Roman Knights

Roman Knights: History, Armor, Clothing and Weapons

Roman knights, known as equites , were not a social class as in medieval Europe, but a military rank within the Roman army. They were distinguished by their wealth and their ability to provide their own horse and armor. Roman knights played a crucial role in the conquest and maintenance of the Roman Empire.

Roman knight armor

The armor of a Roman knight consisted of:

• Helmet: It protected the head from blows and cuts. Roman helmets were of several types, including the Montefortino helmet, the Lorica Segmentata helmet and the Galea helmet.
• Lorica: It protected the torso. The most common types of lorica were the Lorica Segmentata, made of metal plates joined by leather straps, and the Lorica Hamata, made of interlocking metal rings.
• Shield: It protected the body from projectiles and melee attacks. The most common Roman shield was the Scutum, a large rectangular shield made of wood and covered in leather.
• Greaves: They protected the legs. Roman greaves could be made of metal or leather.

Roman knight's clothing

Roman knights wore a tunic under their armor. The tunic was a long, loose garment that reached down to the ankles. They might also wear a military belt, called a cingulum, to hold their armor and tunic together.

Roman Knights Weapons

The main weapons of a Roman knight were:

• Sword: The most common Roman sword was the Gladius, a short, sturdy sword for hand-to-hand combat.
• Pilum: A heavy javelin that was used to pierce enemy shields and armor.
• Spatha: A longer sword than the Gladius, used for cutting and thrusting.
• Pugio: A dagger that was used as a secondary weapon or for stabbing in hand-to-hand combat.

Roman knights were an important part of the Roman army and played a crucial role in the success of the Roman Empire.