Light Cavalryman. Later 1st/2nd Centuries

 

This figure is the (Roman) Light Cavalryman of the Later 1st/2nd  Centuries that first appeared in the Miniature Figurines 72/73 catalogue as PBC 117

Both PB ranges were based on Phil Barker's books Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars and The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome. This figure is taken from illustration 17 in the first edition of AEIR.

The code numbers for the AEIR range correspond to the illustrations in the book plus '100', i.e. illustration 1 is figure 101. 

Cavalry models carried the code number on a tag - long since removed - which can make identification a little harder in some cases. 

I have mounted this chap onto a PBH 65-217 which means that we have the 'double saddlecloth' that is a common feature of this range. Both the rider and horse have a saddlecloth! The PBH horses were soon replaced by the new 'H' and 'A' series horses without saddlecloths which solved the problem. 

This figure has been taken from Trajan's Column along with similar infantry types and is described as having 'leather' armour. This assumption hails from a time before it was widely realised that Roman monuments were painted and mail armour represented with a paint effect rather than sculpted. In practice, Roman Auxiliary cavalry units would have worn mail armour.