Roman Sandals Caligae

Description of the Product

These heavy-duty Roman sandals were worn by both roman legionaries and regular roman citizens and peasants. These sandals were the standard boots for the Roman legions foot-soldiers, auxiliaries and lower rank cavalrymen also. Hobnails weren't always used in civilian use, but hobnails in the sole were the standard for the Roman armies.

Caligae have very thick leather soles with iron hobnails. The top of these boots/sandals is left open and is tied down by leather ropes.

Caligae would have been cooler on the march than enclosed boots, with sturdy and durable soles, making caligae the perfect marching shoe for the armies. In warm southern Europe these open shoes were perfect all year round and in northern Britain's cold, wet climate, additional woven socks and wool wadding helped to keep the feet warm. The open top of these boots wasn't a good design for winter shoes and in northern Europe Caligae were switched to closed boots by the end of 2nd century CE.

The third Roman emperor Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus got his nickname Caligula after these sandals. As a 2-3 year old little boy he was on a war campaign with his father in Germania and fully dressed up in military gear alongside with the appropriate military boots. His father's soldiers started to call him "Caligula" that is diminutive of caliga meaning "little caliga" or "little shoe" after his tiny military boots. This little boy grew to become the Emperor, but the nickname stuck.

This product is made with natural leather. It may contain imperfections or not be 100% regular. The roughness or color may vary slightly. The tinting is done by natural methods and the final finish may vary slightly depending on the original leather tone.

• Made of 3 mm thick leather
• Nailed thick leather soles
• Iron hobnails in the sole
• Colour: brown
• Available in sizes 40-47. The sizing runs very large, so please use the length guide for choosing the best size, not your actual shoe size.

Sizes available: