German cavalry in Roman service?

[Tim Haslam]

I’ve just been looking through my collection of ancients, and I think I’ve found another unit I can spend my well earned money on!
(Accepting this will probably go on until the day I die!)

Anyhow,
I’m thinking about German cavalry fighting for the Late Republic.
In my head these guys would be very slightly ‘civilised’ and also wear some armour, perhaps captured or bought with all the money they are making!

So that, in turn, got me thinking about a kit bash.
Victrix Gallic cavalry, but with German head swops.
Plus leave out the long Gallic sword and swop in a shorter version.
Maybe even do a shield swop?

Thoughts?

Naturally I’m still madly in love with the old Copplestone range, but these are too lightly equipped and way to expensive these days.

[Citizen Sade]

Was that a thing as I thought the Romans of the time favoured Gallic cavalry?

FWIW, Foundry are running a sale on Romans currently. 20% off spend >=£150 which would make cavalry £4 a pop. I suspect that the Gallic, Spanish & Numidian allies from the Caesarian range would be included in this sale.

[Tim Haslam]

They used both, Gallic and German.

I only need 10 or 12 models.
So I can’t really go down the foundry route.
Like I said the models are gorgeous, but perhaps a bit to hairy!

[bluewillow]

Exactly how I attacked mine Tim Gallic cav, with head swaps and added a different musicians horn and added a Roman i, plus gave them all a coffin shields.

Yet to paint them though

[dadlamassu]

You may find this useful
https://www.academia.edu/39723966/Roman_horsemen_against_Germanic_tribes_The_Rhineland_frontier_cavalry_fighting_styles_31_BC_AD_256_Archaeologica_Hereditas_12_Warsaw_2018_Institute_of_Archaeology_Cardinal_Stefan_Wyszynski_University

Using the figured and archaeological evidence the author discusses the fighting styles of the Principate Rhineland Roman cavalry: the Italian horsemen used traditional Roman equipment: they rode on saddle blankets and used round shields and short stabbing swords of Mainz type variety, and used spears as a main combat weapons. The tribal auxiliary horsemen relied on Celtic or Thracian fighting techniques: they preferred long swords, javelins and spears and rode on "long-horned" saddles. They also used longer (hexagonal or oval) shields for defence. On the other hand, the troopers recruited from the lower Rhine societies used longer spears and preferred traditional Germanic extra-large hexagonal shields for hand to hand combat. All these fighting styles became obsolete with the introduction of shield wall tactics during the third century AD.

[Panzer21]

Caesar recruited German cavalry from beyond the Rhine as a counter to potentially suspect Gallic horse.
There's no indication they had any trappings of civilisation and indeed are noted as ferocious.

Later, during the Empire, Germans were recruited and equipped with Roman armour etc, but even here, some like the Batavians kept elements of German decoration.

I'd suggest the Copplestone sculpts ideal for a late Republican Roman army.

Neil

[Atheling]

Naturally I’m still madly in love with the old Copplestone range, but these are too lightly equipped and way to expensive these days.

Do you mean the Conquest Miniatures range that was taken over by that chap in Scotland?

[Tim Haslam]

I was thinking about the ones still for sale via Foundry?

[Atheling]

I was thinking about the ones still for sale via Foundry?

Coming to think of it, I asked you this very question re: the WAB, Roman army of the late Republic event and you pointed to foundry's German, Gaulish and Spanish cavalry as a good fit for the armies of Pompie, Caesar and Crassus.

[Tim Haslam]

That’s because I know you’re not a fan of plastic.

[Atheling]

That’s because I know you’re not a fan of plastic.

I am a fan of conversions 

[Mikai]

I am a fan of conversions 

Now that's something lovely!

[Atheling]

Now that's something lovely!

Thanks Mikai 

Back over to Tim.....

[Tim Haslam]

It is a beautiful model though Darrol!

Besides, I think I’m going to go for Gallic cav from Victrix with German, weapons, heads, cloaks and shields.
I’ve got all that ‘in stock’ so to speak!
Gulp!

[Atheling]

It is a beautiful model though Darrol!

Besides, I think I’m going to go for Gallic cav from Victrix with German, weapons, heads, cloaks and shields.
I’ve got all that ‘in stock’ so to speak!
Gulp!

Get gluing Tim!