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Caligae -- Military Boot
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| Castleford/Valkenburg caligae from Armamentaria |
The classic Roman military boot! Numerous examples and styles have been found in archeological sites
throughout the Empire. Their is the "fell" calcei found in Vindolanda, England. The calceus found Qasr, Ibrim,
Egypt, and a pair of caligae from Mainz Germany. These examples are by no means the only samples out there just a couple
of good examples.
While the caligae is a unique open work sandal the calceus is a completely inclosed boot. Their is little to no
evidence to what type of shoe the soldiers of the Republic wore. It is widely accepted among scholars that the reason
for all sculpture evidence showing soldiers bare foot is the footwear was painted on. Their is evidence however that
show officers from centurio to legate wearing enclosed boots.
The exact origins of the caligae is uncertain but we do know it was in use by Augustus in the campagins in
Germania and by his successor Tiberius. Infact Germanicus, the adopted son of Tiberius, often wore a miniture pair of
caligae when he was on campagin so much that he was nicknamed Caligula.
Original caliga photo, German Leather Museum, click here
Original caliga at the French National Archaeological Museum, click here
Making authentic Caligae "how-to" page, click here.
Making authentic Mainz Calcei "how-to" page, click here.
Making authentic Calcei page, by Florentius, click here.
Here is what “Roman Military Equipment: From the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome” by M.C. Bishop &
J.C.N. Coulston has to say about Caligae.
Roman military footwear of this period was very distinctive and is well-known from the literary, represetational and
archaeological evidence. Usually known as a caliga, each boot was made from three main pieces of vegetable-tanned
ox or cow leather - the upper, the sole, and an insole. All three layers were clenched with hobnails, frequently arranged
in patterns, at least some of which were designed to facilitate comfortable walking and anticipated 20th-century research
into the optimum design of training-shoe soles. The uppers were pierced with openwork designs, so that the boots looked
more like the modern idea of a sandal, but it was, as van Driel-Murray has pointed out, an exremely functional piece of footwear.
The openwork upper gave good ventilation, the many straps allowed adjustment to fit the peculiarities of an individual's foot,
whilst ports of the boot that might rub (toe joints, ankle, big toe nail) were cut away. Caligae found on Roman
military sites seldom show signs of repair, usually being thrown away once the nails started to wear through the insole and
thus become uncomfortable. Complete boots have been found at Mainz and Valkenburg, but their remains are known from
several 1st-century sites where waterlogged conditions have preserved leather.
Hob-nailed boots were not merely worn by Roman soldiers, but they became synonymous with the military. Juvenal
commented on the brutal use of boots on civilians and the imprint of studs on a victim's face. Josephus recounted the
anecdote of a Roman centurion who was killed by a mob after his hobnails caused him to skid on stone paving and fall over,
and it seems that soldiers form the frontiers, visiting Rome and unused to paved streets, were the butt of metropolitan humour.
Hob-nailed boots were forbidden to Jews by Jewish law for reasons of identification, because both their tracks and their noise
revealed the presence of Roman soldiers.
Recommended Suppliers:
RIGOREVALI: a company in England that makes "fell" boots and caligae from examples found
in the fort at Vindolanda near Hadrian's Wall. This is also a custom made item to fit your foot.
Armamentaria: has a accurate pair of caligae found in the Netherlands and in the UK and an accurate pair of calcei from Vindolanda.
Also sells 7mm and 9mm accurate hobnails.
Le Prevo: is a good supplier for hobnails. They are not the most accurate but are very good!
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