Although most Roman cavalry was generally made up of noncitizens from the various Roman provinces, the Equites Legionis were Roman citizen units assigned directly to a Legion. Varying in strength from 120 to 1,000 men (depending on campaign requirements), they were used to patrol, act as scouts and messengers and provide a mobile defensive screen while the legion was massing in battle array. These Roman units, under the command of a Roman Praefectus Equitum, were divided into standard turmae (squadrons of 32 horsemen, each under the command of a Roman decurion (officer)). The model depicts one of these Decurions. He wears a contemporary Crested Cavalry Officers Helmet, leather armor (for lighter weight on horseback), long Roman Cavalry Spatha (sword) worn on left side to denote rank, pugio (knife) worn on right side, also to denote rank, officers red cape, and the standard cavalry caligae with spurs. #armor #army #battle #cavalry #cavalry_helmet #decurion #equites_legionis #Galea #helmet #Legion #Legionary #legionary_helmet #military #officer #Roman #Roman_helmet #Rome #Soldier #war #warrior
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