What was Roman Army PLATE ARMOR? (All about 'Lorica Segmentata' wearing and use)

[@scholagladiatoria]

Visit sterlingpacific.com/SCHOLA and use code 'SCHOLA' for $300 off! One of the most famous types of armor worn by the Roman legionary, or soldier, was the plate armor called 'lorica segmentata'. Here we look at a reconstruction based on one example found archaeologically in Britain, and discuss how it is worn, it's advantages and disadvantages. Fabrica Cacti made the lorica: facebook.com/FabricaCacti/ Pustelak Brothers made the helmet: facebook.com/p/Pustelak-Brothers-Art-Workshop-100057607085086/

[@Kargoneth]

So shiny. Too bad I replaced my suitcase about two weeks ago. One of my wheels disintegrated into a few chunks. Parking lots and brickwork were hard on the tiny plastic wheels.

[@makb_the_striker]

Lorica Segmentata isn't plate armor, it's laminar armor, come on, your channel literally is about military material culture history. And it's armor 101. And you've forgotten that "Lorica Segmentata" is a 16th-century name, not an original one.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

A bit of feedback on the sound. You were "over miked" lets say, and Gavin was "under miked" plus you have a very strong voice whereas Gavins is softer. So you came across a bit too loud and Gavin was sometimes hard to hear. Hope that helps. Great presentation otherwise. Thank you. Cheers!

[@Godlovesya-j4o]

hello how do I order from fabrica cacti?

[@bBlaF]

Get Gavin over to Tod and see how resistant he is to plumbata.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Funnily enough we were both at Tod's recently. But we didn't stab Gavin. This time.

[@sf90001]

Or how he can throw while wearing the armor

[@bBlaF]

@@sf90001 Gavin and Michael together so Michael can try throwing in the armor and also try throwing at the armor.

[@frankdn109]

It doesn't look very heavy either. I wonder by how much it'd slow a man in the 100 yard dash. Of course the scutum and pilum would have their effect too.

[@Nurk0m0rath]

@@sf90001 I for one am very curious how well he could throw a pilum in vs out of the armor.

[@kleinjahr]

What I find interesting is the apparent modularity of the armor. If a piece gets damaged it can be replaced by another piece relatively easily. Whether the Romans did that or not, I have no idea but it does make sense.

[@1aapmens]

they did. Read M.C. Bishop

[@natehammar7353]

It made manufacturing the armor on an industrial scale possible. Thousands of individual plates could be manufactured and then fitted by a legion’s armorers to the dimensions of the individual soldiers.

[@Toxoplasma13]

I think that informs maille ultimately winning out; it's one size fits most and very easy to repair, salvage, maintain etc

[@natehammar7353]

@@Toxoplasma13 but maille protects very differently from plate and does not work well against spears and arrows so it depends on the regular opponents. Maille is also heavier than plate and puts more weight on the shoulders causing greater fatigue over time.

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@Toxoplasma13 Maille did not win out but was always present till the age of gun powder. Maille limits one to a shield for without plate armour you cannot hope to stop projectiles like a volley of arrows. Men in warfare are equipped according to their intended function. So you know continental Europe France, German & Italy highly favoured plate armour while England favoured Brigandine being a island nation as plate is not practical aboard ships though the English nobility wore probably the best plate armour of any nation. Function, Wealth & status determined a lot. People say 1 size fits all but maille comes more in small to extra large like a T shirt. if a rotund/plump induvial you cannot realistically fight in plate armour as it simply won't fit or rest on the hips having all weight upon the shoulders. Maille or Brigandine are th2 main option of armour used by the overweight. Laminar armour such as Lorica segmentata shown is early proto plate armour which can allow some excess garth but it has it's limits. Lamellar armour is the stage between Laminar/ lorica segmentata & Lorica squamata/scaled armour. The Romans called maille 'Lorica hamata'. In Roman times why one wore hamata, squamata aut segmentata depended on their role in an army as well as personal preference, personal wealth & physical weight etcetera. Wearing Segmenata from horseback as cavalry is not comfortable though some did so. Squamata was preferred to hamata but scale armour was more expensive & time consuming to hamata/maille. Some soldiers even went without metal armour on horseback for mobility. A professional cavalry like Equites Romani were completely differently equipped compared to Alae /auxiliary cavalry. both required but for completely different function on campaign. The oldest armour being a helmet before any metal body armour was a thing the Helmet type of plate armour mind.

[@Irlandets]

Back in the day, in 2003-2005, I wore my Newstead type of lorica segmentata underneath my hospitaller's surcoat in all out behourd, as a part of experiment or testing. So, I took full power blows by multiple halberds and axes, not to mention swords and falchions, and I can verify that it gives unparalleled protection because I barely felt the impact, of course it were blunted weapon, but still, comparing to Visby type brigandine, which I possessed too, segmentata is far superior in terms of comfort and resistance to the blows. you can take a look at some of behourds on my page. It was a much better pre-HMB Era.

[@JustinShaedo]

Thank you! This is an underrated comment and ubderexplored concept. Seems a great bridge between brigadine and cuirasses?

[@nutyyyy]

Seems like a sophisticated coat of plates. But I imagine even more than a thousand years earlier that controlling the Mediterranean gave the Romans unparalleled resources that allowed for such sophisticated armour long before it would be seen again. Though obviously it didn't reach the heights of late medieval plate armour. But clearly, segmentata would offer a huge advantage over contemporary opponents in antiquity wearing only mail or no armour at all.

[@Goshu1]

I've always wondered why the roman helmet went out of fashion? It seems to be a really good helmet, good coverage, it doesn't prohibit the vision, hearing and breathing.

[@scholagladiatoria]

It kind of didn't... In that it evolved to match the changing shields and weapons, and then late Roman helmets become early medieval helmets as worn by Saxons, Franks etc. You can clearly see the line from 4th century Roman helmets to 5th/6th century 'Germanic' helmets and then onto Vendel, Anglo-Saxon etc.

[@hjorturerlend]

Early "dark ages" helmets still followed the same principles. The question really is rather, why did mail aventails replace cheek pieces?

[@fridrekr7510]

I find it interesting how the Roman helmet has cheek pieces but no nose protection, when the later early medieval helmet only has a nasal.

[@tommygun333]

Finally it was used by Polish winged hussars (kinda similar in principles) and even later by Prussian cuirassiers.

[@lscibor]

@@hjorturerlend Covers way more, doesn't flop around nearly as much if it rest on the shoulders nicely, and breathes, despite covering way more, probably. You can flip the question and ask why Romans didn't come up with mail collars/aventails, when they were doing some really impressive mail for over 500 years. But it seems that mail followed the shape of tunics and other clothing closely for quite a while, it didn't even have real sleeves until ~ 250 AD or so.

[@act.13.41]

Having an armored Roman nearby can be quite handy.

[@chefchaudard3580]

« What did the Romans ever do for us? » 😊

[@-Zevin-]

@@chefchaudard3580 Apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order… and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?!

[@Kinetic.44]

​@@-Zevin- mass pedophilia, rape, torture, slavery and murder....

[@mielivalta]

@@chefchaudard3580 Brought peace?

[@chefchaudard3580]

@@mielivalta « Oh. Peace? Shut up! » 😁

[@natehammar7353]

From a physical tests standpoint, one of the things talked about in the histories from the period is the legionaries performing work, whether preparing, building and then tearing down the marching camp on campaign or constructing roads and other infrastructure away from the frontier, while in full kit. These histories include accounts of camps and fortifications being built even while under attack, such as Caesar’s walls at Alesia. It would be interesting to test how easily similar tasks are to complete while in the armor.

[@lewisjardine3624]

There is a very cool video of a guy doing exercises while wearing a reconstruction of the Kalkreise Lorica Segmentata in the museum. He can do pretty much anything, press-ups, forward rolls, pull ups etc.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Media: Why do men think nonstop about the Roman Empire? youtubers: The Algorithm

[@scholagladiatoria]

Ugh, if I cared much about the algorithm I'd probably be making different sorts of video. Hopefully some history and armour is interesting enough to some people.

[@GrandDungeonDad]

Because the romans gave humanity so much and they were such a strange popup in history. A relatively small spot on the map that became a world dominating super power. All cultures since Rome have been vastly influences by them and in many cases still are today.

[@theeddorian]

Largely because the Romans seem so familiar yet foreign when you read about them. Archaeologically and technologically, we have far less information than we would like. We tend to imagine them as technologically inferior, but there are traces of remarkable devices: thermos-like metal containers, a remarkable, plane-table-like surveying device with threaded adjustments, and who knows what else. They were technologically on the edge of an industrial revolution, but events, sociology, economics, and politics forbade.

[@Wastelandman7000]

(and we're living through the fall of Rome v2.0)

[@frallinger]

​ The gave us NUFFIN'! Apart from sanitation, education, roads (goes without saying...), aqueducts and peace. And wine, of course. Nuffin' I tell ya!

[@ichimaru96]

I'd definitely be interested to see some videos about sub Roman Britain in the future. Especially after the Romans left and before the major Saxon conquest, cause i feel like it's an often overlooked period And cause i have a soft spot for late roman armour and the spatha 😂

[@tiltskillet7085]

I've got a keen interest in the Sub-Roman period too, and I'd be extremely excited to see anything Mat could do on the subject. Although I think a large part of the reason it feels overlooked is that there is less surviving evidence and less research than there is before and after.

[@ichimaru96]

@@tiltskillet7085 i agree with you there. The evidence got overtaken by later Saxon artifacts or in the case of wales, by norman incursions It's just an interesting part of history because I'm fascinated by the idea of how the romano British society in the cities slowly became more natively British after the romans left. It'd be a really interesting period culturally

[@Gargoiling]

Is there any armour (or images of it) found in Britain for that period? There are 5 or so Anglo-Saxon helmets (from a much longer period). I think four of those were found in graves because the pagan Anglo-Saxons were buried with their armour whereas Christian Britons wouldn't have been. This is a period where people stop making much, even, say wheel-thrown pottery. You might assume they'd keep producing arms and armour in a dangerous world, particularly given, eg, there seems to be evidence of continued occupation of some of the forts on Hadrian's Wall but were they making do and mending? And if they were making new stuff what was it? I don't think we can say for sure. Metal is recyclable after all, if you don't be buried with it. Maybe there's more evidence from the continent.

[@ArmouredProductions]

I'd love to see tests of doing labor whilst wearing the armor. The Romans did a lot of manual labor and construction projects that they would have at least sometimes done while wearing their kit. Digging trenches, gathering water, foraging and chopping wood. And of course most famously building walls. All could be done and I think would have been done wearing armor (depending on the situation).

[@Juel92]

I'd think they'd only have the armor on while doing labor in rare circumstances.

[@anthonydevito1298]

Physical Tests for Gavin: "Go on, conquer Europe!"

[@scholagladiatoria]

DON'T TEMPT HIM, THIS IS DANGEROUS

[@Gilbrae]

For "Senatus Populusque Romanus" of course !

[@TheUncleRuckus]

😂

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

FIGHT,FIGHT,FIGHT!

[@BoiledBeanWater]

Average Murr punishment

[@patron8597]

The way Gavin's stands there, with his arms crossed makes it look like he feels cold and naked without his armour. Really cool video, always fun to to see videos about roman stuff. Makes me wish that some day Todd would make a throwing test while wearing full armour.

[@VikingTeddy]

I was looking if anyone else noticed. He does *not* look happy to be there. Is he cold? Did he hear some bad news? Trying to hold in diarrhea? Or he's just uncomfortable with anyone else getting handsy with his baby.

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Please extend my thank you to Gavin for coming by and presenting this topic with you. Very informative, clear and enthusiastic. Thanks to you too, Matt. Cheers!

[@emarsk77]

The helmet design in particular looks absolutely brilliant.

[@lewisjardine3624]

I have just got back from visiting Kalkreise (Teutoberg Forest, Germany) and seeing the Lorica Segmentata found there that you referenced. It is from Varus' defeat in 9 AD, so a bit earlier than the Corbridge sets. The main differences are a lack of shoulder extension plates and the whole thing is fastened by buckles rather than laces. Bonus for the visit was seeing the original Corbridge find which is currently on loan to Varusschlacht Museum there.

[@TheAncientAstronomer]

I would say that a roman soldier whas quite well protected, barring in mind he had a large shield, plus a couple of buddies left and right of him carrying also large shields. 😁 And fighting in a tight formation. Obviously nothing is perfect, but for the time period, more than adequate i would assume.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Frankly, they were insanely well armoured by the standards of the day.

[@TheAncientAstronomer]

​@@scholagladiatoriaWould you say that their armament plus the discipline played a major part in their victory against Boudicca and the Britons? Besides the location that is. Oh if I may be so bold, would it be possible to do a video about the Greek hoplites and their armour, especially the linothorax and how effective it was against thrusting and cutting?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yeah I need to do more on Greek arms and armour. Also earlier and non-European stuff. As for the Boudiccan revolt - yes... basically I don't think the Britons stood a chance unless they could take the Romans piece by piece when hugely outnumbered. Hit and run skirmishing would have been the way to go, not pitched battles unless with very uneven sizes.

[@TheAncientAstronomer]

​@@scholagladiatoriaSo basically what Arminius did in Germania,making Augustus really upset, yelling;Varus where are my Legions? 😁

[@SandraOrtmann1976]

Technically, they had the technology to wear plate from head to toe (think the fully enclosed helmets standard bearers wore, for arms and legs think gladiator gear). I guess it was simply not practical, as it would have meant much more heat and more parts to maintain. Also, more costs for each legionare. The system they had was simply genius IMO.

[@dembro27]

Probably my second favorite type of armor behind Gothic plate!

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Great demonstration - actually looks comfortable. That's also a really nice suitcase.

[@carlcramer9269]

I think there was something called Lorica Sculptata (from memory) that was even more plate like - featuring a solid metal breast-plate much more like a cuirass - and also decorated to look like a super-muscular torso. This is often depicted as officer's armor. Is this thing historical, and is it similar to a a baroque cuirass?

[@adambielen8996]

It's Lorica Musculata if I'm not mistaken. And yes, it was a breastplate that was sculpted to look like abs and pecs and was indeed officer armor usually high ranking officers at that.

[@-Zevin-]

@@adambielen8996 I have always wondered why these types of armor weren't more popular, was this a much more expensive technical piece to produce? That would explain it only being available to the upper-class / officers.

[@Toxoplasma13]

​@-Zevin- can't be made en masse or in a modular way. Private purchase only. Popular with self-equipping Greek hoplites, but a bad match for how Roman soldiers were organised and equipped.

[@adambielen8996]

@@-Zevin- Yes, it was considerably more expensive to make.

[@tastesofhistory4560]

I believe you may be thinking of Lorica musculata.

[@hrodvitnir6725]

Great video! Small critisism tho but it would be nice if you got your guests to talk a bit more, this was mostly you talking and Gavin standing there and Im sure Gavin knows a lot of cool stuff too. Anyways still a great video, cheers!

[@scholagladiatoria]

Noted!

[@peterlem1]

I wonder if the construction in essentially two "halves" which are strapped together made it easier to fit the same armor to different people. Was this armor ever mass produced and "issued" or did every soldier have to buy their own equipment? In the first case, having a construction where "one size fits many" would be very practical.

[@josepandreu7448]

Both: it was mass-produced (well, sort of) but every legionary paid for it through pay discounts. And, if they had the money and the fancy, they could get it customized, I suppose: a whole train of merchants and artisans followed every legion like fleas to a dog,

[@Juel92]

These feel so mysterious. Firstly how widely they were used and secondly how unique they are in history. The closest thing I can think of is half-plate.

[@TheSaneHatter]

Always the coolest-looking form of Roman armor, to my mind, even when I first saw it in Dorling Kindersley's "Arms & Armor" book when I was a teenager.

[@eyeballtat]

Looks like the BBC’s “Been Here from the start” song helmet

[@Lurklen]

Fantastic set and video. Really like how you went into depth about the nature of the helmet. It's a great piece of design, and one we see evolve across the Empire's lifespan (that brim supposedly being a response to the falx in Dacia). Would love to see more of this content, and other armours from the period (both Roman and their contemporaries, it was a great period for experimental design). I do wonder why no nasal guard, it seems like an oversight, as poor Gavin's nose feels awfully vulnerable there. I mean, arrows versus armour would be interesting, but other than that, maybe just a later period set and this set worn and compared in one video. Movement, restriction, protection, essentially a comparison of the evolution and the trade offs, with perhaps some of the context of why those people in those times were making those design decisions.

[@freewillgeorge]

Also to add with my suit , in my job I often wear it all day long doing all sorts of stuff, and surprisingly the most irritating thing about it is that the hooks on the back left side keep coming unhooked when I sit down XD . In general the Maille shirt is a hell of a lot more comfortable day to day, but the Seg aint too bad.

[@samuelgunnarsson1983]

Id like to see a video of Gavin in full armour and the whole arms set, going over everything in detail

[@Salt-Upon-Woundss]

I have always found it odd that apparently not one single Roman smith ever seemed to have considered the concept of a brigandine. They clearly had all of the necessary technology for it but for whatever reason none of them ever seemed to have considered it.

[@rubenp8320]

US army Medic, its called your "nape protector." The nape protector can be seen on modern combat helmets and its just kevlar to make sure you dont....idk severe the spine hahaha. love content, keep it up!

[@maxgriffin7870]

Be interesting to see some sword and shield sparing between the Roman plate and 15th century Plate!! Get to really see the differences in mobility. Basically if a 15th knight time traveled to fight a legionnaire in the coliseum

[@mukkaar]

Really only thing that would make roman helmet perfect is if it had solid nasal bar. And since they had mail, some of that attached to helmet to protect neck area would be great. I think these would be things that Rome could have easily implemented at the time.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

It may just be because I'm a Hoplite fanboy, but I've always thought Roman helmets needed a nasal. And for what it's worth, I think the main reason segmented armour had it's couple of hundred years in the sun was simply cost. "It's not the parts, Centurion, it's the labour". Riveted mail would've taken WAY longer to make, and even an armourers slaves had to be fed.

[@scholagladiatoria]

There are late Roman helmets with nasals.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

@@scholagladiatoria There are indeed. But why the lack once they get away from the "hoplite" model? Cultural, or a change in tactical challenge? Mind you, adding a nasal to a Gallic type is just an iron bar and two rivets, so not going to break the bank. Even adding a nasal to a cheap "Marian" mass produced, one rivet on the cheek guards, and it's not even symmetrical, Montefortino type doesn't seem excessive. I'm curious.

[@LuzarioBarns]

One thing i always wondered: are there any records or indications that they wore mail under the segmentata armor? Not over hamata as that one had hard shioulder guards but maybe some other mail shirt? It would seem logical upgrade, but maybe it wasnt even necessary because segmentata was so good?

[@scholagladiatoria]

I've never seen any evidence of that

[@LuzarioBarns]

@@scholagladiatoria thx for the reply. Yeah its interesting Romans didnt seem to find it useful or practical.

[@lscibor]

It doesn't seem like they really thought about adding real sleeves to mail, until some late 2nd century AD at least, despite the fact that their striking hands and arms in particular would be exposed quite a lot. Despite the fact that they were experimenting with manica, and gladiators seemingly have been wearing some arm protection like that for long time, so it wasn't completley alien idea. Same thing with very elaborate helmets, closed helmets. It seems it just wasn't deemed worth the cost and trouble, despite the fact it seems weird to us, today. Eventually the did adopt sleeved mail, with sleeves even up to very wrist, though.

[@LuzarioBarns]

@@lscibor indeed, but at that point they also stoped using plate (if i am correct). And my question was more for the combination, what we see in middle ages then...

[@BJ9992]

My favourite kind of vids from you! Nerding out over armour/equipment with a friend, or analysing historical accuracy of media!

[@skenzyme81]

1:00 Sterling Pacific cases are LOVELY and the price is EXCELLENT for what you get, but unfortunately the cases themselves are made in China by a subcontractor - hence the low price. Instead of $1.5K for the Cabin Travel Case, an American-made equivalent would be $3K - possibly $4K. That's how much Sterling Pacific is saving on working conditions, wages for labor, and environmental compliance. No judgement. Globalism is what it is. A good alternative for a carry on hard case would be the 1510 Protector Carry-On Case from Pelican. They're heavy duty polypropylene and - delightfully - they are made under fine conditions in Torrance, California. Plus they're only around $300 for the same durability or better than you get from Sterling Pacific. Though the Sterling Pacific cases look (and smell) MUCH better.

[@bentrieschmann]

I'm curious how much light and easier it is to move in for the relatively high amount of protection the lorica segmentata gives compared to similar level of armor protection from medieval/Renaissance armor. I apologize for spelling.

[@freewillgeorge]

I've got my own suit of Fabrica Cacti Corbridge B segmentata exactly the same as Gavin's there (though mine's in a lot worse condition than his cause I wear it outside a lot XD ) and just wanted to add he's 100% right about lacing up the back n putting it on yourself without help. Should add thought I don't own any Subarmalis (so it does get a lil uncomfortable after a while) so maybe it's harder when you have one of those on.

[@paulaassis3065]

Doesn't the belt somewhat protect the lorica lacing's bow from getting cut or untied a little bit? It doesn't seem like it would be a coincidence they overlap, but could be just to hide it for aesthetics.

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Funny enough, I think the myth of achilles being invincible only up to his foot comes from a soldier that so fully enclosed in bronze armor that his only obvious weak point was his foot. I'm seen imagines and some of that Trojan era bronze armor can get quite extensive.

[@lscibor]

His face would be way more obvious one, though it's obviously the part of body one generally protects constantly both consciously and subconsciously. And can generally see attack coming at his face...

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Corintiation helmets protect the face. Also, I've heard on a channel about ninja people don't usually account for things visual 45 degrees above them of below there feet. Not really serious, but still think makes sense. Dude covered in so much bronze everyone has trouble even straching him, even shoot in the foot, bleeds out, give a few hundreed years and a myth is born.@@lscibor

[@marcionphilologos5367]

If you study images of the Roman soldiers which invaded DACIA, you can see that the LORICA SEGMENTATA was not anymore in use. THE HEAVY INFANTERY USED A HAUBERK, HEAVY LEATHER AND SCALE ARMOR, IN COMBINATION WITH IMPROVED NECK AND ARM PROTECTION... SOME WEAR MAIL OVER OTHER PLATE ARMOUR. SO, THE HAUBERK WAS IN USE FROM 200-1200 AN.

[@ArkadiBolschek]

It reassuring to know that you'll continue to be Matt Easton ^^

Very interesting stuff. Particularly the bit comparing the experience to the 15 Century armor

[@jameswoodard4304]

One thing to remember is that this was "regular soldier" armor of the time as well as the model for what officers wore. Late Medieval full plate armor was reserved for social/military elites. I wonder how the lorica compares with standard armor of Late Medieval heavy infantry. In my mind, I see men with cuirasses/breastplates/brigandine and open-faced helmets, but more exposed arms and legs. Though that's just my impression and not well-researched, I can see frontline infantry of the Late Medieval period being similarly covered compared to the lorica segmentata.

[@lasselen9448]

I think this type of helmet is my favourite of all times. A nasal would be nice though (did some variants have it?). It seems quite expensive to make compared to simpler helmets, however.

[@jpavlvs]

I like the Kalkriese. I'm having one made of 1095. The interesting part we're missing is the Romans used rollers to flatten the steel to a consistent thickness. Roman Imperial Armour by Sims and Kaminski is an excellent reference book on this.

[@Splodge542]

It's a bit of an ask but could you run through the monthly training programme of marches and weapons training? Maybe even a bit of marching camp construction if they wore their armour for that.

[@tongwu2311]

Is there any difference in the quality of steel between Roman plate armor and medieval armor?

[@HO-bndk]

Yes, but it takes a book to explain it.

[@Jim58223]

Could the plates have been blued, oil blackened or plated in other metals like gold in addition to tinning? Or were they all brushed finished? I'd like to see some pilum throwing tests with shield use. Thanks.

[@scholagladiatoria]

I know some were tinned, which might suggest that they were usually brushed/polish silver finish normally rather than blackened or painted etc.

[@Jim58223]

@@scholagladiatoria thank you

[@HO-bndk]

It's an interesting thought, for which, unfortunately there is not a shred of evidence either way.

[@Aurinkohirvi]

It looks so authentic, Brian could walk into the scene any moment now.

[@Bob_Lennart]

Next time you have a guest on, give them a microphone

[@MarcRitzMD]

More hakuna segmentata! I wanna learn how the joints and hinges work and how vulnerable they are. Also logistically, what was its affordability and adaptability to varying body sizes. Was it bought off the rack? Did they offer S, M, L sizes?

[@HO-bndk]

As regards logistics, sizing and so on. Nobody knows. All there are are a few rusty iron and copper-alloy bits (not even enough to fill a suitcase) and some more or less inaccurate sculptural representations. Nobody even knows what it was even called ("lorica segmentata" is a made-up modern name).

[@PhillipPSee]

To me one of the best looking armor of all times

[@AtomicSpaceWizard.]

The armor is cool, but not as cool as the 1994 Soundgarden tour shirt.

[@scholagladiatoria]

'94 was a great year, and Soundgarden an important part of my youth!

[@cupcaketyrantdar2483]

Does the lorica sit on top/over the hips? Seems very uncomfortable!

[@PrinceAlhorian]

Metatron wants to know your location.

[@scholagladiatoria]

I honestly am going to destroy his helmet soon. I mean literally - he sent me a helmet to destroy. Coming soon to a screen near you.

[@PrinceAlhorian]

@@scholagladiatoria That is going to be glorious

[@titanscerw]

Looking forward to it!

[@Aye-Aye136]

Lorica segmentata as a kind of plate armor is a very good compromise solution to lorica hamata and lorica squamata. It’s easier to produce and more robust than the latter solutions. Not to mention lorica mosculata a kind of cuirass.

[@emergingloki]

For 20 years when I've thought of a legionary I've thought of one man, Titus Pullo. Sleep well Ray.

[@ilgufo1146]

Beautiful set of armour, simply amazing. Loved particularly the subarmalis.

[@fridrekr7510]

Why did mail replace plate armour in Europe for the next 1000 years? Mail is also very labour intensive, and I figure atleast nobles should have been able to afford plate considering the Romans equipped armies with it.

[@SuperFunkmachine]

Mail was the better armour, it's comfortable, one size fits most, it's basically maintenance free. The big up front cost is labour, Rome had cheap labour and the post roman world could wait.

[@fridrekr7510]

@@SuperFunkmachine But is it really? Later on, plate would gradually supplement and replace mail starting with a coat of plates (which is quite similar to the segmentata) worn over the mail in the 13th century and later evolving into full plate harness by the 15th century. I guess mail might need less exact fitting, but all evidence points towards tight fitting mail which has to be tailored to the person. And I believe plate wouldn't need to be that tailored if you stick with a simple torso armour like the segmentata. But armour was reserved for nobles and professional warriors for much of the early middle ages, so there weren't any need to have a one size fits all solution. I guess it's easier to produce smaller pieces of iron that can be drawn into wire and made into rings, compared to making larger sheets.

[@lscibor]

The ancients found mail quite amazing, it seems. It generally replaced ancient scale armor everywhere it went, competed with lammellar in some places. It also never got displaced by segmentata in Roman army really, in fact segmentata was probably cheaper option if anything.

[@jhonnyf.6158]

Mail could have been considered more fashionable, it is very inheritable, it is comfortable, breathable, fresh and even if you are a noble you to afford all the expenses, you have to take into account that the roman laminata is a heavy infantry specialist armour; reenactors do not talk good about the comfort or mobility when wearing it. It could also have been tradition or just the trend of the times in general. You wear what your father wore to battle, and his father wore what his father wore, and happens that the late romans wore mail

[@KartarNighthawk]

Mail is labour intensive but doesn't require a high level of industrialization to produce in the same way that plates do. In the absence of an overall governing body in Western Europe, mail is the best armour that can be produced at a local level.

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

This was GREAT! So informative, and a subject I'm completely unfamiliar with. This is why I come here!

[@bradleyl3]

My understanding is they found several manica in Britain and Germany that are dated before the big Dacian campaign, and I have seen people say it means they may have been more widespread and used earlier than Dacia. Do you have info, thoughts, or corrections to that?

[@sawyere2496]

I had no idea that you put it on that way. Very different than what I expected

[@DaDudeb]

Did you check the aerodynamics? Because in the historical education on the Romans i've had they spent a lot of time flying.

[@ventura9388]

Yeah, don't forget Pontius was a pilot.

[@thetorrentcompany8428]

I absolutly appriate you for this incredible intersting and informing Video. I always asked myself when the romans really did came up with plate armour. Especially after one of these armours Had been found on a battlefield of the augustian period at Kalkriese in Germany but it looks totally different in comparison of the ones found in Britain

[@T1000-s6l]

Thank you for a another really interesting video. I love this time in history being from a city with a really interesting connection to our Roman past. Just wondering if you guys had read or listen to Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow. (I recommend the audiobook performed by the amazing John Lee). They are set in the time for this armour and are amongst my favourite books and would like to know how historically accurate the think they might be, especially the first book..

[@frankharr9466]

Nice to see it put together.

[@penelopegreene]

Looks at comments, reads how everyone seemingly wants Gavin to come to some form of unwarranted harm... 😵‍💫

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

Looking awesome, Gavin!

[@jeffdege4786]

I know how modern smiths would create steel sheets, but how did smiths of the period do it? Did they have rollers? Or were they just hammered?

[@Nurk0m0rath]

My, I never realized the segmentata opened in the middle like that. Guess I'm just more familiar with the breastplate configuration. Makes me wonder how resistant that crack would be to thrusts from a knife, sword, or spear of the period. Do you guys have any safe way to test that? I guess my next question would be, in Gavin's experience, how valuable is that armor when fighting with a scutum? Does it hardly ever come into play because the scutum gives so much cover? Does he feel like it leaves him exposed anywhere? Or does this armor strike a perfect balance where it protects everything it needs to without over-encumbering the user? Oh, and one thing that occurred to me as I was watching is that it looks to me like a nasal would fit perfectly into that design, giving that little extra facial protection without a significant loss of vision. Any thoughts as to why nasals weren't used here? Was it just not a style that existed in that area during the period?

[@lscibor]

Plenty of gladiators of early Imperial Rome had pretty elaborate helmet with almost complete face protection, but quite apparently it wasn't deemed practical or worthwhile for actual combat. Only for show on the arena, which is interesting. There's no doubt that completely closed helmets likely never became dominant, not even in 15th and 16th century,.

[@Nurk0m0rath]

@@lscibor When I look at the gladiator helms, my thought is that those look too expensive to kit out every soldier with one. But what about nasals? Did the Romans ever fight anyone who used helmets with nasals, or was that more of a northern style?

[@lscibor]

​@@Nurk0m0rath​Corinthian helmets had nasal, sometimes pretty prominent ones, together with pretty heavy facial protection, but it doesn't seem that it really caught up, even though Romans would have plenty of contact with Greek military and crafts. The cots of Gladiator helmet wouldn't be that significant compared to some Roman mail that that would require 100 000 of tiny rings for one shirt, or something crazy like that. It's rather clear that Romans just weren't very interested in face protection on actual battlefield.

[@cal2127]

what amazes me is how flexible the lorica segmentatta is

[@Burdflu]

What are the upper limits of what a scutum could take in it's time? Was it pretty much impenetrable but for siege, oil and flame?

[@robingallagher8605]

The lacing at the front seems like a vulnerability? There's a strap at the top, but if the lacing is cut, say from a dowward slash, does the front come open?

[@jesseshort8]

Dang Matt, I want to see the rest of the BMW.

[@scholagladiatoria]

lol. It's my baby.

[@jesseshort8]

@@scholagladiatoria what is it?

[@scholagladiatoria]

430D M-Sport X-drive

[@jesseshort8]

@@scholagladiatoria that's a sweet ride.

[@Csatadi]

The shoulder part seems to restrict his moves. Can he really throw a pilum in it? Can he cut downwards using a spatha?

[@kristianmoore6682]

A great test would be how quickly you could get the armour on and battle ready, assuming its a case of surprise attack, alarm just raised and you have only moments the sentries can hold? With that in mind could it be left tied up in one peice and simply slipped on like a metal t-shirt?

[@xiander79]

In that armor, can he bend over or do the segments allow him to bend forward or to the sides? I recall that they were made that way to repair easier.

[@bushnut8305]

I'd like to see a shoulder roll in various types of armor. A good indicator of mobility.

[@gussie88bunny]

Requesting practical test: throw pilum whilst holding shield, in and out of that armour. I know Tod Cutler did that with his javelin athlete mate, but they didn't have segmentata ....... collaboration idea ..... get Tod's javelin athlete to do pila throws with shield with no armour, then mail, then segmentata. Huzzah!

[@Medieval_Merc]

I have a question about European brigandine armor. I'm trying to learn how to make one but there's no tutorial videos. Only videos on what it is and it's traits

[@0KOrbU0]

I know it might be hard to do but, I would love to see a comparison of different helmets, in terms of how much they restricted vs protected the wearer. Like, put a mic in a helmet and "see" how much it affect the sounds and put a camera in a helmet and show how much they could see. A test of the "breath ability" would also be cool. Lastly, I have wondered why we don't see more helmets with a sieve like construction, were the eyes, ears and mouth is. I would think that a thick "mesh" would give good visibility, breath ability and hearing, while still keep you safe.

[@zrethor]

Thats a really cool idea would love to see it

[@jessestanley1690]

mic for the guest please

[@facundobinelli6077]

Maybe a microphone for the guest would be good, i can hardly hear the man after you speak because of the difference in volume of your voices

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yeah, sorry about that. I thought he'd come up well enough on my mic, but I was wrong.

[@facundobinelli6077]

@@scholagladiatoria still amazing video though

[@salvadorsempere1701]

The big questiona about the lorica segmentata it´s why? Why in a milennia of maill being THE armour, the loric sgmentata appears. And why it disappears.

[@Salted_Fysh]

So what was that about carrying the sword strapped to your chest? I wasn't entirely sure I caught that correctly but I'd be curious about that.

[@bill_heywood]

A UK channel should always use “armour”

[@scholagladiatoria]

Unfortunately the algorithm is American English :-(

[@bill_heywood]

@@scholagladiatoriathat's annoying, could you say "What was Roman Army plate armour (armor)?

[@Clarissimus]

Although armor is not a Latin noun, it's unlikely the Romans would have added an unnecessary u. Compare to Latin nouns "color" and "rumor" which have no superfluous letters.

[@dizzt19]

Huh, it might be the first time I noticed this one separates on the back. Also, it's probably important for the structure of the armour but considering the formation fighting I find it strange it has plates at the back - I suspect they didn't actually need that much back protection?

[@ajb7876]

At 15.55 when you talk about armour getting hot ,I once heard a claim that one of the biggest problems on the medieval battlefield apart from lots of people trying to kill you was heatstroke, is there any truth in this?

[@Dannyboyefc]

I Prefer the republican look

[@scholagladiatoria]

No politics please ;-)

[@russellfisher1303]

⁠@@scholagladiatoriathese liberals with their Marxist literature, nose piercings, and lorica segmentata. >:(

[@hjorturerlend]

I definitely prefer the shields from that period.

[@skenzyme81]

@@scholagladiatoria😂

[@tsoliot5913]

​@@scholagladiatorialol

[@albioncareerclub1527]

Thanks for objective comparison of armor! 👍

[@dansharpe2364]

From Gavin's expression he only came over to play Raid: Shadow Legends and he ended up dressed like a Roman on camera.

[@sirwi11iam]

I wouldn't want to test if that belt has any value protecting the groin...

[@scholagladiatoria]

Not volunteering then? :-(

[@sirwi11iam]

@@scholagladiatoria I'm afraid not, Matt haha

[@angelomigueldedios1697]

I wonder how thick the plates are and if arrows and spears don't just punch through

[@IsaacKuo]

Awesome look at awesome looking armor! Yeah, our cultural imagination of lorica segmentata is bigger than it should be, but it's obvious why - it just looks so distinctive.

[@motagrad2836]

I wonder if modern lorica segmentata is our could be stamped or drop forged to rough shape and save time in custom fitting. I am thinking on that for Gnome Titans in the RPG that I am working on

[@MarvelDcImage]

The jingle jangle of the belt was the point - very intimidating as they clatter towards the enemy.

[@HO-bndk]

That's only a modern supposition. The only Roman images of the belt worn with this armour in combat show it either totally missing or very short (apparently wound round the belt to shorten it [?]). People tend to let themselves be too influenced by reconstruction paintings in books and by what they see "Roman" cosplayers wear.

[@thexenoist3493]

I don't understand why mail ever caught on as the primary torso protection when it is less protective and harder to make than rigid plate (if it isn't please explain to me why beating a piece of metal into shape is harder than beating it into a wire then pulling it through a draw plate then coiling it up then cutting it into rings then riveting them). The only reason I can think of is if armour manufacturing was so decentralized and material so rare that it took many workshops who each only a nails worth metal to dedicate to it at any given time to create a single garment.

[@lscibor]

Mail can protect pretty much entire body without leaving armpits, groin, etc. exposed, while still allowing very good mobility, breath-ability etc. While being very tough once it's finally completed, even if powerful strike removes like 30 links from the weave, there's still like 30 000 of them left on the chest alone, and the hole is very small. While fittings and bindings, hinges etc. of segmentata were fragile, and damaging one plate compromises good percentage of amor. As far as protectiveness goes, it seems that plenty of historical mail weaves were very protective, no less than scale or segmentata, but almost noone can recreate them today, and if he does, he doesn't really test them destructively. In any case, if mail wasn't valued highly, it wouldn't be produced in high quantities all the way into 16th and 17th century, when plate was already widespread, well developed and pretty cheap.

[@amang1001]

Hi Matt would it be possible if you could do a video on the armor of the Indian subcontinent in the 1500s how it dictated how one would fight...

[@Richard0292]

Thank you both, an excellent video.

[@smp3745]

When the video starts off with an ad. Thats when i shut it off.