Remember the Fallen

We remember those Americans who have fallen in the service of our nation. May the Lord bless them and keep their souls.

The Empire Falls

Legionnaires, let's lower the flags to half mast. On this day in 1453, the Turks breached the walls of the Empire's capital, Constantinople, and after intense fighting they captured the city.

The Emperor Constantine was last seen leading a last ditch charge against the invaders.

Byzantine Arms - Light Infantry

 Now we move on to the psiloi, light infantry. 

We are going to focus on two types that are most applicable to our mock battlefield. They are illustrated below - the toxotai (archers) and akontistai (javelineers).

For archers, the standard bow would be a recurve bow. However, we don't need to get so picky for our mock battlefields. The Bear Archery Firebird Youth Bow is just about perfect for battle gaming. Pair it with 28" carbon arrows. Remove any points from the arrows and add a foam arrowhead, like the ones sold by Gorg.

Next, let's turn to the javelineer. Note that he carries two javelins (throwing spears). Javelins are constructed differently than standard infantry spears. Again, you can purchase or make your own (see the heavy infantry post for links). Also note that the javelineer is carrying a shield. We recommend that our light infantry javelineers carry a small shield, 18 to 20" in diameter, called a buckler.

While light infantry's primary arms are missile weapons, they would also carry melee weapons in case the fray got up close. Levantia mentions that light infantry carried a sidearm called a makhaira (knife).

A makhaira
(aka Makh the Knife?)

In the illustration, it appears very similar to a Saxon seax. We can represent it with a short "blue" sword.

Let's discuss one last missile weapon - the plumbata, a lead-weighted dart. 

A plumbata

The Roman historian Vegetius mentioned that legionnaires would carry five of these darts in the hollow of their shield. Thus, It seems that this is a missile weapon applicable to both light and heavy infantry. One interesting aspect of these weapons is that it seems they were thrown underhand in a high arc. They would rain down on the enemy as it approached the Imperial line.

As far as acquiring some for our mock battles, we won't find any foam plumbata for sale. Instead, the Legion intends to craft some using the plans for Amtgard throwing weapons.

Sources:

• Sources cited in Part 1
• Comitatus website
• Wikipedia article on plumbata

Byzantine Arms - Heavy Infantry

Now that we have completed our overview of armor, let's turn our attention to the arms of the Byzantine soldier. What would he carry into battle?

We'll start with the skutatoi, the heavy infantry.

Look at the above three soldiers. Notice that two of the three carry spears. That would be the standard armament of the heavy infantry. Accordingly, the Chimera Legion will outfit itself with spears. Byzantine spears ranged from 8 to 16 feet. Those can be a tad impractical for the modern battle gamer, so the Legion plans to experiment with 6 foot spears.

Take a look at soldier one. He is also carrying a sword. That was also standard equipment. The Byzantines typically used two types - the straight-edged spathion and the curved paramerion. We can replicate the spathion with the typical boffer "blue" sword.

Soldier 3 is one of the Varangian guard - a Viking in Imperial service. He carries and axe. This shows that there is some variety within the arms of the skutatoi. Axes and maces were also common.

Finally, notice one other feature common in most of the posted pictures - shields. The heavy infantry are invariably shown carrying shields. Even the name skutatoi means shieldman. To create an appropriate representation of the Byzantine heavy infantry, we're going to need shields.

What kind did the skutatoi employ? As shown below, they wielded all kinds - oval, round, teardrop, heater.

This gives us a lot of options. A round shield (recommended size is 28" diameter) is a good starter shield that is easiest to make or to buy. The Legion also intends to experiment with 24" by 36" teardrops. But any shield is fine. We are going to dress our shields up. The Legion standard will be a red background with the chimera sigil in yellow/gold. We have a stencil for the sigil.

What about shield-breaking, two-handed weapons that are so common on the mock medieval battlefield? I didn't find any reference to use of these weapons. However, given their utility on our battlefields, the Legion may experiment with them. Given that many Anglo-Saxons joined the Varangian Guard in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, it seems plausible that they would introduce their two-handed axes.

How can one acquire heavy infantry arms suitable for our mock battles? Weapons are readily available from online vendors. Make sure you are buying weapons for boffer combat or full contact combat. They may also be listed as Belegarth, Dagorhir, or Amtgard weapons. I have found two sources currently operating:

• Forged Foam - the oldest maker of boffer weapons. Postage can get a bit pricey
• Gorg the Blacksmith - highly respected manufacturer. He is based in Florida, which means you can pick up weapons in person if you attend an event he is at.

Of course, you can make your own equipment. Here are some tutorials:

• Omniblade "sword" - Many boffer fighters use these "omnis" because they are easier to construct and maintain. I recommend replacing the pool noodle with Frost King pipe insulation.
• Light flat blade sword - When you want a weapon that looks more like a real sword
• Shield - TBD. The Legion plans to use all-foam strap shields using a shield blank, but I cannot find a tutorial using this design. Talk to the Legion officers and we'll show you how.
• Spear - An older design. You should replace the PVC with a fiberglass or bandshoppe pole
• Other weapons - Amtgard, Belegarth, and Dagorhir have useful tutorials.

Regardless of the route you go, the Legion recommends that you speak to an experienced member before acquiring new weapons. We have loaner weapons so you can try out different types before making a final decision, and we can show you how to make your own equipment.

NEXT - Light infantry

Byzantine Armor - Helmets

So far, we've looked at body armor and limb armor. Let's top off our armor discussion with a look at helmets.

As you can see, there were a plethora of different helmet designs.

We are going to focus on two of the most common - the ridge helmet and the spangenhelm.

Ridge helm (left) vs spangenhelm.

There are differences in construction of these two types of helms, but we can simply differentiate them by their appearance. As you can see above, the ridge helm is a bowl shape while the spangenhelm is more conical.

Notice a couple more features (or lack of features) of these helms. While western European helms often featured cheek plates (during early Byzantine days), oculars or nasal bars (mid Empire), or even full face protection (later Empire), these were often lacking in Byzantine infantry helms. Instead, many Byzantine helms featured some kind of protection for the neck. This protection could take the form of padded or scale armor, or a chainmail aventail.

If we focus on the helmet without the neck protection, there are plenty of viable options at Medieval Collectibles.

• Ready for Battle Helmet ($47) - it appears to be a one-piece construction, in which case it would not be a true spangenhelm. However, it looks the part
• Thorsten Steel Spangenhelm ($64)
• Dietrich Steel Spangenhelm ($78) - looks more like a ridge helm

Finding a proper helm with an aventail is a bit more difficult, especially if you do not want an ocular or nasal. While it appears Middle Eastern, the Arlan Steel Helmet is a design used by Byzantines and it has an aventail without other accoutrements. Be prepared for sticker shock, though.

If you would like something lighter than metal, your best bet is probably plastic. Companies have begun making plastic LARP armor that will work for us. For example, Norton and Wyrmwick both make nice spangenhelm-style helms. I don't recommend leather; either it doesn't look right or is far more expensive than either metal or plastic.

Even though the Byzantines are technically Roman, I recommend staying away from the "Roman" helmets sold online. Those tend to be early Imperial helmets from before Byzantine times.

Neck protection is not strictly necessary so it may be easier to dispense with it. If you must have it, you could get a separate coif. Medieval Collections offers both chain and padded.

And remember, a helmet is also not a requirement. They just look snazzy and were commonly worn by the soldiers of the Empire.

NEXT - Heavy Infantry Weapons and Shields

Sources:

• Sources cited in Part 1

Byzantine Armor - Arms and Legs

 Now that we have body armor out of the way, let's turn our attention to arms and legs.

Last time, we mentioned that this soldier was wearing a long-sleeved kavadion (gambeson). The sleeves provided basic arm protection. Separate padded lower arm protection also existed (but I can't find the reference right now).

For our purposes, padded armor is an excellent option. It provides light armor in the Way of the Sword rules, and is inexpensive. Medieval Collectibles offers an arming wear set, including padded arms and legs, for $19. My recommendation would be to get it in brown, because red and black or so overused in battle gaming.

When we discussed Byzantine garb, we mentioned that high leather boots were worn by the infantry. The leather was thick enough to act as leg protection. I am not certain about Way of the Sword, but most battle game groups will not count boots as armor. We can replicate the protection of leather boots and still get armor points by using leather greaves. Medieval Collectibles has a whole section for leather greaves; some are less than $30. My recommendation would be to spend a little more on their Simple Leather Greaves. Their thick leather construction actually counts as heavy armor, and they have straps (much easier to put on / take off compared to laces).

If you want heavier protection, it seems that Byzantines primarily relied on splinted armor for arms and legs. 

Unfortunately, splinted armor seems more expensive than solid bracers or greaves. Thus, I don't have recommendations as of yet for this kind of armor.

As with body armor, the Chimera Legion recognizes that the Byzantines had a lot of contact with other cultures, so some crossover is plausible. Thus, while not our primary choice, we will accept solid metal or chain arm and leg protection.

Sources cited in part 1

Byzantine Body Armor

Part 2 - Body Armor

This is the second in a series of posts about Byzantine infantry. See the previous post for garb suggestions.

The Byzantine army featured a vast array of different body armors, giving members of the Chimera Legion many options.

The most common option would be padded armor, known as a kavadion. This is similar to the western gambeson. The kavadion had long sleeves with openings to allow you to expose your arms. This helped soldiers keep cooler on the march.

One of the good things about the Way of the Sword rules is that padded armor gets an armor point. This makes it an excellent choice for Legion members who want some protection for low cost and low weight. Medieval Collectibles has an entire section of arming wear. We recommend their light sleeveless gambeson. It is the cheapest gambeson on the list and is sufficiently close to a kavadion. It lacks sleeves, but that does help with air circulation, critical in our Florida climate.

As in the west, chainmail was fairly ubiquitous in the Empire. It would typically reach to mid-thigh or so, with sleeves reaching near the elbow. The full chain hauberks of the Crusaders do not seem particularly common.

While commonplace in the Empire and relatively inexpensive, chainmail does not make for good armor in the Way of the Sword rules. Currently, it is rated as 1 point, the same as a kavadion. Thus, we recommend padded armor over chainmail because it is less expensive and lighter. If you want to get chain (which would be legal for Dagorhir), get riveted. It is more expensive but it is also more durable. Butted rings tend to pull apart and fall off.

Lamellar and scale armor are the primary options that count as heavy armor in Way of the Sword. Scale armor generally consists of small metal scales sewn to a leather backing. Lamellar features larger plates of metal laced together or riveted / laced to a leather backing.

Lamellar (left) and scale armor

Scale is pretty expensive and difficult to make so I won't spend much time discussing it. Lamellar body armor (called a klivanion) is also expensive, but is not difficult to make. Plastic Lamellar sells plastic lamellar plates (big surprise) along with paracord lacing. You can probably get the materials you need for under $100. You just need to lace it all together (they will also provide instructions). It's not difficult to do, just time consuming. You might be able to save money by making your own plates, either out of leather, metal, or plastic. This site shows you how to do it all from scratch.

Full plate cuirasses, typical of the "knights in shining armor" of western Europe, do not really appear in the documentation. It seems likely that some (mostly rich officers) would have worn full plate in the later days of the Empire. Nevertheless, it does not really seem appropriate for a rank-and-file foot soldier.

The Chimera Legion does not have set armor standards; we will evaluate every piece on a case-by-case basis. Our goal is to have reasonably appropriate armor for our culture, but we can be flexible (thanks to the Byzantines' diversity). Nevertheless, we recommend that you have an officer review any armor, preferably before you acquire it. We are also experimenting with construction techniques, so speak to us if you would like armor.

Sources:

• Sources cited in Part 1
• Byzantine lamellar and scale armour (Reddit)

A Guide to Byzantine Infantry

Part 1 - Garb

The Chimera Legion portrays a unit of Byzantine infantry, so Let's take a look at their garb and equipment.

As this graphic shows, the soldiers' look varied greatly over nearly 1,000 years.

But there are still some general observations we can make. Let's begin with basic garb, 

Torso

As demonstrated by this soldier, the most noticeable piece of garb is a knee-length, long-sleeve tunic. This type of tunic was common across Europe through most of the Middle Ages. His tunic is white, but the color may vary.

The Chimera Legion has adopted red as its uniform color. For an inexpensive option, we recommend the Ready for Battle tunic. It is not strictly authentic (short sleeves for instance) but it will suffice for our purposes, especially if you wear bracers. You could also wear a long-sleeve shirt underneath to give the impression of an undertunic.

Add a belt (preferably leather) to cinch the tunic at your waist.

Legs

While bare legs were the norm in the early Roman Empire, by Byzantine days legwear was the standard. Similar to western Europe, hosen (wool stockings) over braies (kind of like boxer shorts) was typical.

Notice the look that these leggings give. The material is not baggy but is fairly tight on the leg. You don't need to get reproductions of these garments to achieve this look. Just look for pants that are close to the leg. In a pinch, plain-colored sweatpants will work, but you can also find reasonably priced costume pants.

One nice thing about the Byzantines is their cultural diversity. They had contact with a myriad of cultures, which means that we can get away with some diversity in garb. A perfect example would be Rus pants, like these.

The Varangians (basically Vikings in Byzantine service) may have worn something similar. While tight legged pants are more common in the Empire, baggy is OK.

The Chimera Legion does not have specific pants requirements. Bare leg, hosen (real or simulated), or even baggy Rus pants are acceptable. We recommend but do not require a light color - white or off-white.

However, there are some types of pants that are not really acceptable. When acquiring garb, stay away from jeans or straight-legged pants like khakis. Do not get wild, fluorescent colors or anything with printed patterns or logos. Finally, avoid wrap pants. These are very popular in battle gaming circles, but bear little resemblance to any period legwear. They look more like modern basketball trousers than anything medieval.

Feet

The most common footwear for the Byzantine soldier appears to be knee-high or thigh-high boots. The leather would be thick enough to serve as leg protection.

Note that this differs from western Europe, which tended to low boots or shoes.

The Chimera Legion does not require boots. Low shoes are fine. Shoes or boots, however, should be black or brown.

Head

The Byzantines sported a plethora of different hats and headwear, but soldiers would be more limited. Surprisingly, the most common form of headwear would be a turban.

A turban can be fashioned from a piece of cloth. This video shows how Byzantines tied their turbans. 

Another option is the so-called Pannonian or pillbox cap. This style appears more common in the early Empire.

Either option (as well as bareheaded) is acceptable for soldiers of the Chimera Legion. Medieval Collectibles offers some useful options: a wool cap that is close to a pillbox cap and a head scarf for making a turban. In either case, the Legion recommends a light color.

The Legion will accept other types of period-style headwear. For example, a Varangian persona may want to wear a Viking-style cap. Speak to an officer to confirm if an item is acceptable.

NEXT We'll talk about armor.

Sources:

• 800 Years of Byzantine Infantry - YouTube video
• Byzantine Infantryman: Eastern Roman Empire c. 900-1204 by Timothy Dawson, one of the world's foremost experts on the Byzantines
• Levantia - Timothy Dawson's website

A Brief History of the Byzantine Empire

To assist the Chimera Legion members develop their personas, I will be posting information about the Byzantines.

Let's start with a little history.

Origins of the Byzantine Empire

It all starts with Rome.

In its heyday, the Roman Empire spanned from Britain to Mesopotamia. As the Empire faced barbarian invasions and other threats, the Emperor Diocletian (ruled 284 - 305) divided the Empire into four regions. This would begin a process of separation between East and West.

Constantine the Great (r 306 - 337) instituted two changes that would dramatically affect the later Byzantines. He moved the Empire's capital to the city of Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople. This city would become the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire  He also legalized Christianity, which eventually became the state religion.

The Empire was irrevocably split in 395 after the death of Theodosius. During the 400s, the Western Empire began to collapse in the wake of barbarian invasions. The last Western Roman Emperor was deposed in 476.

But the Eastern Empire remained, and would last for another 1,000 years. However, later historians began referring to this remnant empire as the Byzantine Empire to distinguish it from the preceding, united Empire. Nevertheless, the citizens of the Empire never called themselves Byzantines. For centuries, they still proudly called themselves Romans.

Justinian's Revival

The Emperor Justinian (r 527 - 565) led a revival of the Empire's fortunes. Military expeditions reconquered Italy, North Africa, and Spain from barbarian tribes.

The Empire under Justinian

He also instituted grand building projects. Perhaps his greatest architectural triumph was the church of Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia

Decline of the Empire

After Justinian, the Empire began to decline. There was a lengthy war with the Persians. Heraclius (r 610 - 641) ultimately prevailed against them, but the war left the Empire exhausted. Shortly after victory against the Persians, a new threat emerged from the deserts of Arabia. Muslim armies overran huge swaths of Imperial territory. Egypt, Palestine, and Syria were lost. Muslims even besieged the capital, Constantinople itself.

For the next two hundred years, the Byzantines faced myriad threats. Internal religious controversies and invasions from external enemies on all fronts rocked the Empire. Its territory shrank and its prestige faded. But this decline was only temporary.

Macedonian Revival

There would be an Imperial resurgence under the so-called Macedonian dynasty (867 - 1056). The Empire reclaimed lost territories, ended religious infighting, and stimulated an artistic renaissance. The revival would reach its peak under Basil II (nicknamed the Bulgar Slayer after he defeated and absorbed the Bulgar Empire).

The Empire Under Basil II

The Crusades

The Empire would suffer another blow when the Seljuk Turks invaded. They defeated an Imperial army at Manzikert (1071), which opened the heartland of the Empire to conquest. By the 1090s, Turkish armies had nearly reached Constantinople. The threat prompted Emperor Alexios I to reach out to the Pope for assistance. This would spark the beginning of the Crusades. This call for help gave rise to a quest to recapture Jerusalem.

Initially, the Crusade helped the Byzantines regain lost territory, but it turned against them. Technically vassals of the Emperor, the Crusader lords more often bickering with their supposed overlord. In 1204, the Fourth Crusade actually attacked Constantinople, Crusaders ruled the capital for nearly 60 years while the rest of the Empire fragmented into various states.

Decline and Fall

The Fourth Crusade fatally weakened the Empire. Even after restoring Byzantine rule in 1261, the Empire was unable to reassert authority over all the fragments. Meanwhile, the Turks steadily gobbled up Imperial lands.

Constantinople had stood for centuries against Muslim attacks, but in 1453 the Turks brought a new weapon that shifted the balance of power - cannons. Their monstrous artillery battered the walls of the city, opening breaches through which Turkish troops poured. The end came on May 29. The city, and the Empire, had fallen.

The Time Is Nigh

 The time is drawing nigh.

As cases are dropping and all adults in Florida have access to the COVID vaccine, we have decided to restart the park. We have created an event scheduled for June 6 called Rise of the Legion.

We will be switching to Way of the Sword rules.

In preparation, I met with Robb yesterday and did a little sparring. I am really out of shape. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to getting back into it.