Osprey Men-at-Arms 373 : The Sarmatians 600 BC - 450 AD

The Sarmatians, famous in ancient history and legend, were an Iranian people who by c300BC were starting to replace the Scythians as rulers of southern Russia, threatening the Greco-Roman Black Sea civilisation. Moving westwards, in the 1st century AD they invaded Roman Dacia and Moesia (the Balkans and Hungary); finally defeated, they provided heavy armoured cavalry lancers for the late Roman army (including at least 5,000 based in Britain). During the Age of Migration, cAD250-450, the westwards and southwards pressure of the Goths and Huns forced them into the dying Western Roman Empire, sometimes as invaders, sometimes as allies. Over a thousand years the Sarmatian tribes had contacts with the major military powers of the ancient world - Darian Persia, the Crimean and Pontic kingdoms, the Celts, Thracians and finally the Romans. Their heavy cavalry tradition was very influential, particularly on the late Roman army. In the realm of legend their armoured cavalry may well be one origin for the Arthurian myths in Britain. Text by Richard Brzezinski with illustrations by Gerry Embleton.

Contents

• The Sarmatian Peoples - Sauromatae, Iazyges, Roxolani, Aorsi, Siraces & Alani
• The Sarmatians in Roman Service
• Offensive Arms - Lances, Swords, Archery Gear
• Defensive Arms - Body Armour, Helmets, Shields, Lassoes
• Horses & Horse Equipment
• Standards - The 'Draco'
• Military Organisation
• Tactics
• Myth & Legend