Gladius
Specifications
- Type
- Short Sword
- Origin
- Iberian Peninsula / Roman Republic
- Era
- c. 300 BCE – 300 CE
- Notable Users
- Roman legionaries
- Epoch
- Bronze and Iron Ages
History
The gladius hispaniensis — the ‘Spanish sword’ — was the standard sidearm of the Roman legionary for over five centuries. Roughly 60–70 cm long with a double-edged blade and a sharp stabbing point, it was designed for the brutal close-quarters combat of the Roman battle line. Legionaries fought in tight formation behind large shields, using short, economical thrusts to the torso and groin. This technique was devastatingly effective: Livy records that Macedonian soldiers were horrified by the wounds inflicted by the gladius during the Roman conquest of Greece.
Significance
The gladius is the weapon that built the Roman Empire. Its effectiveness was inseparable from the tactical system that employed it — proof that a weapon’s true power lies not in its design alone, but in the doctrine that governs its use.
54 Weapons. Five Epochs. One Poster.
The Gladius is one of 8 weapons from the Bronze and Iron Ages featured on the poster.
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