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JJDESIGNS NEWS UPDATE 26th MAY 2025
THE ANCIENTS
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME
THE CARTHAGINIANS
THE BATTLE OF ZAMA 202BC
CELTIBERIAN SCUTARIUS
Although initially the Carthaginian army was composed only of Citizens of Phoenician origin, it saw increased recruitment of contingents of mercenaries and allies a necessity in order to realize the policy of imperial expansion.
This use of mercenaries saved the metropolitan population from heavy casualties that were not easily replaceable, and it also reflected the Carthaginian concept of war, which was considered simply as an extension of business.
With the enlargement of Punic economic interests the army became more exclusively mercenary and progressively came to include almost all the peoples of the central and western Mediterranean area.
The Scutarius were well armoured heavy infantry, and the Celtibarians were mainly from the north, and were heavily influenced by their Gallic neighbours. Those who fought with Hannibal would have been mercenaries, and in organization and military effectiveness would have been much the same as the Gauls. They were known to be fierce, independent and dangerous.
IBERIAN SCUTARII AND IBERIAN CAETRATII
The success of Carthage in bringing most of central and southern Iberia under its control was a crucial element in their continued ability to pursue the war against Rome.
Iberian troops probably fell into two rough classifications, the Scutarii and the Caetratii.
These types basically defined the type of shield, with the Scutum being a large flat oval shield with a wooden spine and metal boss.
Iberian warriors had been fighting as mercenaries throughout Europe since the 5th century BC, with their ferocity in battle and their fighting skills making them very good additions to any ancient army.
The Carthaginian general Hannibal made excellent use of them during his campaigns against Rome during the second Punic War.
The Romans eventually defeated Carthage, but it took another 200 years to fully conquer and pacify the Hispania region.
These warriors fought vigorously against the Romans, especially under the leadership of Viriathus the Lusitanian, and his guerilla tactics that the Romans had never encountered before. The warriors being agile by nature, and wearing almost no armour were extremely mobile and would use hit and run tactics to harass the enemy and break their formations.
The Caetrati were a type of light infantry from ancient Iberia who fought as skirmishers. They were armed with a Caetra shield, sword and javelins.
The Caetra was a flat, small round shield with a circular metal boss.
The sword which the Caetrati carried was called the Falcata, and it made these warriors some of the finest swordsmen of their time. Large amounts of these swords have been found on excavation sites throughout Portugal and Spain.
Lusitanian warriors maintained a spiritual connection to their swords and when they died their swords were buried with them. Diodorus reports that the Falcatas were of such superior quality that no helmet, shield or bone could resist its devastating effect.
More information regarding the new Iberian figures will be announced later.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
THE ANCIENTS
ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF ANCIENT ROME
THE CARTHAGINIANS
THE BATTLE OF ZAMA 202BC
CELTIBERIAN SCUTARIUS
Although initially the Carthaginian army was composed only of Citizens of Phoenician origin, it saw increased recruitment of contingents of mercenaries and allies a necessity in order to realize the policy of imperial expansion.
This use of mercenaries saved the metropolitan population from heavy casualties that were not easily replaceable, and it also reflected the Carthaginian concept of war, which was considered simply as an extension of business.
With the enlargement of Punic economic interests the army became more exclusively mercenary and progressively came to include almost all the peoples of the central and western Mediterranean area.
The Scutarius were well armoured heavy infantry, and the Celtibarians were mainly from the north, and were heavily influenced by their Gallic neighbours. Those who fought with Hannibal would have been mercenaries, and in organization and military effectiveness would have been much the same as the Gauls. They were known to be fierce, independent and dangerous.
IBERIAN SCUTARII AND IBERIAN CAETRATII
The success of Carthage in bringing most of central and southern Iberia under its control was a crucial element in their continued ability to pursue the war against Rome.
Iberian troops probably fell into two rough classifications, the Scutarii and the Caetratii.
These types basically defined the type of shield, with the Scutum being a large flat oval shield with a wooden spine and metal boss.
Iberian warriors had been fighting as mercenaries throughout Europe since the 5th century BC, with their ferocity in battle and their fighting skills making them very good additions to any ancient army.
The Carthaginian general Hannibal made excellent use of them during his campaigns against Rome during the second Punic War.
The Romans eventually defeated Carthage, but it took another 200 years to fully conquer and pacify the Hispania region.
These warriors fought vigorously against the Romans, especially under the leadership of Viriathus the Lusitanian, and his guerilla tactics that the Romans had never encountered before. The warriors being agile by nature, and wearing almost no armour were extremely mobile and would use hit and run tactics to harass the enemy and break their formations.
The Caetrati were a type of light infantry from ancient Iberia who fought as skirmishers. They were armed with a Caetra shield, sword and javelins.
The Caetra was a flat, small round shield with a circular metal boss.
The sword which the Caetrati carried was called the Falcata, and it made these warriors some of the finest swordsmen of their time. Large amounts of these swords have been found on excavation sites throughout Portugal and Spain.
Lusitanian warriors maintained a spiritual connection to their swords and when they died their swords were buried with them. Diodorus reports that the Falcatas were of such superior quality that no helmet, shield or bone could resist its devastating effect.
More information regarding the new Iberian figures will be announced later.
Best wishes,
john jenkins
