Arming the Etruscan lower orders

Etruscan society was highly stratified. Citizens of wealth and rank (hoi dynatotatoi) provided the hoplite phalanx backed up by their vassals (penestes).  The Etruscans were loath to arm the lower orders of society. When such men were called up they were lightly armoured with oval/rectangular shields and heavy javelins — forerunners of the Roman scuta and pila.

Dionysius of Halicarnassus wrote that some Etruscan cities used mercenaries to swell their ranks and I have decided to paint my 3^rd class warriors as such. These men might come from anywhere in Italy and further afield. Greek mercenaries were certainly employed.

Red tunics were often won by Etruscan warriors and were also typical of Hellenistic mercenaries. So all these men have tunics in varying shades of red. This helps to give the unit a coherent look.

Most contemporary paintings of thuereoi and scuta depict them plain-faced (usually white) or perhaps only the rim and central rib painted. I decided that these mercenaries had time kicking their heels in Tarquinia and passed some of it painting their shields with individual designs to show off their prowess in war. Or perhaps they spent a bit of their battlefield loot to get a local artist to do it for them.

These 4^th class warriors are levied from the poorer Etruscans, lightly equipped by their city or patron. They have simple helmets and no other armour. I decided to give them plain-faced unpainted shields. Assuming these are men equipped by different patrons I have mixed the shields to include round clipea as well as semi-rectangular scuta and oval thuereoi.

We have no contemporary illustrations of such men as only the wealthier citizens were deemed suitable for painting. I have assumed that most would wear undyed linen or wool tunics.

The role of the Class III and IV warriors is to break up the enemy formation with their heavy javelins. Then the better armed hoplites will close in for the kill. The figures are a mix of Victrix plastic Italians and Thuereophori, Agema plastic Velites and Legionaries, Footsore, Agema and Relic metals.

Leading them is a young Etruscan noble eager to make a name for himself. The leader and musician are Agema metals.

My Etruscan foot from 1^st to 4^th class are now complete and in the display case awaiting the cavalry and skirmishers. Then I will have the basic Etruscan force for Andy Hawes’ Duc Italica rules.