Illustrations of history

Note that while ranged troops are included here as auxiliaries, the front lines still consist of troops equipped as heavy infantry. While we sometimes think of the auxiliaries as distinct in appearance, the truth is that in most cases, auxiliary (provincial) troops would have been equipped, and fought, largely like their legionary (citizen) counterparts. One notable feature distinguishing them - at least in official Roman propaganda depictions - is that only legionaries are depicted with the rectangular scutum and lorica segmentata that we associate so strongly with Rome, while auxiliaries hold the oval shield depicted here and are shown wearing chainmail and scale (in reality worn by both auxiliaries and legionaries, as the situation demanded).