Aventine's EIR range: Dr Phil's Later cataphract unit Painted

[Mad Doc Morris]

Phil, I tend to agree with you in all points. Especially the last one on 'educated guesses'. That's all we have, for the most part.

But even if there's little evidence, it's still evidence. And so I just wanted to mention some conventional perceptions of this – conventional as far as academic research is concerned. There's always debate, of course. And, myself, I applaud bold contributions anytime.

If anyone's interested, there is an article on this particular topic/discussion by Ross Cowan in Ancient Warfare V.3. Good overview, good read.

[Smithy]

Thanks for some great insights Phil and Mad Doc, interesting stuff! 
Adam

[Shahbahraz]

Depending on period Eastern Roman armies may well have had access to Persian exiles/deserters following internal disputes in Sasanian Persia. It is certainly the case in later periods. You could postulate that they brought their own fighting styles. One element that is often forgotten is that by the Julian invasion, the Persians were seen as some invincible bogeyman.