Blog & lookbook - Get the look: veles, Roman republic

Get the look: veles, Roman republic

Velites were a class of light infantry in the Roman Republic. They played a significant role in the early Roman army and were known for their mobility and versatility on the battlefield. They were the youngest and the poorest soldiers from the legion.

In Indo-European cultures, it was a common practice for a group of young men in their teenage years to adolescence to participate in a warrior band (kóryos). These men had not yet amassed wealth or influence and had to prove themselves. These small groups often formed a cult centered around a god, representing themselves through the wolf, boar, or bear. Examples of this can be found throughout Indo-European cultures, such as the Germanic Berserker, the Celtic Fianna, the Roman Velites, and the Spartan Crypteia. The animals symbolized their cunning, strength, and aggression.

After undergoing painful trials to join the group, they were sent away to live as landless warriors in the wild for several years. Within the group ranging from two to twelve members, lawless actions like nocturnal raiding parties and cattle theft were common. The young men had no possessions other than their weapons and lived on the fringes of society, relying on what nature provided. Their lives revolved around fighting, hunting, and raiding settlements on one hand, and reciting heroic stories recounting the deeds of past heroes and legends of cattle theft on the other. The initiation period within the kóryos was seen as a transitional phase leading to the status of an adult warrior and was usually culminated by joining the tribe or city-state. The kóryos were symbolically associated with death and liminality, but also with fertility and sexual promiscuity.

The warrior bands believed in symbolic shapeshifting. Hence, fights were conducted wearing wolf or bear skins. They no longer fought as humans but as wolves. Their ideal combat technique embodied the traits attributed to the wolf: violence, cunning, speed, great strength, and warrior's fury.

One of the key tactics employed by velites was a hit-and-run style of warfare. They would advance quickly, throw their javelins at the enemy, and then retreat to avoid direct engagement. This harassment could disrupt the enemy formation and weaken their forces before the main infantry lines clashed. In that way, they were even able to fight war elephants.

Velites were often deployed at the beginning of a battle to skirmish with the enemy and screen the movements of the heavier Roman infantry and cavalry. As the battle progressed, the velites would withdraw, making way for the more heavily armored and organized maniples of the Roman legion.

Over time, as the Roman military evolved, the role of velites diminished and after the so-called Marian reforms in 107 BC, they were disbanded.

Tunica

The veles wore a simple tunic. It is unknown which colour the tunic would be, though it was likely a more neutral colour than red.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/roman-tunica-mars.html

Caligae

The caligae were the standard sandals worn by Roman legionaries and auxiliary troops. The sole consisted of various layers of leather and was around 20 mm thick. It was reinforced with hobnails. The upper layer was made out of a single piece of leather and sown at the heel. Because of the open design, one could wear it when crossing streams and rivers, and for warmth, the soldier could wear socks (undones). It is likely that caligae were almost never repaired, and thrown away when they showed signs of wear and tear.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/roman-caligae-with-hobnails-castleford-valkenburg.html

Helmet

The Coolus, in German often called a Hagenau type helmet, is a type of ancient Roman helmet that was used by the Roman military during the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It was named after the site of its 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 most often made of bronze, although some were made of iron. It consisted of a bowl-shaped skull cap with a brow guard, neck guard and cheek flaps. There was often a crest knob, to which the wearer could attach a plume.

Often, the velites would wear leather helmets, or no helmet at all, because they could not afford it.

https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/deepeeka-coolus-d-germanicus.html

Animal hide

The velites adorned themselves with predator skins, such as wolves or bears, which they wore over their heads. This was a symbol of their courage and bravery in battle. We have replaced this with a deer skin.

Shield: parma