Expert: Irulan Serena - 11/13/2006

Question
Hello, do you know exactly when military uniform used for the first time? Which army used military uniform for the first time? And where does military symbolic badges (such as star) came from (is it from ancient Greek symbol or Latin or other?)? Thank you very much.  

Answer
There are a few recorded attempts at uniform dress in antiquity, going beyond the similarity to be expected of ethnic or tribal dress.

One example is the Spanish infantry of Hannibal who wore white tunics with crimson edgings.

Another is the Spartan hoplite in his red garment.

The terracotta army discovered in the tomb of the first Emperor of Chin (c200BC) have a superficial similarity but closer examination shows up to seven different styles of armour, which do not appear to have been standardised within separate units.

The legions of the Roman Republic and Empire wore fairly standardised dress and armour. However the concept of uniforms was not part of their culture and there were considerable differences in detail.

Even the armour mass produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin.

Fragments of surviving clothing and wall paintings indicate that the basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or undyed (off-white) wool. Senior commanders are known to have worn white cloaks and plumes.

The centurions who made up the long serving backbone of the legions were distinguished by traverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments corresponding to modern medals and the long cudgels that they carried.

The regular thematic (provincial) and Tagmata (central) troops of the Byzantine Empire (East Roman) are the first known soldiers to have had what would now be considered regimental or unit identification.

During the tenth century AD each of the cavalry "banda" making up these forces is recorded as having plumes and other distinctions in a distinctive colour.

While some auxiliary cohorts in the late Roman period had carried shields with distinctive colours or designs, there is no evidence that any one Roman legion was distinguished from another by features other than the numbers on the leather covers protecting their shields.

Regards,

Irulan