25mm Samnites

25mm Samnites

The Samnites comprised of several tribes of native Italians who inhabited the central sine of the Italian mainland.  They were fiercely independent and for several centuries fought against the emerging power of Republican Rome.  During the second Punic War, they allied themselves with Hannibal and the Carthaginians and formed a major part of his army.  After the close of the punic Wars, the Samnites formed separate legions and fought as allies/subjects of Rome.  For each Roman legion, there was at least one allied legion present.  The Campanians were originally Greek colonists who settled on the west coast of Italy in the region of Capua and Naples, South of Rome.  Generally, they were allies of Rome, their cavalry being very good.  They also suppllied mercenaries to Sicily and the Carthaginians.  Eventually they were absorbed into the ever expanding Roman state.  Samnites arms and armour were distinctive.  Short tunics, some breastplate armour, Italian style helmets, various styles of early scutum shield and javelins were their usual weapons.  The Campanians equipment was more Greek in style with more ornate additions to helmets.  Infantry was Greek hoplite type.

CAMPANIAN HOPLITES

CODES 1 - 8 OF THE SAMNITE RANGE CAN BE USED AS CAMPANIANS IF HOPLON SHIELD IS SUBSTITUTED (PLEASE REQUEST IF HOPLON WANTED) ALSO SELECT FIGURES FROM OUR ETRUSCAN OR GREEK RANGES.

OSCAN INFANTRY

CODES 1 - 8 OF THE SAMNITE RANGE ARE SUITABLE FOR OSCAN INFANTRY BY USING CIRCULAR OSIER (WICKER) SHIELDS IN PLACE OF THE SAMNITE TYPES (REQUEST IF OSIER TYPE WANTED), ETRUSCANS AND SAMNITES SOMETIMES USED THE PILUM HEAVY JAVELIN IN PLACE OF OR IN ADDITON TO THE SPEAR. THESE CAN BE PURCHSED IN PACKS OF 8 IF REQUIRED.