Imperial Roman - Cataphracts ?

[Keith]

Ok please forgive my historical ignorance.
I have dug out my old WAB Imperial Romans and rebased them , nearly finished , and discovered I have some Cataphracts. I can't even remeber painting them , they have been gathering dust for a few years.
When were these used historically?
Are they romans or allies ?
Will they get some use in my Imperial Roman FOG army ?

Also.
Do I need some slingers or other skirmishers ?
I have archers based as MF , but it looks like I have no slingers etc , so I might pinch some from my "Barbarian" army.

[stevoid]

Imperial Roman as in Principate Roman = yes you can use some (4 Bases) of the heavy metal

Possibly Dominate Roman as well but I don't have that list.

Steve

[nikgaukroger]

The Romans appear to have start using them from about the second 1/4 of the C3rdAD.

[carlos]

Dominate Roman can have 8 of them AFAIK. Alternatively, you can always go for an Armenian (or similar) ally in the Principate Roman list.

[Keith]

Ok thanks.
I just rebased them so I have a Battle group of 4 bases now.