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Diomedes Sebastianus 5-7th Century Byzantine Cataphract (Late Roman Kataphraktoi) A Byzantine Roman of the 6th Century serving the Court of Justinian I and Theodora in Constantinople. A "Cataphract" (or heavily armoured horseman), I am presently attached to the Army of Syria under Belisarius, on its way to Egypt to reclaim Alexandria as part of "Rome". My turn-on's include red wine, walks along the Bosphorus, and cavalry charges that crush the enemy's flanks. My turn-offs include schisms and the plague. (f.1) 11th century steatite icon of St George. Vatopedi monastery, Greece (f.2) 11th century carved icon of St Theodore (f.3) gambling soldiers from an 11th century gold and enamel icon of the Crucifixion. Held in Germany (f.4) Saint Theodore Tyro from the monastery of Hosias Loukas, Greece (10th-11th Cent) (f.5) Saint Demetrios from the monastery of Hosias Loukas, Greece (10th-11th Cent) (f.6) Gold Sassinid dish, shows King Groz (AD 459 -84) (f.7) Icon of Saint Demetrios- ca. 11th cent. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (f.8)Marginal from 9th Cent Byzantine Bible. Nat., Ms. Gr. 923, f.107v, Paris (9) 6th Century Mosaic of Christ. Ravenna, Italy (f.10) 10th century Byzantine ivory chest - Skutatoi wearing Varangian Bra over lamellar. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK (f.11) Fourteenth century mural from a church in Cyprus (f.12) 11th cent steatite icon of St Demetrios (f.13) St Nestor fresco in the Katholikon at the monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, Kastoria, Greece dated 1260 (f.14) 4th Century Ridge Helm (f.15) 4th Century gilded Roman helmet from Helenaveen (Deurne),Netherlands. Currently preserved in the Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden in Leiden I have attempted to portray the dress armour of a 6th Century Guard to the Court of Constantinople, as it is believed some aspects of their armour would have been influenced by the more classical Roman styles, and still be contemporary for the period. As much of the evidence is absent and conjectural, I have drawn from art to inspire much of the armour. I feel this allows me to conform to SCA standards, and still present a plausible stylistic representation. Though the similarities of Byzantine armours and styles throughout the centuries changes little in Iconic and other surviving artwork, the combination of helm, greaves, and shield tie the kit to the 5th - 7th Century. Each row of the lamellar kilbanion (or corsett) has a leather strip laced between each row of lamelae (f.1), (f.2), (f.3). This is not universal, if fact it seems to be the exception. I personally find that this makes the kilbanion a bit stiffer than without, yet still allows for plenty of flexibility. "Varangian Bra" and a sash complete the (possibly Persian borrowed) early Byzantine look (f.1), (f.4), (f.5), (f.6), (f.10), (f.12). The shoulder cops are edged with white garment leather and brass decorative band (made from wall mounted drapery holder), combined with short brass ptruges made from brass furniture terminals (mounted on sole leather) (f.3), (f.4), (f.7) (f.13). These short ptruges also adorn the bottom of the kilbanion (f.3), (f.4), (f.5), (f.7), (f.8), (f.9), (f.10), (f.13). RQP cast bronze buckles secure the corset on the shield side. A trauma-plate is laced inside to protect the sternum (anachronistic). The Sylloge tacticorum and Leo VI's Tactica both refer to the use of mail corselets and kilbanions being worn together and independently. Greave by Truehearth with RQP cast bronze buckle. Horizontal stripe theme added using bronze (f.4), (f.5), (f.8), (f.10), (f.11). Although the use of Greaves had fallen out of favor, there is a plethora of evidence depicting their continued use in art and sculpture. There is also the belief that some "elite" and "parade" troops used armour that had a more classical feel. I justify the use of greaves with this kit, as I am a member of the guard to the Court of Constantinople, and would be a combination of guard and piece of decoration. The attached knees are a convention of SCA combat and anachronistic, or at least way out of period. There is some controversy about red boots throughout Roman times. It is agreed that at different times, "red shoes" were reserved for the Emperor. Some research and research suggests that it is not just a color, but often a COLOR and a STYLE together that was regulated. Some pieces of wardrobe were often outlawed at the whim of the Emperor, it seems though that this was sporadic and not a sweeping decree that encompassed all styles or lasted for the life of the Empire. These are combat boots covered with garment leather. The boots tie normally. The covers hide the laces and secure on the side with magnetic purse claps. Cosmetic buttons hide the clasps. Cheiropsella (vambraces) are flat stock over leather. Garment leather strap with RQP cast bronze buckle. A deerskin glove padded with 1/2 inch of plastic reinforced closed cell foam protects the hand from transfer through the basket hilt and overlaps the vambrace to protect the wrist, giving an unencumbered "glove" look. A ring over the glove hints at the opulence of the Byzantines. A WMA Roman/Sassinid Ridge helmet in the style of Late Roman/Early Byzantine Cavalry. The ridge helm, believed to be assimilated from Sassanian Persian models, appeared in quantity in the 4th century AD and was seen late into the 7th. Used in the Middle East, Europe and Britan, the most famous helm of this construction is the Sutton Hoo. This helmet replaced the Gallic style helmets for the Romans. It consisted of two curved plates connected by a central ridge. Cheek pieces, a neck guard, and a nasal were normally added. Both infantry and cavalry used the Ridge Helm. (f.15) Hidden leg, groin, and elbow armour complete the kit. Bibliography, further reading, and links G. T. Dennis "Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy" [translated by] (Univ. of Penn. Press, 1984) ISBN: 0-8122-1772-1 Walter & Walker "The Warrior Saints in Byzantine Art and Tradition" (Ashgate Publishing 2003) ISBN-10: 184014694X, ISBN-13: 978-1840146943 W. Treadgold "Byzantium and It's Army 284-1081" (Stanford Univ. Press 1995) ISBN: 0-8047-3163-2 G. T. Dennis "Three Byzantine Military Treatises" (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection 1985) ISBN-10: 0884021408, ISBN-13: 978-0884021407 I. P. Stephenson "Romano-Byzantine Infantry Equipment" (Tempus Publishing, Limited 2006) ISBN-10: 0752428861, ISBN-13: 978-0752428864 Nicolle & McBride "Romano-Byzantine Armies 4th-9th Centuries" (Osprey Publishing 1992) ISBN-10: 1855322242, ISBN-13: 978-1855322240 Steven Lowe's mediaeval re-enactment page Timothy Dawson's social history of the Roman Empire and Near East Wikipedia: Late Roman military units