Although the legions are often seen as the backbone of the Roman army, they couldn't function without the auxiliae. These auxiliary troops consisted of non-Roman citizens, often recruited from outside the empire, and provided support with specialized skills such as light cavalry and archers. Recruited from the peregrini (free people without citizenship rights), the auxilia were deployed in provinces different from their home region to prevent uprisings and promote Romanization. Under Emperor Claudius, the auxilia gained more status: soldiers received Roman citizenship after 25 years of service, and their commanders were now chosen from the equestrian class. This increased the prestige and integration of these units within the army.
By the 2nd century AD, the auxilia were as numerous as the legions and crucial to the army. They offered not only military strength but also social mobility: soldiers received housing, food, and tax exemption, which made life attractive, especially for poor farmers. During the 3rd and 4th centuries, increasingly more barbarian allies were incorporated as foederati, sometimes with their own leaders in command. Reforms under Diocletian and Constantine I divided the army into three ranks (palatini, comitatenses, and limitanei), with old auxilia units incorporated into all layers. After the grant of general citizenship in 212 AD, the formal differences between legionaries and auxilia soldiers disappeared, making their role in the Roman army both militarily and socially indispensable.
In this blog, we've sketched out an outfit for an auxiliary troop soldier.
You can find a different auxiliary soldier outfit in this blog
Armor
Helmet: Coolus
The Coolus, often referred to in German as a Hagenau-type helmet, is a kind of ancient Roman helmet that was used by the Roman army during the late Roman Empire and early Roman period. It was named after the place of first discovery, Coolus, a town in northeastern France. These helmets were in use from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD.
The helmet was usually made of bronze, although some were made of iron. It consisted of a bowl-shaped skullcap with a brow guard, neck guard, and cheek pieces. There was often a crest knob to which the wearer could attach a plume.
The reproduction worn by our auxiliary troop is a replica of a find in Haltern, Germany. The original dates from the early 1st century AD and has a smaller neck guard than helmets from later periods.
Chainmail: Lorica hamata
The lorica hamata was a chainmail shirt, a piece of armor, which was the main type of harness for the Roman soldier from the 3rd century BC to the end of the Roman empire. It was probably adopted from the Gallic tribes during the republican period and was worn by both legionaries and auxiliary troops. The hamata consisted of alternating riveted and stamped rings, and the length varied from hip length to just above the knee. Due to its flexibility, many soldiers preferred it over the lorica segmentata, which was developed in the 1st century AD.
Under the lorica hamata, one could wear a gambeson or subarmalis for extra protection against blunt force. However, no traces of organic material have been found on original Roman chainmail fragments.
Spear
The spear (hasta) of the auxiliary troops was light enough to throw, but heavy enough to stab with.
Shield: scutum
Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius clearly show auxiliary troops, both infantry and cavalry, carrying flat, oval-shaped shields.
Roman auxiliary soldier clothing
Trousers
Trousers were introduced into the Roman army by 'barbarian' auxiliary troops, who wore them against the cold. The trousers were made of wool and were ideal for campaigns in the northern regions. The design of these trousers is based on finds at Thorsberg, Germany, dating from the 3rd or 4th century AD. Similar trousers have also been found in Damendorf.
Tunic
Over the trousers, the auxiliary troops wore a short tunic, which could have different colors, and sometimes also a cloak to keep warm.
Belt: Cingulum
The cingulum or balteus was a belt used to hang various equipment. It was made of leather and often decorated with metal fittings.
Caligae
The caligae were the standard sandals worn by Roman legionaries and auxiliary troops. The sole consisted of several layers of leather and was approximately 20 mm thick. It was reinforced with hobnails. The upper layer was made of a single piece of leather and sewn at the heel. Due to the open design, one could wear them when crossing streams and rivers, and for warmth the soldier could wear socks (undones). It is likely that caligae were almost never repaired and were discarded when they showed signs of wear.
The caligae are based on originals from the early 70s to the mid-80s AD.
