H is for Hamata

H is for HAMATA.

All my posts for this A-Z Challenge Blog Hop will be themed around the Celtic/Roman Britain AD 71-84 era (at least that's my intention as I pen this on day 8)

In my Roman dictionary there is this entry:

Hamatilis:-with hooks

Chain Mail consists of small metal rings linked together to form a mesh. Some experts believe the earliest form of hooked chest mail may have originated in Celtic Europe (possibly Celtiberia), the idea then used by the Roman Army during the Republic. (Though there is good evidence for the earliest mail to have originated elswhere as in Persia or Asia Minor.)

The Roman lorica hamata (chain mail shirt) was probably the most common type of chest protection worn in Celtic/ Roman Britain AD 71-84 by the Romans stationed there. Some debate has gone on over what type of chest protection was used by auxiliaries and which by legionaries in Britannia. Evidence found of the fastenings used to link sections of armour together seems to indicate that there was a possibility that some Auxiliary units in Britannia had soldiers wearing both types of chest protection, the copper and leather fastenings from lorica segmentata found at Roman forts only manned by auxiliary forces.   

The structure of linked rings on the lorica hamata provided the wearer reasonably good protection from a Celtic broadsword. Mostly fabricated from bronze or iron, they had alternating rows of flat washers and rows of horizontally running rings which produced flexible, reliable and strong armour. It’s estimated that piecing together the 30,000 plus rings needed to make one mail shirt took around two months – the lorica made in state-run armouries.

The construction of the iron rings meant less maintenance than the plated armour. The rings of the hamata constantly rubbed together during use and meant less rust settling. In a colder, damper and rainy climate, as would have been found in Britannia, the lorica hamata would have been much easier to keep in tip top condition. With care, it’s thought that a lorica hamata, of iron rings, could last two or three decades- just perfect since the legionaries tended to sign on for twenty five years and auxiliaries a further year or two beyond that.

Lorica segmentata (chest plate) was, apparently, easily donned as it was carried in four sections. The plates, some of them steel fronted and soft iron backed, were fastened on the inside to leather straps. The remaining fastenings were originally of brass but were later replaced with simpler rivets by the time my Celtic warriors would be viewing the Roman chestplates in close combat. This type of chest armour needed much more maintenanceto prevent rusting- perhaps not the best idea in parts of damp and soggy Britannia.

Soldier 1Wikimedia Hamata

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lorica_Hamata.jpg

Soldier 2 Wikimedia Segmentata

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_soldier_in_lorica_segmentata_1.jpg

My novel, The Beltane Choice, makes brief references to the armour of Roman soldiers, but the sequel has much more detail!

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Watch my Youtube trailer http://youtu.be/igJmfBoXRhQ

 Slainthe!

 

Gladius!

G is for GLADIUS 

All my posts for this A-Z Challenge Blog Hop are themed around Celtic/ Roman Britain AD71-84.

I’m currently writing a sequel to my Celtic/Roman Britain historical novel, The Beltane Choice, so it’s inevitable that the word GLADIUS will turn up somewhere.

Was it the Roman gladius that made the Roman Army almost seem invincible as they swiped a swathe through Europe and conquered many Celtic tribes along the way? 

From my researches I’ve found that the Roman use of the gladius was significant, and when added to the whole armour and defensive package it defeated a Celt or two during the battles fought in Britannia.

The Roman gladius was very different from the Celtic broadsword. 

image use from www.123rf.com - Pompeii style gladius

The gladius with its searingly sharp double edge and formidable v-shaped tip was not originally a Roman weapon. The type of blade originated in ‘Hispania’, now named Spain, but was used so effectively against Roman troops during the early Roman conquest of the area (during the Repulbic) that the Romans adopted the form and made their own versions. 

By the time my Celtic characters are confronting Roman troops I would be expecting them to be using the Gladius Pompeii style, slightly shorter than the Gladius Hispaniensis and with the original curvature flattened out.    

The Roman soldier generally led with his shield and made stabbing motions with the  gladius, all infantry using the blade from the same right hand side to avoid harming his ‘Roman neighbour’ in battle. The searingly sharp tip stabbing in between ribs was particularly effective, especially if the chest of the Celtic adversary was bare apart from some wode decoration!   

Match this fearsome short sword with the rest of the armour of the legionary or auxiliary and the result was almost impregnable.

What was the Celt wielding?

image use for www.123rf.com

The Celtic long sword was used for cutting movements but was ineffective for stabbing motions since the tip was not so sharply pointed. The Celtic warrior needed more space in battle to swing his sword to make his slicing motions. The arms, areas below breast armour including the legs, and the neck of the Roman soldier were the most vulnerable and were where the greatest success could be made by the Celtic warrior. 

More to come on armour another day - during the Blog Hop! 

Slainthe!

To give a bit more colour -
Here's another lovely image I've acquired the use of from www.123rf.com of the gladius -though the helmet style and chest plate would not likely have been seen in Britannia- at least I don't think so....Much more 'Hollywood-ish"!

Sneak-Peek-Sunday

Sneak-Peek-Sunday is slotting in between my April A-Z Challenge Blog Hops and that''s just perfect since I've been featuring my historical novel THE BELTANE CHOICE on recent Sundays. My April A-Z Challenge theme is set around Celtic/Roman Britain AD 71-84, all 26 posts set around almost the same era. The Beltane Choice takes place in AD 71 and my sequel (writing in progress) covers the years AD 71-84. 

 I'm picking up from the last excerpt and continuing my 6 paragraphs from The Beltane Choice. Nara, of the Selgovae, has been captured by Lorcan of the Brigantes- an enemy tribe. He's decided to take her back to his own hillfort which lies in Brigante coutnry, over the hig hills (Nowadays the Cheviot hills which border Scotland and England) 

Her grumbling continued when they left the forest fringe and headed for the flat river bed spread out in front of them. Nara watched a thunderous expression flit across Lorcan’s face, then as swiftly as a cloud would sometimes roll away to reveal the sun his mouth curved up in a mockery of a smile.

“My princess wishes to go at the pace of a snail? We will never get anywhere if you move like that.” He pushed her on again with a rough prod, the sarcastic twinkle gone just as quickly as it had come.

            Could the man have guessed her true rank? While Nara wondered how it could be possible her filly, Eachna, whinnied a welcome from the far bank. Rowan, the chestnut stallion, was tethered alongside but of Cearnach there was no sign. Not on this bank nor, as far as Nara could see, on the other. No body. There was nothing to display the truth of Lorcan’s statement. Was Cearnach really dead?

            “That horse is a bold strong one.” He  commented as he viewed the large stallion.

Nara read the new scowl crossing his features; suspicion and distrust lurked there. His gaze narrowed first on the horse, and then on her. When he forced her around to face him his fingers tightened around her upper arm. Under his intense scrutiny she felt her cheeks heat again, and it was a struggle to maintain her defiant expression.

What vexed the man?

I hope you enjoyed this little snippet! Please let me know what you think. 

Hop on over now to the other blogs participating in  
Sneak-Peek-Sunday.

Buy The Beltane Choice from:

Amazon.com  

Amazon.UK

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/221383

Slainthe!