A real historical problem: the lack of evidence
Despite the Trajan’s Dacian Wars being among the best-documented conflicts of the Roman Empire, there is a paradox:
we know surprisingly little about one key element of the legionary’s equipment — the military belt (cingulum).
This is mainly due to archaeological limitations:
- many Dacian War sites have not yet been fully excavated
- surviving finds are scarce or fragmentary
- belts, often made with organic materials, rarely preserve well
As a result, any reconstruction must inevitably involve a degree of interpretation.
How the Roman belt changed in the early 2nd century AD
By the Trajanic period, the cingulum appears to have undergone a significant transformation.
The available evidence suggests:
- belts featured decorated buckles, often with pelta-shaped motifs
- the buckle was attached to a decorative plate
- the absence of the pendants, so typical of the previous periods
This simplification is not accidental.
In earlier periods, the belt also served a structural function: supporting the weight of the sword.
By the early 2nd century AD and already starting from the last quarter of the 1st, however, with the wider adoption of the baldric, this function diminished.
As a consequence:
- less need for metal reinforcement
- simpler belt construction
- decorative emphasis shifted elsewhere
The role of the baldric
Part of the decorative function previously associated with the belt seems to have moved to the shoulder belt.
Reconstruction evidence suggests:
- relatively simple waist belts
- richly decorated baltei with metal studs
- dyed leather (often reconstructed as red, based on iconography)
Understanding this shift is essential to correctly interpreting the overall appearance of a Trajanic legionary.
Our approach: reconstructing between data and uncertainty
This project was driven by a clear goal: to achieve the most historically plausible reconstruction possible, even in the face of incomplete evidence.
Our work was based on:
- the monograph by Stephanie Hoss
- direct consultation with the researcher
- comparative analysis of archaeological finds across the Empire
From initial hypothesis to final reconstruction
At first, the available data seemed to support a very simple model:
- a single plate integrated with the buckle
- no additional decorative plates
However, further research led to a more nuanced picture.
Evidence shows:
- belts with three decorative plates plus a buckle plate
- finds from sites such as Chichester (Britain)
- typologies consistent with the late 1st and early 2nd century AD
In particular, we adopted a configuration consistent with:
👉 Type 6 plates (with three enamelled decorative bands)
These are securely dated to the exact period of the Dacian Wars.
Technical choices in our reconstruction
The Res Bellica belt is the result of a reasoned synthesis:
- Enamelled buckle
- attested from the Flavian period onward
- based on finds from the Danubian region
- Typologically consistent plate
- parallels from Britain
- belonging to the same group as the buckle
- Pelta-shaped strap end
- a widespread decorative motif in Roman art
- Composite leather construction (hypothesis)
- outer leather layer
- internal textile reinforcement
Some aspects remain necessarily hypothetical, but always grounded in documented parallels.
A balance between accuracy and transparency
This is the key point.
There is no single “correct” Dacian War belt.
What exists instead is a range of plausible reconstructions, based on archaeological data, typological comparisons and direct discussion with scholars.
At Res Bellica, our approach is to:
- clearly acknowledge uncertainties
- justify every reconstruction choice
- avoid arbitrary or purely aesthetic solutions
Want to see this reconstruction in detail and the process that led us to its completion? Watch the full video below.
Why this belt is different from the others
It’s not just an accessory.
It’s the result of:
a direct comparison with academic research
an iterative process of revision
a conscious choice among multiple possible hypotheses
👉 In other words: we don’t sell objects, but solid historical interpretations.
⚔️Availability – a single piece ready
This is not a mass-produced item.
This belt is the direct result of the research process you’ve just read about and only one piece is currently available, ready to ship.
👉 If you are reconstructing a Trajanic legionary, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a piece aligned with the most up-to-date research.
Once sold:
- it will not be immediately available again
- any new production will require significant lead time, due to the same research-driven and handcrafted process
👉 Check availability on the Res Bellica website before it’s gone
