ROMAN HELMETS: MONTEFORTINO TYPE                             

Roman Republic through Augustan Period

Used from: Ca. 300 BC-AD 70

Used by: Legionary infantry, some types of cavalry, auxiliaries and allied troops, officers and specialists of all types, centurion and below.

AH6050 - Deepeeka Republican Montefortino      $285

Montefortino A / B (4^th - 3^rd century BC)

Authenticity Rating: 9

The Montefortino type helmet, so called because its type find was discovered at the Necropolis at Montefortino, Italy, is the classic helmet associated with the Republican period.  Originally of Celtic design, the Montefortino quickly found its way into usage in the legions of the Roman Republic.  It privileges visibility over protection and incorporates a high crown that would deflect blows downward due to the curvature of the bowl.  Helmets of this type had a shallow, sloped neck guard that also was intended to deflect potentially lethal blows away from the neck.  As time wore on, neck guards grew larger and flatter.  Cheek guards were also a feature of this helm, providing protection for the majority of the face, while leaving the nose and eyes uncovered.  This helmet was made of copper alloys, initially bronze, and later under the early Empire, were made of brass, due to Augustus’ institution of using the metal orichalcum (modern brass) for Roman coinage, which conversely affected the metals available for military materiel. 

While other Roman helmets may be more readily recognizable to the average movie-goer and more commonly associated with the Roman legions, due to costuming decisions of the popular media, the Montefortino helmet was the primary helmet worn by legionaries during the expansion phases of the Roman Empire.  Caesar’s legions might have worn a mix of Montefortino and early Coolus helmets as they invaded Gaul and then advanced on Rome during the Civil Wars.  The Montefortino’s usage lasted even as late as the civil war of 69 AD. 

The Deepeeka Republican Montefortino (AH6050) is a newly revised design, incorporating advice from some of the finest of scholars and historians on the discussion board, Roman Army Talk.  This model conforms most closely to the Montefortino A, which might have been worn by the legions that conquered Hannibal’s Carthage, and may even have remained in usage until the late Republic, being sported by Caesar’s and Pompey’s legions alike.  We give it a rating of 9 on our authenticity scale. The main thing that keeps it from a higher rating is that the material of manufacture is brass, rather than bronze. One caveat to the buyer is that current production of this helmet has rendered it in a very large size.  The inside circumference around the headband has been measured at an average of 26 inches (which would fit a size large head, when fully padded for use).  Deepeeka has promised smaller sizes to be made available soon.

Conglomerate representation conforming to an early Imperial Montefortino (circa 1^st century AD)

Authenticity Rating: 7.5 (as sold); 8 (with modification)

Deepeeka’s earlier attempts to replicate a Montefortino helmet (AH6063B) were not as successful, but these helmets are still currently available, and may be worthwhile as a basic helmet intended for a little adaptation.  Labeled as a Montefortino B, this replica bears more of a resemblance to later models of the Montefortino and Coolus types, incorporating elements of the model C (its taller bowl and flatter, broader neck guard), E (its straighter sides and more level top), and F (the addition of a brow reinforcement).  As such, this helmet might be the basis for a somewhat reasonable representation of a first century AD Montefortino.  In order to make these changes, the owner will want to remove the brow guard and fill in the attendant hole, in order to replicate a Montofortino C or E.  If one wishes to leave the brow guard, the cheek guards would need to be reshaped to match those of the Montefortino F.  This helmet’s accuracy rating, as sold, would be a 7 to 8.  Deepeeka has been researching a way to offer a more accurate model of Montefortino.