assemblage.
A buckle, finds catalogue of Croatian part of the Danube Limes, I century CE
Connection hoop, finds catalogue of Croatian part of the Danube Limes, I century CE
A buckle, catalogue of Croatian part of the Danube Limes, I century CE
Part of the left chest plate and neck, lorica segmentata Corbridge A, Museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Left upper shoulder part from lorica segmentata type B, Museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Left chest plate part, lorica segmentata B, Museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
elements of a Kalkrize-type lorica found in 2020, 1st century AD.
Lorica of the Kalkrize type, found in 2020, I-th century AD. Left view.
Lorica of the Kalkrize type, found in 2020, I-th century AD. Front view.
Lorica of the Kalkrize type, found in 2020, I-th century AD. View on the right.
Lorica of the Kalkrize type, found in 2020, I-th century AD. Rear view.
Museum of Britain, 43 CE
Lorica segmentata fragment from Kalkriese. Such fittings matter for the early history of plate armour and for connecting the finds with the Augustan horizon.
Lorica segmentata fittings from the Corbridge Hoard. Small hinges, hooks and strap fittings are as important for reconstructing the armour as the large plates.
Shoulder armour, Scottish National Museum, Edinburgh, I-II century CE
Lorica segmentata Kalkriese’s parts, from the book Lorica Segmentata Volume I: A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour
Corbridge lorica segmentata’s decoration, catalogue of Croatian part of the Danube Limes, I century CE
Corbridge lorica segmentata’s decoration, catalogue of Croatian part of the Danube Limes, I century CE
Newstead lorica segmentata’s fragments, from the book Lorica Segmentata Volume I: A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour
Lorica segmentata, museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Back right plate of lorica segmentata with attachment, museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Lorica segmentata’s ring, museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Small shoulder part, lorica segmentata type A, museum of Corbridge, I-II century CE
Vertical attachments from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Buckles from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Lobate hinges, from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Attachments from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Horizontal hooks from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Vertical hooks from the book LoricaSegmentataVolume II: A Catalogue of Finds
Chest and shoulder armour pieces, lorica segmentata Kalkriese type, found in 2020, I century CE
Side plates, with Kalkriese lorica segmentata’s attachmnets, found in 2020, I century CE
Chest and shoulder armour pieces, lorica segmentata Kalkriese type, found in 2020, I century CE
Lorica segmentata and manica parts, found in Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Muzeul National de Istorie a Transilvaniei. Second century CE
Lorica segmentata and manica parts, found in Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Muzeul National de Istorie a Transilvaniei. Second century CE
Lorica segmentata parts, found in Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Muzeul National de Istorie a Transilvaniei. Second century CE
Element of lorica segmentata found during excavations on the hill of El Manakh, the area of deployment of Legio VI and Legio X, 1-2 centuries AD.
elements of a Kalkrize-type lorica found in 2020, 1st century AD.
Plates and clasps of lorica segmentata from Gamla, second half of the 1st century AD.
Lorica segmentata plates from Gamla, second half of the 1st century AD.
Lorica segmentata of a legionnaire from V Macedonica named L. Magus, Gamla, second half of the first century AD.Interested in Ancient Rome beyond reading? Join Legio X Fretensis or explore our reenactment directions.
