Lancea (weapon)

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The lancea was a javelin used in ancient Rome.^[1][2][3] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word originally came from the Celtiberian language, also cf. λόγχη (lonche), the Greek term for lance. One kind of lancea, possibly known as the lancea pugnatoria or "the fighting lance" was used as a thrusting weapon by cavalrymen.^[4][5] This weapon was used by cavalrymen as it was lighter and easier to use than the pilum.^[6] The lancea was also used by auxiliaries.^[5] legionaries would use the lancea if the occasion called for it.^[7] Arrian equipped his army with the weapon during a battle with the Alans.^[8][9] Soldiers that used it were known as lancearii.^[10] It is unclear how the lancea was distinguished from the hastae. Many lancea had amenta, although not all.^[5] This kind of javelin also had short wooden shafts and small leaf-shaped metal heads.^[11][12][13] Sometimes the heads had elongated points which may have been used to increase the penetration of the spear.^[14]

See also

• Pole weapon
• Pilum
• Spiculum
• Verutum
• Roman military personal equipment

References

Bibliography

• Argüín, Adolfo Raúl Menéndez (2015-03-04), "Tactics: Principate", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 979–1028, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra1477, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0, retrieved 2022-09-03.
• Cowan, Ross (2013-04-20). Roman Legionary AD 69–161. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0283-5.
• Gilliver, Kate (2007-01-01), Erdkamp, Paul (ed.), "The Augustan Reform and the Structure of the Imperial Army", A Companion to the Roman Army, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 181–200, doi:10.1002/9780470996577.ch12, ISBN 978-0-470-99657-7, retrieved 2022-09-03.
• Goldsworthy, Adrian (2003). The Complete Roman Army. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 132. ISBN 978-0500288993.
• Rance, Philip (2015-03-04), "Infantry: Late Empire", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 492–556, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra0799, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0, retrieved 2022-09-03.
• Rowlands, Ifor W. (2017-03-02). England and Europe in the Reign of Henry III (1216–1272). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-94012-2.
• Meakin, Tony (2001). A Basic Church Dictionary. Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85311-420-5.
• Pernet, Lionel (2015-03-04), "Spear", in Le Bohec, Yann (ed.), The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 843–978, doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra1415, ISBN 978-1-118-31814-0, retrieved 2022-09-03.
• Pollard, Nigel (2006-01-01), Potter, David S. (ed.), "The Roman Army", A Companion to the Roman Empire, Malden, MA, USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 206–227, doi:10.1002/9780470996942.ch12, ISBN 978-0-470-99694-2, retrieved 2022-09-03.
• Syvänne, Ilkka (2017-02-28). Caracalla: A Military Biography. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-9526-3.
• Sommer, Carl (2007-01-01). We Look for a Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians. Ignatius Press. ISBN 978-1-68149-616-0.
• Southern, Pat (2007-10-01). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-804401-7.
• Speidel, M. P. (2007). "The Missing Weapons at Carlisle". Britannia. 38: 237–239. doi:10.3815/000000007784016502. ISSN 1753-5352. S2CID 163148762.
• Strobel, Karl (2007-01-01), Erdkamp, Paul (ed.), "Strategy and Army Structure Between Septimius Severus and Constantine the Great", A Companion to the Roman Army, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. 267–285, doi:10.1002/9780470996577.ch16, ISBN 978-0-470-99657-7, retrieved 2022-09-03.

This page was last edited on 26 December 2023, at 21:45