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Message:: [QUOTE="hotwheelsearl, post: 7886193, member: 75143"]I read somewhere, I forget now, that at Hadrian's Wall there were (para)military groups that still maintained uniforms, customs, and courtesies of the Romans up to a few centuries after the Romans official left town. I really wish I could find the article. I as I remember, there was archaeological evidence of antique armor and weapons (dated by coinage found nearby) that was up to 200 years old compared to the coins. There was enough of the antique stuff that the implication was that after the Romans left, some soldiers stayed behind as mercenaries. They then developed a sort of legendary status amongst the locals, who would then join the "Roman" paramilitary/militia group in their everlasting protection of the border. In order to harken back to the good old days, these mercenaries would often use, or at least display/use for ceremonial purposes original armor and weapons from the actual Romans who used them last. The modern equivalent is the Swiss Guard at the Vatican who dress in 16th-17th century attire and wield polearms. [ATTACH=full]1360382[/ATTACH] Another similar case is the US Army's 1st Cavalry Divison, which to this day often continues to wear uniforms about 2 centuries out of date, for the sake of tradition. These guys are regular active duty soldiers approved to wear an antiquated uniform.[ATTACH=full]1360381[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]