Plumbatae: the great tactical innovation of the army of the Lower Empire. These "Mars beards" (or mattiobarbulus martiobarbulus) are imagined refinement to keep the legionaries infantry and auxiliats firepower that gave them the pilum, and lose with the arrival of the lance. Even Végèce, critic of the new army, venerates this simple and powerful weapon. These darts sealed affecting the shape of small javelins 60cm, with a central ballast lead in the middle of the shaft, which increases the range of the weapon (which easily carries 30m, sometimes up to 60). The size of the legionary is greatly reduced: each 5 door hung on his shield
Plumbata
The Museum of Pitsunda, Georgia, contains a number of artifacts taken from an ancient site near Pityus, among which three heads of composite spears with iron and lead of the type commonly associated with the late Roman army. These three objects (Fig 1, 1-3) are roughly comparable in their characteristics, between 10 and 12.5 cm long, with a peak of iron in the form of lenticular sheet section; and a weighted sleeve by way of a lead cone. Although severely corroded, stems appear to be circular, and were apparently open to receive a now defunct wooden shaft which measured 1 cm in diameter.
The leaded javelins of this type are generally identified as a projectile used by the late Roman army, known as the Plumbata probably a diminutive of the word hasta Plumbata or "spear leaded" and certainly being a descendant of the High pilum Empire is more or less long version, on which the lead was attached to the junction between the tip and the shaft. The earliest references Plumbata are from Végèce (Epitoma Rei Militaris), written during the reign of Theodosius (379-395), but certainly being used long before this reign. Végèce employs the alternative term "mattiobarbulus" for the weapon, in which the "mattio" prefix is surely a mistake for recopying "martio" and mar-tiobarbulus or "small March beards."
There would be very likely that the "barbulus" suffix is also an analogy with the term "barbed", so that the weapon has a barbed head. The Plumbata does not seem to see was very large because Vegetius observed that the soldier must logically accommodate five in the concavity of the shield (Quinos autem mattiobarbulus (sic) insertos cutis portare conserverunt). Végèce indicates a distinction between Plumbata and two javelins also carried by the infantry, namely the spiculum long 1.9m, a direct descendant of the pilum, and verriculum 1.2m long.
It also notes that the Plumbata is part of the standard equipment of the principles, and hastatii triarii and that plumbatae are used both offensively and defensively. In another embodiment; they are used by third in reserve, probably as a shock weapon, but they are most often used as a weapon of attack, and are generally launched as the first charge, scope for turning men on foot archer to hurt the enemy and the horses before they can use the scope of their respective weapons (if quis Oportune militate iacetent, prope sagittariorum Scutari imitated vedentur officium. Nam hostes equisetum devoting priusquam name modo ad manum sed ad ictum Miscibility potuerit perveneri )
Indeed, it is noted that two Illyrian legions were so adept in handling them during the campaigns, as joint emperors Diocletian and Maximian (286-305) and the renamed Martiobarbuli ioviani Martiobarbuli herculiani and prefer them to all other units on the field battle. The plumbatae are not restricted only to battlefield because Végèce also notes which are excellent defensive and offensive weapons in the seats.
More details on their appearance are according to the anonymous Rebus bellicis, compiled around 3689? And wherein two versions are illustrated and described. The first, Plumbata tribolata is a javelin provided with fins, and a tip of a shape similar to that of the hose-traps (or crows feet), all attached to a lead just over his head , hence its name (tri-Bolata). This version is a weapon made to be thrown by hand at close range and works in two ways, either directly penetrating the body of the enemy or falling on the floor with one of his erect spikes to heaven, may to pierce the foot of a careless soldier.
The second type of Plumbata described by the anonymous is the Plumbata mamillata, and it is reasonable to think that this guy was also active, if not identical to that described by Végèce. Anonymous describes it as having a point of circular section, with a lead weight attached below and fins at the end of the tip, the epithet mamillata or "domed" probably refers to the swelling caused by the fixation lead. It is not clear from anonymous if that weapon is designated to be thrown by hand or with a shooting machine, or using a slingshot, but the anonymous claims that the curved weapon, weighted down by a lead and its flight speed, will be powerful enough to penetrate the enemy's shield and similar obstacles (ut Plumbi weighted and penerum celeritate adiuta rotundatis teli facilius clips adversarii and similiter obstantia valeat penetrare)
Likely examples martiobarbuli or mamilatae plumbatae are relatively few and scattered, compared to other elements of military equipment, but many are known, for example in Wroxeter (6) Caernavon (2) Richborough (2, including 1 with a ballast of iron instead of the lead), and Doncaster (1). On the other hand, incomplete documentation fails to reveal more examples in Europe, including the Basel museum, but apparently found in Augst, as an unpublished copy was found in Intercisia. That said, it is also said that some heads and barbed spears with silk mounted points were found in military contexts in England and Germany could also be considered plumbatae on the basis of their shape, lead sinkers missing may have been attached to the wooden shaft of the weapon, but it seems more likely that they are neither more nor less than derivatives of standard barbed heads found in many sites and late, in fact, in a context Germanic.
As it could be that the virtual absence of true plumbatae on the continent might seem extraordinary, especially insofar as the North Eastern provinces are concerned, as Végèce recalls the specific use by the Illyrian legions, among others, it is likely, however as with the case of Pitsunda and Intercisia, that existing plumbatae -reconnues are not in the provinces of site collections from the northeast, and it is acknowledged that some of the texts mentioning the can escaped to this author.
Specimens of Pitsunda significantly different well-known examples, in the sense that they have a leaf-shaped head and not a barbed head shape as the many examples known in Wroxeter (Figure 1.4), although that it may well be that copies of Richborough can be achieved in the same form. At this point by retail, they all appear similar as regards the manner in which the lead is made of ballast, in spite of fine differences; barrel-shaped to Wroxeter and Pitsunda, of ovoid shape for Caernavon or tubular to Richborough. For length which is somewhat similar, the greatest of all those known reaches 12.5 cm.
Nothing in the examples of Pitsunda indicates their embodiment, but an x-ray neutron examples of Wroxeter indicates that the lead weights covers the junction between the wooden shaft and spear (as shown in fig 1.5), and it is suggested that the assembly is fastened together by means of a nail or a rivet for a secure attachment. Although this argument is based only on the analysis of the single example of Wroxeter, it is highly likely that the irons were fixed in this way to the mast, as is customary for conventional lances. However, there is no indication about the way in which the lead is attached to the junction between the iron and the shaft, but it is suggested that the method of manufacture is performed by the realization of a special mold acting as a form where the cast is lead directly cast on the junction, giving the characteristic shape of the lead; This is at least the assumption that seems most attractive today.
It is generally accepted that the Plumbata is a manual spray gun. The very first experiments based on examples of Wroxeter assured that Plumbata had more as a javelin, opposed to short dart, and it was suggested that the stem reaches 1 m long with fins feather to its base. Launched as a javelin, distances around 30 meters were achieved, which contradicted the testimony of Végèce stating that the weapon was used for a long distance. On the other hand, when it is launched using a rope to add power to the shooting method probably used by Macedonian (Cestros or Cestrophendone) distances greater than 70, or even 80 can be mêtres reached. More recent tests, however, indicated that the Plumbata is a dart, and once again a new trial even after the specimens Wroxeter, suggested a similar length of 50cm long. Launched as a javelin, it does not exceed 20 meters, but launched by a shifting balance passing under the arm (like the underarm serve in tennis), the range can easily reach 70 meters. It is ensured that the weapon, also launched with a slingshot or bow can achieve much greater distances.
Végèce combines plumbatae exclusively to Legionnaires troops. Yet none of the British findings do not support this hypothesis, no legionary garrison is mentioned on the sites concerned, apart Richborough, where notitia Dignitatum presence indicates the presence of legio II Augusta. The latest garrisons attested Doncaster Caernavon for example are the equites Crispiana and Cohort I Senuci. As Pitsunda there some uncertainties about the nature of the garrison. Whatever the size of the enclosure of the city there is no clarity on the nature of the garrison installed in the third century, or those later.
A fragment of the text mentions estampile LEG and the author found a estampile mentioning the legio XV apollinaris, although this latter unit is traditionally parked Satala. Stamps in them can even be dated precisely, and only give the troops present on the periphery of the Euxine (Black Sea) or only the unit that produced the tiles (for tile can be imported and not not produced locally, or stolen or reused by the locals). On the other hand the manual, dignities mentions the ala I felix Theodosiana to Pityus. Members of alae can be used as infantry, but it is not possible to say whether the plumbatae found really belong to this unit, like in the case of Augst and Wroxeter, where no "standard" unit is identified. Nevertheless the presence of plumbatae can also be interpreted in the sense of a defensive use and do not necessarily reflect use by a military garrison.
Re: A more "historical" starting army for the Romans?
Originally Posted by Renown
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Even though Claudian was a poet, his words may very well represent contemporary reality. In fact, as you certainly know, melee spears were apparently reintroduced even as early as 2nd century AD-if we are to believe Arrian (though it's not sure if the battle ever took place)
I fully understand you and i'm sure you're on the right track with those needed compromises.
