Sassanid & Roman casualty markers

Sassanid & Roman markers

More few pieces from my project drawers, these chaps have been sitting half finished for some time, two maybe three years, in some cases it was only the flocking and shields to be done! The figures are a mix of Old Glory dark age figures, hand painted shields and the Sassanids are from the lovely Aventine range with LBM transfers

Working through the drawer has been good for me, the cleaning out really is refreshing, I can see the back of one now an clear space in two of them so making good progress! 30 odd more figures and two space ships, a steam engine and one drawer will be empty. I may complete one whole drawer by Christmas I hope on the side along with the main projects.

More markers for Impetus or Hail Caesar 

Late Romans 28mm old glory miniatures 

28mm Aventine Sassanids, LBM transfers

Aventine Sassanids with LBM transfers

Aventine Sassanids with LBM transfers

Aventine Sassanids with LBM transfers

Aventine Sassanids with LBM transfers

Cheers

Matt

Late Roman Sagittarii Tungri

Late Roman Sagittarii

A unit completed for my late Roman Western army,  ready to fight my Goths, Franks, Huns and other Romans. I will also use them in my Romano Breton army. This unit represents a cohort of a Auxilia Palatina unit the Sagittarii Tungri.

Figures are from the footsore range

Cheers
Matt

28mm Dark Age Goth-Alani cavalry I

Gothic Alani Cavalry I

Next unit to join my Breton army are some Alani-Goth cavalry from the Footsore range. These. Will be for my later 5th century Armorican army, but I will possibly also use them for Goths, Visigoths or Burgundians.

The Vandals, Alani (including Sarmation confederation tribes) and other confederate Germans crossed the Rhine in 406AD pushing far into western Roman territory. Alan tribes settled along the Loire and up the Sarthe river beyond Le Mans and west to the Mayenne river. Many place names in the Pays de la Loire region still relate to this period of 40 odd years of occupation. This I believe also lead to the unique horse breeds in western Pays de la Loire

The Alani leader Goar agreed with the romans to ally with them and in 440 the Alan's were gifted Orleans and the lower And Upper Loire to act as a buffer in the west with the Bucaudae of Armorica, and to the south the Visigoths and Burgundians. The Alani also played in the internal politics of the western empire supporting Jovinus as emperor 411-13. The Alani had contingents in the Roman army at Chalons against the Huns and again at at Orleans against the Visigoths. Contingents were still with the Roman army at Soissons, and retreated to Armorica after the defeat, coming to terms with Clovis and the Franks, becoming part of the Merovingian and Carolingian empires.

Ammianus Marcellinus writes their military customs resemble the Huns "they enter battle drawn up in a wedge shaped masses, while their medley of voices make a savage noise". The Alans like the Huns disliked fighting on foot, and unlike the Huns they seemed to have utilised armour for themselves and their horses.

References
Alans in Gaul Bernard S Bachrach.
The History of the Alans in the West Bernard S Bachrach 
Long Haired Kings JM Wallac-Hadrill
Rerum Gestartum libri qui supersunt XXXI 2,21. Ammianus Marcellinus. 

Cheers

Matt

Sexta Parthica

"The Devout Sixth" Sexta Parthica

In 296 the Sassanid King Narseh invaded Armenia starting a war with the Roman client King Tiridates III, in response Galerius (Diocletian son in Law) invaded Mesopotamia. Three battles were fought subsequently, the first two of which were indecisive. In the third fought at Callinicum, Galerius suffered a complete defeat and was forced to retreat to Antioch. Galerius then made preparations throughout the winter of 297 and invaded Armenia with 25,000 men.


Galerius supported by the Armenians inflicted a crushing defeat on the Sassanids at the Battle of Satala. Narseh’s wives, his sisters and a number of his children were captured along with huge amount of treasure. Eastern Mesopotamia was recovered by the Romans and Tiridates III was reinstated as the monarch of Armenia.

According to this treaty,  Five provinces beyond the Tigris were to be ceded to the Romans. One writer gives these provinces as Intilene, Sophene, Arzanene, Carduene, and Zabdicene; by another as Arzanene, Moxoene, Zabdicene, Rehimene, and Corduene. The semi-independent kingdom of Armenia was to be extended up to the fortress of Zintha, in Media. Persia was expected to relinquish all her rights over Iberia. Formal dealings between Persia and Rome would henceforth be conducted at Nisibis.

The Sexta Parthica was raised by Diocletian sometime after this war as a Limitanea Legio to garrison the new provinces possibly stationed at Cepha (modern Hasankeyf) or in one of the provinces east of the Tigris. Either in the late 4th or early 5th the VI Parthica was raised to the level of a pseudocomitatense unit in the eastern field army. By the 5th Century the Sexta Parthica was still a pseudocomitatense legio.

Sexta Parthica

The unarmoured unit is all Musketeer miniatures with hand painted shields, from the description in the Notitia Dignitatum.

cheers

Matt

Quarta Italica

Quarta IIII Italica only has one real references to its existence and a number of vague references;

The raising of novae Italicae suae ( a new Italica legion, next in line would be IIII Italica) raised by Serverus Alexander in Transpadana (Cisalpine Gaul) sometime between 222 to 230, presumably for the Campaign in Sassanid Persia and returning for the Alamannic invasion of Gaul.

During this period Gaius Lulius Verus Maximinus (commonly known as Maximinus Thrax as he was likely born in Thrace) was appointed a tribune in the IV Italica. The next reference is when Maximinus made his bid for the purple he referred to the Italica legion as his legion, and finally at Aquileia shortly before the death of Maximinus and his sons. The only certain reference is in the Notitia Dignitatum, when it appears as a pseudocomitatensis unit under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem .

I have used Crusader miniatures for the Quarta Italica, like most of my pseudocomitatensis units they are unarmoured. My Roman army is almost complete two more units to go and I am done!

cheers

Matt

References

Notitia Dignitatum

http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1999/126pdf/126228.pdf

Alemanni CL infantry

Finished some Alemanni CL infantry, I could also use them as Germanic allies for my Romans, all hand painted shields.

cheers
Matt

Sassanid Elephant

Sassanid Elephant

The first of my Sassanid elephants, this one is from old glory with A and A archer in the howdah. I am yet to use any elephants in Impetus and I am looking forward to it…….just a little bit!

Cheers

Matt

Equites Tertii Stablesiani

Another addition to my roman army, my last unit of light cavalry......I think! This unit will be used as CL in Impetus.

This  unit served in the east under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, they served along the roads around Cyrrhus in provence of Euphratensis. A great article has been written regarding this unit by Phillip Rance it can be found here

The meaning of Equites Stablesiani has much discussion around it, I tend to believe one theory that Spiedel has, that stablesiani means quick response unit, not light mounted infantry made up of grooms etc.

  I have used A and A miniatures for this unit, the shield is entirely conjectural, but is similar to  Equites Stablesiani Africani.

cheers
Matt

Decima Gemina

Raised by Octavian by the merger of two legions of Mark Antonys following the Battle of Actium in 31BC. 

In the third century, the tenth legion received several surnames, which suggest its loyalty to the emperors Caracalla or Heliogabalus (211-217 or 218-222; Antoniniana), Gordian III (238-244; Gordiana), Decius (249-251; Deciana), Florianus (276; Floriana), and Carinus (283-285;Cariniana). From this set of rulers, Caracalla, Decius, and Carinus waged Germanic wars. Gordian III is known for a war against the Sasanian dynasty in Persia, and may have used a subunit of X Gemina. Why Florian, who ruled for a mere 88 days and never left Asia Minor, would award an honorific to a unit that was stationed on the banks of the Danube, is unknown.

During the conflict between the emperor Gallienus (260-268) and his rival Postumus of the Gallic Empire, the legion certainly supported the first-mentioned, for which it was rewarded with surnames like Pia VI Fidelis VI ('six times faithful and loyal'). This proves that it was awarded the titles Pia II Fidelis II to Pia V Fidelis V in the 164 years between Domitian and Gallienus.

The tenth, 'twin' legion, like almost all Caesarian legions, the emblem of this legion was a bull. (Some historians believe it may of been raised by Ceasar in 61AD in Nearer Spain)

4th century
At the time of the Notitia Dignitatum, the first detachment of Decima Gemina was under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, and was a comitatensis unit.The other detachment was still in Vindobona, under the command of the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis.

Cheers

Matt


Literature 
J. Gómez-Pantoja, "Legio X Gemina", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 169-190 
J.K. Haalebos, "Römische Truppen in Nijmegen", in: Yann Le Bohec,Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 465-489 
M.C.J. Miller, "Legio Decima Equitata. The Tenth Legion after Caesar and the colonists of Patrae", in Ancient World 2 (1979) 139-144 
A. Morillo Cerdán & V. Garcia Marcos, "Nuevos testimonios acerca de las legiones VI Victrix y X Gemina en la region septentrional de la península Ibérica", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 589-607 
I. Piso, "Les légions dans la province de Dacie", in: Yann Le Bohec,Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 205-225 

Primae Legio Armeniaca

1st Armeniaca Legio

Another  pseudo-comitatensis Legio, possibly founded in the third century by  Diocletian. Under the command of Magister Militum per Orientem per Pontica.

  I have only found one reference to garrison of the Primae Legio Armeniaca, the coastal city of Anemurium (on the tip of Cape Anamur, opposite Cyprus)  the city was sacked by the the Sassanids in 260 AD. The unit was raised to the Field Army status to take part in Julian's' campaign of 363, and was still part of the field army in 395AD (ND).

The figures are from the Crusader Late Roman range, the shields are hand painted, and this is my second last infantry unit in this army.

Cheers

Matt 

I Parthica Severiana Antoniniana

One of the three Parthian Legions (raised in Thrace and Macedonia), by the Emperor Lucius Spetimius Severus for his successful campaign against the Sassanids in 197AD (sacking Ctesiphon). After the campaign I Parthica was then posted to the fortress city of Singara (Sinjar, Iraq)controlling the road between Edessa and Nisibis for the next 150 years. 

From Inscriptions we also know that the Legio was at one time in Lycia and Cyrenaica. The First Parthian were all but destroyed in the siege of Singara in 360AD, sub units retired to Bezbade (modern Cizre, Turkey) but this also fell to the Sassanids. Some must of escaped these disasters and the Legion was reformed and transferred to Constantina (Tella, on the road between Edessa and Nisibis) and later Cepha where they remained until the 5th century.



Gordian III & Tranquillina. 238-244 AD. Æ 33mm (26.18 gm). Singara mint.Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian, right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left Tyche seated left on rock, holding small branch over river god swimming left; above Centaur Sagittarius shooting arrow from bow.

The units emblem was a Centaur, the figures are from the crusader range, the shields are hand painted and are copied from a tile mosaic which is attributed to a Parthian Legio.

cheers
Matt

Sassanid Impetus Opportunity Markers

Sassanid Surenas Command

Finally some Sassanids off the table, still not as much brushwork time as I would of liked but still satisfied with the result, the figures are from the very fine Sassanid A & A range, with a horse that is with the Surenas (Nobles) on the website, Steve sent me a few with my last order, thanks mate!

Cheers
Matt

Hunnoi light cavalry

These units are the real start to my multi-allied or enemy units for my Sassanids and Late Romans.

Most of us are aware of the Hun invasions of the west, but I, like possibly you, was unaware of the troubles the Sassanids faced against the Nomadic tribes in the East.

 The Sassanids were constantly invaded by the Chionite, Ephthalite (Hephtalite)  and Hunnoi tribes in the 4th, 5th and 6th centurys'. The Sassanids like the Romans decided to settle the invading Nomadic tribes on their borders. Mostly along the great Golestan wall, this wall starts on the Caspian coast, circles North to the city Gonbade Kavous, continues towards the Northwest and finises in the Pishkamar Mountains of Afghanistan ( around 155klms long) and on the opposite bank of the on Caspian from the Derband pass (Caspian Gates) to the mountains (50klm) . The Sassanids' like the Romans had trouble controlling these Foederatus allies, even a Sassanid King, Kavad was put on the throne in 488 by the Ephthalites,  and he married a Ephthalite princess and had a Ephthalite bodygaurd whilst he was on the throne, and the Sassanid empire paid a heavy tribute  for 43 years.

These figures are from the Essex Mongol range, I have cut off the stirrups and pointed their feet downwards, I found them a nice change from painting regular Roman troops.

cheers
Mat

Tertiaci Herculea

The Legio III Herculia ("the 3rd Legion dedicated to Hercules") raised by Diocletian (284-305). The nickname of the Legion is from his co-emperor Maximian who called himself Herculius, 'the man like Hercules'.

The legion had originally been a limitanei unit and was responsible for the defense of the province Raetia. During the 4th Century, it was raised to comitatenses status. Tertia Herculea came under the command of Master Peditum and was part of the army of the Comes Illyrici, stationed with the Legio III Italica . It is mentioned in Julians' army for the Sassanid campaign. the Legions symbol is quite possibly Hercules.


The figures are again Crusader Miniatures, the shields are again hand painted and were a pain in the A! Only four more units to go and I am finished my Romans!

Cheers 

Matt

Legio III Pia Parthica Serveriana

Another unit for my eastern Roman army. A pseudocomitatensis Legio, raised by the Emperor Lucius Spetimius Severus for his campaign against the Sassanids in 197. After the campaign they were assigned to Mesopotamia with the main barracks at Rhesaena, where they had the duty of securing the main roads and to protect the province. In the 4th century the notitia Dignitatum the legion was stationed at Apatna.

Figures are crusader and the sheilds are hand painted. 

Cheers

Matt

Equites Scutarii Indigenae Pafenses

Equites Scutari Indigenae Pafenses

Another unit of the desk for my late Roman army, the  Equites Scutarii Indigenae Pafenses, were stationed in (Mesopotamia) on the border at Tell Fafan, at the confluence of the Tigris and Bohtan Su rivers. The unit was known as the "Uholders or Defenders" and were used to patrol between the fortress crossing points along the border between Cepha (modern Hasankeyf) and Bezbade. 

The miniatures are again from the A & A range. The shield is based on the Equites Scutarii, and I gave them the oversize scutum from A and A miniatures. Still waiting to pick up some long silflor tufts to finish of the base, but otherwise done!

Cheers
Matt

Auxilium Palatina Raetobari (Raetovari)

Raised by from the defeated Alamannic tribes from the Nordlinger Ries, north of the Danube, they apparently spoke a Etruscan  dialect.  This unit was based in the east and fought in Julian's Persian Campaign.

Again finished some weeks ago, this unit has also seen a few battles already and so far behaved very well. The second last Auxilium Palatina unit before I start painting the Legio and Limatani. 

Cheers
Matt

Equites Dalmatae Passerentiaci

Equites Dalmatae Passerentiaci "Dalmatian Sparrows" Vexillatio Comitatensis

Another unit off the table, some weeks ago, I have a new job so a little behind in the posting department, these have already seen action twice and performed quite well both times, even managing to run down some shot up heavy Sarmatians cavalry in one of the campaign games.

Again A and A miniatures for my eastern Roman army, the casualty is from Foundry I think.

"Why don't he write"

cheers

Matt

Auxilium Palatina Constantiani

Auxilium Palatina Constantiani

Raised by Constantine, originally under the command of the Magister militum praesentalis I stationed in Thessalonica (Macedonia). The unit was moved to campaign with Gordian III in Persia in 244 and was almost destroyed at the battle of Misiche. Another unit of Black Tree Design figures, the most challenging shields so far, in the end I got sick of trying to get them perfect.

cheers

Matt

Auxilium Palatina Salii

Auxilium Palatina Salii

One of the more famous Auxilium Palatina units, the Salii were raised from Frankish tribes, from the region south of the Meuse river and the Scheldt river. Again Black Tree design figures with hand painted shields.

I just noticed I have a few repairs to be done to skin!!!! Also need to add tufts when i pick them up in a week or so..

cheers

Matt