Late Roman Horse Archers, 28 mm Scale Model Plastic Figures

12 superbly detailed and animated models shooting to the front, side and rear representing the agility of these skilled mounted skirmishers. They come equipped with a powerful composite bow, bow case, arrow quiver, sword and small round shield strapped to their upper left arm.

The Romans steadily increased the use of mounted horse archers in the army as they came into conflict with more and more Stepp nomad peoples who excelled with the use of the bow, as well as having to face the arrow storms of Sassanid Persian Horse archers. Many of the Roman horse archer units were recruited from the very enemies they had to face.

The Notia Dignitatum a late Roman document listing the units of the Western and Eastern halves of the Empire lists nine units of light horse archers. There was probably a considerable amount more units in the Eastern Half of the Empire but the information is not as complete for this part of the Empire, but makes sense since most horse archer enemies were in the east.

These miniatures don’t have to be restricted to just use as Late Romans. They can be used as Early Byzantines representing the men that fought for Belisarius against the Sassanids and the reconquest of Italy from the Goths. And they can be used as Palmyran horse archers. Palmyra was a client state of Rome based in Syria. They acted as a buffer state against the Sassanid Empire and scored a notable victory over the Sassanids under their king Odenathus.

The Late Roman army was a fearsome foe. Its use of mixed arms, infantry and cavalry gave it flexibility and strength.