Requirements for Legionary's Kit

Scribed by D. Mercatius Varianus.

Massive thanks must, as always, go to Quintus, Centurian of LEGIO XX for his help and for allowing us to use his materials and research so freely.

A note first: For the most part, unlike Civil War reenacting, in Ancient Periods reenacting (Roman, Greek, Celt, etc.), you can't just go out and buy your kit. Of course, it IS getting easier in this regards all the time--you can now buy things like the lorica and helmets much easier than in the past) but you will often still have to make many of the items you'll need.

Also and alas, most experienced reenactors can find flaws in virtually everything we wear and use--perfection is impossible, but our goal is to to strive to improve at every event--having at least one new or improved item. We consider a reproduction to be good enough if a person who is reasonably knowledgeable about our time period can pick it up and try it on without finding any anachronisms.

Minimum equipment for participation at public events includes:

• tunica (tunic)--The basic garment is a red or white (there is a big argument over the tunica colour) wool tunic made of 2 rectangles approximately 36"-48" long by 30"-45" wide, sewn together at the sides and shoulders.
• caligae (sandals)--These heavy sandals are the classic Roman army footwear and numerous examples have been found at first-century sites in Europe and around the Mediterranean.
  The upper is cut from a single piece of 3 to 6-ounce leather, well oiled (with neatsfoot oil) to prevent decay. The sole is one-half to three-quarters inch thick and is made of several thick layers), with the upper sandwiched between the top two. The layers are held together with hobnails.
    The caligae are laced with the lace threaded crisscross through the slits in the tabs or straps just like a modern shoe is laced.
• lorica (armor)--The lorica is built in four sections: right and left collar sections (with shoulder guards), and right and left girdle sections. On each collar section the breastplate is hinged to the mid-collar plate, which in turn is hinged to the top back plate, and below that the middle and bottom back plates hang on internal leathers. Attached to these plates by three more leathers are the upper shoulder guard (front, rear, and center plates hinged together), and four lesser or outer shoulder guards. The girdle sections are laced together at front and back, and are suspended from the collar sections by means of straps and buckles--4 at the inside back (2 each side), and 2 at the front on the outside. (On the type B cuirass hooks and eyes are used instead.) The collar sections connect to each other with a horizontal strap and buckle at front and back. The lorica is best put on like a jacket, with all the back closures tied and buckled, then the front fastened. It helps to have someone hold the cuirass for you while putting it on!
    Recent finds at the Teutoberg Forest and other sites make it clear that the Corbridge lorica which we and most other Roman groups use was not the first type of segmented armor used by the Romans. It is, however, the only style that we can reproduce with complete accuracy.
• cassis (helmet)--There was a wide variety of helmets in use in the mid-first century AD, nowadays known by H. Russell Robinson's classifications [e.g. Gallic "G", Itallic "D", etc.]. The choice of style is up to you.
• scutum (shield)--There are many options for scutum size, shape, and materials. The common shape in the mid-first century seems to have been rectangular, but the curve-sided "Augustan" style (right) is still seen on Trajan's Column. The height ranges from 37" to 42", about from the shoulders to the top of the knee, and the width is 24" to 33". The corners are typically rounded, but square corners are easier for a leather rim or a rimless shield.
• gladius (sword)--There were several types of gladius in use during the mid-first century AD. The older "Mainz" pattern had a blade 20" to 22" long by about 2-1/2" to 3" wide. It was slightly wasp-waisted, with a long point. A variation called the "Fulham" pattern also had a long point, but was only 2" wide with straight edges that flared slightly at the hilt. The newer "Pompeii" type had parallel edges and a short point, and was c. 2" wide by 18" to 22" long.
    Blades were double-edged with a flat diamond or lens cross-section, without grooves or fullers. Some had low-carbon steel cores with high-carbon edges, some had high-carbon exteriors with lower carbon interiors, and some were low-carbon throughout.

The Complete Legionary

Once the basic kit is acquired, the new recruit moves up from a tyro to a Legionary and may take the field with LEGIO XXII. New members usually borrow gear until their own is complete.

Other items needed to complete the basic field kit would be:

• focale (scarf)--The focale is a scarf or neckerchief worn to protect the neck from being pinched or chafed by the armor. It was apparently introduced at the same time as the lorica segmentata, but quickly became popular even with troops who wore different types of armor. Its shape is difficult to determine but probably varied, and the only known color depiction of a focale shows it as light green.
• pilum (javelins x2)--The pilum consists of a long iron head with a small point, and a wooden shaft. On the most common type, the bottom of the head widens into a flat tang, which is riveted into the widened top of the wood shaft. The second type has a socketed head, and a third type, less well-known, has a spike tang. In the first century AD, some tanged pila are shown with a spherical weight, presumed to be lead, behind the joint block. Apparently the weapon had become lighter over the centuries, and the weight was added to increase its "punch."
• balteus (belt)--The plate-covered belt popularly called a "cingulum" was actually known as a balteus. In the mid-first century AD a single belt to support the dagger was most common, but the two crossed belts worn in Augustan times still appeared. It is clear that the balteus was a valuable personal possession. Although made in army workshops and probably a required item of equipment, it was perhaps not issued at random, but more carefully chosen by the soldier himself, according to his own tastes and budget.
• pugio (dagger)--Like other items of legionary equipment, the dagger was undergoing some changes in the 1st century AD. Generally, it had a large, leaf-shaped blade 7" to 10" long and 2" or more in width. A raised midrib ran the length of each side, either simply standing out from the face, or defined by grooves on either side. The tang was wide and flat initially, and the grip was riveted through it, as well as through the shoulders of the blade.

And then, for treks/marches, period campouts, or cold-weather events, you're going to want to add the following:

• paenula (cloak)--There were two types of cloak in use, the sagum and the paenula. Both seem to have been some shade of brown or yellowish-brown in color; apparently a particular type of wool was preferred, its natural oils making the fabric nearly waterproof. The cloak doubles as the soldier's bedroll on campaign.
• (helmet crest)--There are depictions of helmet crests and a few descriptions, but unfortunately, almost no surviving examples or fragments (besides the metal attachments) have been found. It is believed that crests were not worn in battle during our period except by centurions.
• (pack)--The Roman marching pack is described by Plutarch and Josephus, and is shown on Trajan's Column, but few remains of Roman packs have been found. The pack items are carried on a T-shaped pole about 5 feet tall with a crossbar c. 18" long. From the crossbar hangs a bundle that is presumably the cloak. It can simply be rolled up and tied, wrapped in a piece of leather or cloth, or held in a bag, which is secured to the crossbar. Some of the bundles shown on the Column are tied at one end, some at both. The rectangular satchel measures approximately 12"x18" and is made from 1 to 3 ounce leather (goatskin, etc.).
• "Turf cutter," "shovel head" and dolabra (tools)--Every legionary carried a pick-axe (dolabra), a basket, a saw, a sickle, a leather strap, and possibly a chain (the translation is questionable). Other tools included the entrenching tool (ligo) and several types of shovel. The popular "turf cutter" may also have served as a bark stripper. Most likely each man had a digging tool plus one or two of the other items. The leather strap would be useful for carrying turf blocks, as seen on Trajan's column. Baskets may be willow, reed, or split oak, and often looked much like modern wicker wastepaper baskets.
• patera and "vas" or "situla" (mess gear)--The patera is an all-purpose mess pan, for cooking, eating, and probably drinking. It was made of bronze (brass may be used instead), and was apparently often spun from a blank, which included the handle. Some examples do have handles added on in various ways, and some are made by hammering. The patera can be the "simple" style with a flat bottom and fairly straight sides, or have base rings cut in on the lathe, both to counterbalance the heavy handle and to distribute heat while cooking. Either type can be from 4" to 8" in diameter.
    The vas or situla (cookpot or bucket, etc.) came in a variety of shapes and sizes, about 5" to 8" in diameter by 7" to 10" tall. The handle could be attached by 2 riveted loops or by means of a heavy wire with loops in it around the rim of the pot.
• (shield cover)--On the march, the scutum was protected by a drawstring leather cover. It is made of goat or calf leather, 1 to 2 ounce thickness, usually in two or even three pieces. 
• vallis or sudes (palisade stakes)--The palisade stake was known as vallis or sudes, not "pilum murialis" (that was probably some sort of javelin). It is about 5 feet long and can be made from a 2x2, preferably oak. Some examples, like those shown below, are c. 4" square. The stake tapers straight to a point at both ends, and the middle is narrowed to form a "handle." These are NOT fine woodwork! Some were better made than others, but most were very quickly made and show clear tool marks. They should not be sanded smooth, much less stained or oiled.
• And don't forget personal effects which we'll cover later on...

Materials to be Used in Constructing Kit

Use the following rules-of-thumb in regards to materials when putting together your kit:

• Clothing--Linen or wool--must be 100%, no blends or substitutes. Twills were common. Cotton and silk for civilian clothing only, and even then, they must be approved before use. All exposed stitching (hems, etc.) must be done by hand.
• Leather--Vegetable-tanned, top grain. Avoid splits, suede, and chrome-tanned leathers. Goatskin and calf were common. May be dyed, and should be treated with oil.
• Metal--Mild steel, NOT galvanized or stainless. Brass may be used for bronze items. No tubular, split, or pop rivets.
• Wood--Ash is best for weapon shafts and tool handles. Plywood can be used for shields. Exotic types of wood like ebony should be avoided unless you can prove its use.