African spearmen in captured Roman armour

[Scrumpy]

Could you field all triarii figures for the above, or would you need a mix of triarii & African spear ?

Cheers

[MarkSieber]

I was considering mixing Africans with various Roman types (including Roman Penal Legion figures) with added long spears. For 15mm, Xyston are nice and have open hands for your choice of weapon and shield. I doubt the Carthaginians were too picky but happy to have looted some armour.

[mbsparta]

Could you field all triarii figures for the above, or would you need a mix of triarii & African spear ?

Cheers

.... I wonder if the reference to Hannibal's veterans using capture Roman arms/armor speaks more to fighting style than simply the wearing of Roman chainmail etc. Therefore Hannibal's veterans in Italy maybe should be re-classed as Impact Foot/ Sword.

My African Infantry has a mix of Hoplite syle shields and Roman shields. Probably not a truley historic representation of them, but looks good.

Mike B

[marioslaz]

Could you field all triarii figures for the above, or would you need a mix of triarii & African spear ?

Cheers

At Zama, in the lines of Hannibal's Veterans there were a great number of Italian people. Samnites and Brutti among the others (you can use miniatures with helms of Italian's design and a mix of round shields and scutums). In this case you can use a mix of some miniatures from Xyston. If you instead want just to depict African spearmen, you can use miniatures from Corvus Belli or from Xyston. I fear you cannot mix Xyston and Corvus because they are too different in size (but I don't own all those miniatures, so I'm not sure).

[keithmartinsmith]

For FOG PC we used figures from 1st Corp to digitize the Carthaginians and they have a mix of figures for armoured and non-armoured african spearmen. Keith

[CrazyHarborc]

For 28mm, I would mix the equipment of the troops in the units. I doubt everybody in a unit would be "uniform" wearing/with captured equipment and weapons. Over time IMHO, those troops acquired the equipment, the booty from enemy dead and captured stock piles of supplies and equipment.

I am planning to use Wargame Factory's extra frames/sprues for generic warrior bodies, Numidian Equipment (weapons, shields, heads). PLUS I have a box of the Romans for bits, for conversion use. Pilum can be cut off and a hole drilled and wire used to make thrusting spears for the Triarii.

Paper clips, floral wire, piano wire, plastic dowels (SMALL diameter). Wooden dowels (reinforced with a coating of super glue) might work (with a little care). Pre-made pikes will work. They can be cut shorter. A thrusting spear AND a spear from each full length pike.

[Skullzgrinda]

Could you field all triarii figures for the above, or would you need a mix of triarii & African spear ?

Cheers

If this project is in 15mm, my inclination would be to go with a mix of various manufacturers' triarii, and a smattering of armored Libyan spear in mail and thorakitai provided the latter two have the oblong thureos shield.

This is one of those times when you have to choose between what is probably the most historically accurate or what will artistically convey what you are driving at.

The point is made and is doubtless correct that there were most likely a multitude of armor and shield styles pressed into service. Visually though, this begins to look motley and ragged - the earmarks of a mob. Mobs are usually desparate and fragile ventures which typically fail.

The African core of Hannibal's veteran army in Italy however were a hardened and victorious unit like few seen in history. To visually convey historical truth, sometimes a bit of artistic license is in order. I would go with the overwhelming majority of the figures as a variety of triarii to best convey the look of a close knit unit, supplied by salvage at the enemy's expense; varigated but not motley. Ways to pull them together visually would be a similar shield color or pattern, and similar arms and equipment.

There is a profound difference in the background and performance of the veteran survivors of Hannibal's army, and Spartacus' band of freedom fighters. I would not model them so either could be confused for the other. (Although I would look at Maccabees, Zealots and Slave Revolt minis for some potential recruits for Hannibal!)

[Strategos69]

I think that the idea of using triarii is a good one, although you have enough manufacturers selling specifically Hannibal's African veterans. The only thing you should also take into account is that is is very likely that all Africans took the chainmail armour as it was superior to the ones they had, but it was not very likely that they took Roman helmets as they were known not being as good as other helmets at hand. For example, when Caesar invaded the Gauls, the captured equipment the Romans took was mostly the iron Gallic helmets, which were highly superior to the bronze Roman helmet. If you use triarii you would be using Montefortino helmets and I am not sure if that was the kind of equipement the veterans would be taking. Anyway, there are no pictures left ( ) and you can feel free to give them your personal touch!