Did romans have chain mail

The Romans did not typically use chain mail as we know it today. Chain mail, also known as chain armor, is a type of armor made from interlocking iron rings that are linked together to form a protective garment.

While the Romans did use metal armor, their primary armor type was lamellar armor, which consisted of small, overlapping plates of metal (usually bronze or iron) that were sewn or riveted together to form a protective garment. This type of armor was known as "lorica segmentata" or "lorica hamata".

Lamellar armor was used by Roman legionaries and other soldiers from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. It was effective against slashing and piercing attacks, but was not as effective against blunt trauma or crushing blows.

Chain mail, on the other hand, was not widely used by the Romans until the later periods of the empire, around the 4th to 6th centuries AD. During this time, chain mail was used by some Roman soldiers, particularly those serving in the eastern provinces, where it was influenced by the armor used by the Sassanian Empire.

The use of chain mail by the Romans was likely influenced by the Byzantine Empire, which adopted chain mail as a standard component of their armor. The Byzantines, in turn, were influenced by the armor used by the Sassanians, who were known for their use of chain mail.

It's worth noting that the Romans did use some chain-like armor, such as the "lorica squamata", which was a type of armor made from scales or plates of metal that were linked together by chains or straps. However, this type of armor was not the same as the chain mail used by medieval Europeans.