Lorica Hamata

Lorica Hamata meant "chain armor" and was the most common form of armor in the late Roman empire. The most complete set ever found is from Arbeia and is almost a full Hauberk, which dates to the 4th century AD. Although some chainmail had cupric alloy rings, it was usually iron.


Proper late Roman chainmail would be 4mm interior diameter, round links, 4-in-1 pattern with alternating riveted and whole links. The rivets should be drifted, not punched, and the links not flattened around the rivet. It should extend to the knee in length, have elbow or wrist length sleeves, and have no doubler. Some may have had leather edging or internal lining, but this is unknown and therefore up to your discretion. As only custom armorers make 4mm ID chainmail, 6mm ID chainmail is also acceptable.


It is possible to make your own chainmail, but it is ridiculously time consuming and an immense amount of work. A correct hauberk would take around 50,000 links and over 700 man hours, and is quite a daunting task to get correctly shaped and formed.


WHERE TO BUY:


Soul of the Warrior - Sells a customizable Hamata. Acceptable for reenactment, Rusty can guide you through it or put you in contact with the Magister Militum.


Armamentaria - Their type 2 and type 3 riveted-punched alternating are acceptable


Lorica Squamata

Lorica Squamata meant "scale armor" and was the other primary armor of the late Roman empire. Several examples of  scale have been found, including one dating to the 4th century in Trier. Lorica Squamata was oftentimes more decorative than Hamata and less expensive, albeit it offered slightly less defense.


Lorica Squamata of this era should not have shoulder doublings. Some depictions show short "pauldrons", made separately and attached to the armholes with leather straps, which hung down and protected the top of the arm. It should extend to the upper thigh, or down to the knee with slits on the sides or up the middle for flexibility.


It is also possible to make your Squamata with relative ease, especially compared to chainmail. Scales should be 1.5x2.5cm, attached to each other with brass rings and suspended on leather or linen throngs that run across each row. These would be sewn to a backing of leather or linen. Scale rows should either go straight up and meet at the shoulders, or should form an "oyster" shape around the neck, as is depicted. A hauberk would be split up the side and closed using leather straps and brass buckles. If the Squamata extends to cover the thighs, it should have a split up the front for flexibility.


WHERE TO BUY:


Soul of the Warrior - Sells a customizable Squamata, and also offers a Squamata collar by Al-Hamdd.


Lamellar

Lamellar armor was extraordinarily rare in the Roman period, only used by their Persian, Sarmatian, and Hunnic enemies. However, beginning in the 5th century AD the Romans began to adopt it, and in the Eastern Empire it quickly replaced earlier scale and chainmail as standard "munitions armor." Unlike scale, lamellar did not need leather thongs to support it, as each scale or 'lame' was attached to the ones above, below, and next to it, allowing for the armor to suspend itself.


For lamellar, one should contact the Magister Militum at flavivsaetivs@gmail.com. There are lamellar manufacturers out there, but it is difficult to know the right kind for your time period.


Manica

Manica was a Roman armguard, usually segmented like the classic Roman Segmentata. However, unlike Segmentata Manica remained in use well into the Late Roman Era. An example found at Bowe in England was used by Limitanei around 400 AD. Manica of this era began at the shoulder and should guard not only the arm, but the hand and thumb as well. It can be Iron or cupric alloy, and usually had a linen or leather lining underneath, which could be integrated or separate.


WHERE TO BUY:


Notice: There are currently no acceptable Manica on the market. The Carlisle Manica has serious issues with its construction (basically, it's glued together) and is to be avoided.


Ocreae

Ocreae were greaves, designed to protect the shins from blows, as they were often exposed. Greaves have not been found during the 4th and 5th centuries, but as they were used in the 3rd and 6th centuries it is certain their use must have continued. Greaves could either be one sheet of cupric alloy or steel.


WHERE TO BUY:


Armamentaria - Carlisle Greaves


Ancient Empires Reproductions - Kunzig/Straubing Greaves

Soul of the Warrior - The AH6123 Praetorian guard greaves, if you remove the kneeplates, are actually acceptable as late Roman officer's greaves. They now also offer similar pieces by Al-Hamdd. Their Carlisle Centurion greaves are also accepted.

Thorocomachus/Subarmalis

The late Romans used padding underneath their armor to soften the blows of weapons, especially when wearing Hamata. Thick versions of this were called a Thorocomachus. The Thorocomachus was made of several layers of quilted linen, often with an outer layer of goatskin or leath, while a subarmalis was usually thinner and made of linen or leather. No examples of this padding have been found dating to the Roman era, but from manuscripts and artistic representations of underarmor we have a general idea of their appearance.


It is very easy to make your own Thorocomachus. If you make your own, try and stick to textual or visual representations of such armors, although it is open to some interpretation. Quilted Kaftans like the Zostarion and the Kavvadion were not introduced until the 7th century, so a Kaftan is not acceptable.


WHERE TO BUY:


Soul of the Warrior - Makes an all leather subarmalis.


MAKE YOUR OWN:


Legio XI Guide - Pages 3 and 4