Gladius: The sword that created the Roman Empire. Roman sword "Gladius": history and description of weapons What is a gladius in ancient Rome

History knows about high level training, perfection of logistics and tactics of legionnaires of the Roman Empire. Of no small importance in achieving the success of many military campaigns of ancient Rome was the quality of the equipment of its army. One of the most common types of weapons at that time, which was equipped with it personnel, was a Roman sword.

Manufacturing technology

The Roman sword, compared to the similar Celtic one, is considered more durable. During forging, all the rules of blacksmithing were observed: the composite steel was homogenized using multi-layer beating and hardening. The tempering procedure was also used by blacksmiths.

Materials

Ancient craftsmen involved in the production of various things had a clear idea of ​​what a high-quality Roman sword should be like. In their opinion, this type of weapon should have a soft core and be as hard as possible on the outside. For this, the blacksmiths of the Roman Empire used composite steel: it consisted of soft and hard grades. By skillfully collecting various steel strips and alternating their softness and hardness, the craftsmen ultimately created a very high-quality Roman sword. The photo below represents the manufacturing process ancient weapons Nowadays.

What were the shortcomings in the production of offensive weapons?

IN blacksmithing The Roman Empire lacked consistency. This is explained by the fact that the masters did not possess the necessary knowledge and were guided primarily by empirical observations. The forging process at the beginning of our era did not include elements of engineering.

And yet, despite a large number of rejected products, the blacksmiths of ancient Rome produced very high-quality samples of swords. After the fall of the empire, the technology used to create the Roman sword was borrowed by other peoples and was used for a long time.

"Gladius": history

“Gladius” is the famous infantry sword of Emperor Tiberius. The sword began to be used by soldiers of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century. BC e.

Sometimes it is also called “Gladius of Mainz” (a city in Germany, homeland of this weapon).

Conclusions about what a Roman sword looks like were made possible by archaeological work carried out in the area.

In the nineteenth century, construction was carried out on the territory of Mainz railway. During the work, it turned out that the rails were laid in an area hidden in the ground of ancient Roman military bases. During the excavations, a rusty sword in an expensive scabbard was discovered.

Characteristics

Let's take a look at the main characteristics of this weapon:

• blade length is 57.5 cm;
• width - 7 cm;
• thickness - 40 mm;
• sword size - 70 cm;
• weight - 8 kg.

What does a Roman sword look like?

The photo below demonstrates the external design features of offensive weapons.

This product is equipped with a double-edged blade and reinforced with a stiffening rib. Closer to the tip, a smooth narrowing of the blade is observed. The handle has a ribbed shape and contains special grooves for the fingers, which ensures a comfortable and reliable hold of the weapon during combat. The massive spherical pommel, located on the handle, is used by the warrior as a support when pulling the blade out of the enemy’s body.

The hemispherical guard, flattened on the sides, prevents possible slipping of the hand when delivering stabbing blows. The Gladius sword is centered in such a way that all the weight is located near the hilt. This made it possible for legionnaires to easily control it during fencing. The Gladius is a very effective weapon for piercing and slashing.

What is shown on the scabbard?

Historians suggest that the Gladius is a reward sword. The owner of this weapon is considered to be one of the legionnaire commanders, and not Tiberius himself. But the name of the product was assigned to it because of the scabbard, on which the founder of Rome, the emperor, and Tiberius, dressed in armor, were depicted sitting on the throne. In addition to the rulers of the Roman Empire, the scabbard depicts the god of war Mars and the goddess of victory Victoria, who in Greek mythology had the name Nika. In the middle of the scabbard, as a decoration, there was a round plaque with a portrait of Tiberius. Underneath is a skillfully executed frame in the form

How were swords worn in the Roman Empire?

To carry swords, the scabbard was equipped with special rings, which were attached to beautiful frames in the form of laurel branches imitating a wreath. Roman swords for legionnaires were attached to the right, and for the elite and military commanders - on the left side.

Since 1866, the Roman sword “Gladius” has been kept in the British Museum.

“The sword is sharper than the point of a Roman soldier!”
The sword will sparkle, and I see Rome in it!”
Elena Schwartz

The passion for weapons is ineradicable in men's hearts. How many things have been invented, invented, improved! And some things have already become history.

The most important species melee weapons close combat in ancient times and in the Middle Ages - a sword.

Before the Romans, the main weapon of foot soldiers was the spear. The sword was used only as a last resort - to finish off a defeated enemy, or in case the spear breaks.

“Gladius or gladius (lat. gladius) is a Roman short sword (up to 60 centimeters).
Used for combat in the ranks. Although it was possible to slash with a gladius, it was believed that you could only kill an enemy with a piercing blow, and the gladius was intended for such blows. Gladiuses were most often made of iron. But you can also find mention of bronze swords.”

This sword has been in use since the 4th century BC. to 2nd century AD The Gladius was made in two modifications: the early one - Meinz Gladius, it was produced until 50 AD. and Pompeii Gladius after 50 AD. Of course, this division is conditional; in parallel with the new swords, old ones were also used.
The dimensions of the gladius varied: 64-81 cm - full length, 4-8 cm - width, weight up to 1.6 kg.

Mainz Gladius.

The sword seems to be fitted, has a smoothly tapering tip, the balance of the sword is good for a piercing blow, which was preferable for fighting in close formation.

Full length: 74 cm
Blade length: 53 cm
Handle and pommel length: 21 cm
Center of gravity location: 6.35 cm from the guard
Weight: 1.134 kg

Pompeii Gladius.

This sword is more suitable for chopping than its predecessor; its end is not so pointed, and its center of gravity is shifted towards the tip.

Full length: 75cm
Blade length: 56 cm
Handle length with pommel: 19 cm
Center of gravity location: 11 cm from the guard
Weight: up to 900 gr.

As you know, in Sparta all men owned weapons: citizens were forbidden to engage in any craft or even study it. The ideals of this warlike state are best evidenced by the statements of the Spartans themselves:

“The borders of Sparta are as far as this spear can reach” (Agesilaus, Spartan king).

“We use short swords in war because we fight close to the enemy” (Antalactidas, Spartan naval commander and politician).

“My sword is sharper than slander” (Fearid, Spartan).

“Even if there is no other benefit, the sword will become dull on me” (an unknown blind Spartan who asked to be taken to war).

The peculiarity of the short swords of Greek warriors, convenient in close formation, was that they did not have a pointed end and the blows were only chopping. The blows inflicted were parried with a shield and only in rare cases with a sword: the weapon was too short, poorly tempered, and the hands, as a rule, were not protected.

In Ancient Rome, unlike Sparta, military physical training was not a state matter, but a family matter. Until the age of 15, children were raised by their parents in private schools, where they received this training. And from the age of 16, young men entered military camps, where they improved their combat skills, for this they used all kinds of shells - stuffed animals dug into the ground, wooden swords and sticks. There were instructors in the Roman army, they were called “doctors of arms,” and they were very respected people.

So, the short swords of the Roman legionnaires were intended to deliver a piercing blow during the battle in tightly closed rows and at very close range from the enemy. These swords were made of very low-grade iron. The short Roman sword - gladius, a democratic weapon of mass foot battles, aroused contempt among barbarian tribes (where long ones were highly valued expensive swords made of superior steel, whose properties were not inferior to Damascus damask steel), and among the Hellenic environment, which used high-quality bronze armor. However, Roman war tactics brought this particular sword to the forefront, making it the main weapon for building the Roman Empire.

The Roman infantry sword was an ideal melee weapon; it could stab, cut, and chop. They could fight both in and out of formation. They could fight both on land and at sea in boarding battles. On foot and on horseback.

All Roman military organization, battle tactics were adjusted to foot legions armed with straight swords. And so, first the Etruscans were conquered. In this war, the Romans perfected the tactics and features of combat formations. The First Punic War gave military training to a huge number of legionnaires.

The battle usually took place according to the following scenario.

While camping, the Romans fortified it and surrounded it with a palisade, a ditch and a parapet. Offensive or throwing weapon at that time it was still too imperfect to destroy the obstacle that such structures represented. As a result, the army, strengthened in this way, considered itself completely safe from attack and could, at its own discretion, give battle now or wait for a more favorable time.

Before the battle, the Roman army left its camp through several gates and formed a battle formation either in front of the camp fortifications or at a short distance from them. There were many reasons for this: firstly, the army was under the cover of towers and other camp structures and vehicles, secondly, it was very difficult to force it to turn its rear and, finally, even in case of defeat, the camp was a reliable refuge for it, due to which the winner could not pursue him and take advantage of his victory.

The legionnaires of the first row of the first line, covering themselves with shields, quickly approached the enemy and, approaching within the distance of throwing a dart (about 25-30 meters), fired a general volley, and the warriors of the 2nd row threw their spears into the gaps between the soldiers of the first row. The Roman dart was almost 2 meters long, with an iron tip taking up almost half the length. They made a thickening at the end of the tip and sharpened it so that, when stuck into the shield, it stuck tightly to us! It was almost impossible to get him out. Therefore, the enemy had to simply throw away these shields! Darts were also very effective weapons against light cavalry.

Then both lines of enemies entered into hand-to-hand combat with swords in their hands, with the legionnaires of the rear rows pressing against the front rows, supporting them and, if necessary, replacing them. Further, the battle was a chaotic skirmish, breaking up into the struggle of individual warriors with each other. This is where a short but convenient sword came in handy. He didn't demand large scale, but the length of the blade made it possible to reach the enemy even from the back row.

The second line of both troops served as support for the first; the third was a reserve. The number of wounded and killed during the battle itself was usually very small, since the armor and shield served as fairly good protection for the blows of the enemy’s sword. And if the enemy fled... Then detachments of lightly armed soldiers and the victor’s cavalry rushed to pursue the infantry of the defeated army, which was forced to turn their rear. Deprived of cover and left to their own devices, the fugitives usually abandoned their shields and helmets; It was then that they were overtaken by the enemy cavalry with its long swords. Thus, the defeated army suffered huge losses. That is why in those days the first battle was usually decisive and sometimes ended the war. This also explains the fact that the losses of the winners were always very insignificant. So, for example, Caesar at Pharsalus lost only 200 legionnaires and 30 centurions, at Thapsus only 50 people, at Munda his losses reached only up to 1000 people, counting both legionnaires and horsemen; There were 500 people wounded in this battle.

Continuous training and excellent organization have done their job. It was precisely these tactics that defeated the hitherto invincible Macedonian phalanx of King Pyrrhus. This is exactly how the famous Hannibal was defeated, who was not helped by war elephants, archers, or numerous cavalry. Even the brilliant Archimedes could not save Syracuse from the powerful and battle-honed Roman military machine. And the Mediterranean Sea at that time was not called anything other than Mare Romanul - the Roman Sea. North African Carthage held out the longest, but alas... it suffered the same fate. Queen Cleopatra surrendered Egypt without a fight. Great Britain, Spain and half of Europe were then under Roman rule.

And all this was done by the Roman infantry, armed with a straight short sword - a gladius.

Today, a Roman sword can be bought at any souvenir weapons store. Of course it's not as popular as Japanese katana or knight swords. It is too simple, devoid of an aura of legend and design sophistication. However... When you see such a sword in a store or among your friends, remember what is written above. After all, this sword won half ancient world and brought entire nations into awe.

Any empire must constantly expand its borders. This is an axiom. This means that it is simply obliged to have a powerful and well-organized military machine. The Roman Empire in this regard can be called a standard, a model from which all subsequent “imperialists” took their example, from Charlemagne to the British kings.

The Roman army was, without a doubt, the most formidable force in Antiquity. The famous legions turned the Mediterranean Sea, in fact, into an internal Roman lake; in the west they reached Foggy Albion, and in the east - to the deserts of Mesopotamia. It was a real military mechanism, well trained and organized. After the fall of Rome, it took Europe hundreds of years to reach the level of training, discipline and tactical proficiency of the Roman legionnaires.

The most famous piece of equipment of the Roman legionnaire is, without a doubt, the short sword gladius. This weapon can be called real business card Roman infantryman and is well known to us from many historical films and books. And this is absolutely fair, because the very history of the conquests of the Roman Empire was written in short gladiuses. Why did it become the main bladed weapon of the Roman infantry? What did this sword look like and what is its history?

Description and classification

Gladius or gladius is a straight short one-handed sword, probably borrowed by the Romans from the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. The length of the double-edged blade of later modifications of this weapon did not exceed 60 cm; early versions of the gladius had a longer blade (up to 70 cm). Gladius belongs to the piercing-cutting group bladed weapons. Most often, these weapons were made of iron, but bronze swords of this type are also known. The samples that have come down to us (dating from the 2nd-3rd centuries AD) were made of high-quality forged steel.

The gladius could be made of several strips of metal with different characteristics, chained together, or made from one piece high carbon steel. The blade had a diamond-shaped cross-section, sometimes the name of the owner or some motto was applied to them.

This sword has a well-defined edge, which allows you to deliver powerful, accented stabbing blows. Of course, it was also possible to deliver slashing blows with a gladius, but the Romans considered them to be secondary, unable to cause serious damage to the enemy. Distinctive feature The gladius had a massive pommel that balanced the blade and made the balance of the weapon more convenient. Today, historians know four types of gladius:

• Spanish;
• "Mainz"
• Fulham;
• "Pompeii".

The last three types of gladius are named after the cities near which they were found.

• The Spanish gladius is considered the earliest modification of this weapon. Its total length was approximately 75-85 cm, the dimensions of the blade were 60-65 cm, the width was 5 cm. The “Spaniard” weighed from 0.9 to 1 kg, and its blade had characteristic curves (“waist”), the shape of the blade was somewhat reminiscent of ancient Greek swords;
• "Mainz". This gladius also had a “waist,” but it was much less pronounced than the Spanish version. But the tip of the weapon has noticeably lengthened, while it has become lighter and shorter. The overall size of the Mainz was 65-70 cm, the blade length was 50-55 cm, the blade width was 7 cm. This gladius weighed approximately 0.8 kg;
• The Fulham-type Gladius was generally very similar to the Mainz, but it became even narrower, “straighter” and lighter. The total size of this weapon was 65-70 cm, of which the blade accounted for 50-55 cm, the width of the Fulham blade was approximately 7 cm, and it weighed 700 grams. This sword completely lacked the leaf-like curves of the blade;
• "Pompeii". This type of sword is considered the latest; it can be called the “peak” of the evolution of gladiuses. The blades of the Pompeii blade are completely parallel, its tip has a triangular shape, and in appearance this gladius is very similar to another Roman sword - the spatha, although much smaller. General dimensions swords of the “Pompeii” type are 60-65 cm, they had a blade 45-50 cm long and about 5 cm wide, such a weapon weighed about 700 grams.

As can be easily seen, the evolution of the gladius followed the path of its shortening and lightening, which improved the “stabbing” functions of this weapon.

Gladius history

Before talking about the glorious battle path, which passed this famous Roman sword, one should understand its very name, because historians still do not have a single generally accepted theory why this weapon began to be called “gladius”.

There is a theory that the name comes from the Latin word caulis, which means stem. It looks quite plausible, given the shape and small size of the weapon. According to another version, this term may come from another Roman word - clades, which translates as “wound, injury.” Some experts believe that "gladius" comes from the Celtic word kladyos, which literally translates to "sword." Given the likely Spanish origin of the gladius, the latter assumption seems the most logical.

There are other hypotheses about the origin of the name gladius. It is very similar to the name of the flower gladiolus, which translates to “little sword” or “little gladius.” But in this case, most likely, the plant was named after the weapon, and not vice versa.

Be that as it may, the first mentions of gladius swords date back to approximately the third century BC. Moreover, the most famous sword of the empire was actually not invented by the Romans, but borrowed by them. The first name of this weapon is gladius Hispaniensis, which quite confidently suggests its Pyrenean origin. The Celtiberians, a warlike tribe that lived in northeastern Spain and for a long time who fought in Rome.

Initially, the Romans used the heaviest and longest version of the gladius - the Spanish type of sword. also in historical sources it is reported that the first gladiuses were extremely Low quality: Their steel was so soft that after the battle the soldiers had to straighten their weapons with their feet.

Initially, the gladius was not widely used; its widespread use began already in the imperial period of Roman history. It is likely that at first gladiuses were used only as additional weapons. And the point here is not the poor quality of the metal. So that the gladius becomes the most known weapons empire, the battle tactics themselves had to change, the famous Roman close formation was born, in which the advantages of the short gladius were most fully revealed. In conditions of an open formation, it is much more convenient to use a spear, ax or long sword.

But in close formation it was a real “weapon of death.” The legionnaires, covering themselves with a large scatum shield, approached the enemy closely, and then used gladiuses. He was extremely comfortable in the close fighting mass of soldiers. No armor could protect the enemy from the powerful stabbing blow of the gladius. The famous Roman historian Polybius noted in his “General History”: “Having deprived the Galatians of the ability to chop - the only way of fighting characteristic of them, for their swords do not have an edge - the Romans made their enemies incapable of battle; They themselves used straight swords, with which they did not chop, but stabbed, which is what the tip of the weapon served for.”

As a rule, when using gladiuses, we were not talking about any complex and elegant fencing; quick and short blows were delivered with this sword. Although, experienced warriors knew how to fence with a gladius, using not only piercing, but also slashing blows. And, of course, the gladius was exclusively infantry weapons. There was no question of any use in cavalry with such a blade length.

The short sword had another advantage. During the period of Antiquity, steel was scarce, and it was of frankly poor quality. Therefore, the shorter the length of the blade, the lower the likelihood that it will suddenly break in battle. In addition, the gladius was good from an economic point of view: its small size significantly reduced the price of the weapon, which made it possible to arm numerous Roman legions with these swords. However, the main thing, of course, was high efficiency gladius.

The Spanish gladius has been used since the 2nd century BC. e. until the first decades new era. Swords like "Mainz" and "Fulham" were used at approximately the same time, and the differences between them are, in fact, minimal. Some experts consider them to be the same type of sword. Both of these types of weapons were clearly intended primarily for stabbing.

But the fourth type of gladius – “Pompeii” – could be used not only for injections, but also for inflicting cut wounds. It is believed that this sword appeared around the middle of the first century AD. During excavations in the Roman city of Pompeii, four swords of this type were found, which is how it got its name.

It is curious that the gladius was not only the “statutory” weapon of the Roman legionnaire, but also emphasized his status: ordinary legionnaires wore it on their right side, and “junior command staff” wore it on their right.

Around the third century AD, the gladius gradually began to fall out of use. And again it was a matter of changes in battle tactics. The famous Roman closed formation was no longer so effective and was used less and less, so the importance of the gladius began to decrease. Although, their use continued until the decline of the great empire.

At the same time, a different type of blade appeared in the arsenal of the Roman army - the heavy cavalry spatha. At first, this sword was borrowed by the Romans from the Gauls, who soon became the basis of the cavalry of Rome. However, the barbarian sword was modified and received the easily recognizable features of a gladius - a well-defined tip of a characteristic shape, allowing for powerful piercing blows. Thus, a sword appeared that could both stab and cut the enemy well at the same time. The Roman spatha is considered the forerunner of all European medieval swords, starting from the Carolingian Viking blades, ending with the two-handed giants of the late Middle Ages. So we can safely say that the famous gladius did not die, but was simply reborn into a weapon that was used in Europe for hundreds of years.

The passion for weapons is ineradicable in men's hearts. How many things have been invented, invented, improved! And some things have already become history.

The most important type of hand-to-hand melee weapon in antiquity and the Middle Ages was the sword.

Before the Romans, the main weapon of foot soldiers was the spear. The sword was used only as a last resort - to finish off a defeated enemy, or in case the spear breaks.

“Gladius or gladius (lat. gladius) is a Roman short sword (up to 60 centimeters).
Used for combat in the ranks. Although it was possible to slash with a gladius, it was believed that you could only kill an enemy with a piercing blow, and the gladius was intended for such blows. Gladiuses were most often made of iron. But you can also find mention of bronze swords.”

This sword has been in use since the 4th century BC. to 2nd century AD The Gladius was made in two modifications: the early one - Meinz Gladius, it was produced until 50 AD. and Pompeii Gladius after 50 AD. Of course, this division is conditional; in parallel with the new swords, old ones were also used.
The dimensions of the gladius varied: 64-81 cm - full length, 4-8 cm - width, weight up to 1.6 kg.

Mainz Gladius.

The sword seems to be fitted, has a smoothly tapering tip, the balance of the sword is good for a piercing blow, which was preferable for fighting in close formation.

Full length: 74 cm
Blade length: 53 cm
Handle and pommel length: 21 cm
Center of gravity location: 6.35 cm from the guard
Weight: 1.134 kg

Pompeii Gladius.

This sword is more suitable for chopping than its predecessor; its end is not so pointed, and its center of gravity is shifted towards the tip.

Full length: 75cm
Blade length: 56 cm
Handle length with pommel: 19 cm
Center of gravity location: 11 cm from the guard
Weight: up to 900 gr.

As you know, in Sparta all men owned weapons: citizens were forbidden to engage in any craft or even study it. The ideals of this warlike state are best evidenced by the statements of the Spartans themselves:

“The borders of Sparta are as far as this spear can reach” (Agesilaus, Spartan king).

“We use short swords in war because we fight close to the enemy” (Antalactidas, Spartan naval commander and politician).

“My sword is sharper than slander” (Fearid, Spartan).

“Even if there is no other benefit, the sword will become dull on me” (an unknown blind Spartan who asked to be taken to war).

The peculiarity of the short swords of Greek warriors, convenient in close formation, was that they did not have a pointed end and the blows were only chopping. The blows inflicted were parried with a shield and only in rare cases with a sword: the weapon was too short, poorly tempered, and the hands, as a rule, were not protected.

In Ancient Rome, unlike Sparta, military physical training was not a state matter, but a family matter. Until the age of 15, children were raised by their parents in private schools, where they received this training. And from the age of 16, young men entered military camps, where they improved their combat skills, for this they used all kinds of projectiles - stuffed animals dug into the ground, wooden swords and sticks. There were instructors in the Roman army, they were called “doctors of arms,” and they were very respected people.

So, the short swords of the Roman legionnaires were intended to deliver a piercing blow during battle in tightly closed rows and at a very close distance from the enemy. These swords were made of very low-grade iron. The short Roman sword - gladius, a democratic weapon of mass foot battles, aroused contempt both among the barbarian tribes (where long, expensive swords made of excellent steel, whose properties were not inferior to Damascus damask steel, were highly valued), and among the Hellenic environment, which used high-quality bronze armor. However, Roman war tactics brought this particular sword to the forefront, making it the main weapon for building the Roman Empire.

The Roman infantry sword was an ideal melee weapon; it could stab, cut, and chop. They could fight both in and out of formation. They could fight both on land and at sea in boarding battles. On foot and on horseback.

The entire Roman military organization and battle tactics were tailored to foot legions armed with straight swords. And so, first the Etruscans were conquered. In this war, the Romans perfected the tactics and features of combat formations. The First Punic War gave military training to a huge number of legionnaires.

The battle usually took place according to the following scenario.

While camping, the Romans fortified it and surrounded it with a palisade, a ditch and a parapet. Offensive or throwing weapons at that time were still too imperfect to destroy the obstacle that such structures represented. As a result, the army, strengthened in this way, considered itself completely safe from attack and could, at its own discretion, give battle now or wait for a more favorable time.

Before the battle, the Roman army left its camp through several gates and formed a battle formation either in front of the camp fortifications or at a short distance from them. There were many reasons for this: firstly, the army was under the cover of towers and other camp structures and vehicles, secondly, it was very difficult to force it to turn its rear and, finally, even in case of defeat, the camp was a reliable refuge for it, due to which the winner could not pursue him and take advantage of his victory.

The legionnaires of the first row of the first line, covering themselves with shields, quickly approached the enemy and, approaching within the distance of throwing a dart (about 25-30 meters), fired a general volley, and the warriors of the 2nd row threw their spears into the gaps between the soldiers of the first row. The Roman dart was almost 2 meters long, with an iron tip taking up almost half the length. They made a thickening at the end of the tip and sharpened it so that, when stuck into the shield, it stuck tightly to us! It was almost impossible to get him out. Therefore, the enemy had to simply throw away these shields! Darts were also very effective weapons against light cavalry.

Then both lines of enemies entered into hand-to-hand combat with swords in their hands, with the legionnaires of the rear rows pressing against the front rows, supporting them and, if necessary, replacing them. Further, the battle was a chaotic skirmish, breaking up into the struggle of individual warriors with each other. This is where a short but convenient sword came in handy. It did not require a large swing, but the length of the blade made it possible to reach the enemy even from the back row.

The second line of both troops served as support for the first; the third was a reserve. The number of wounded and killed during the battle itself was usually very small, since the armor and shield served as fairly good protection for the blows of the enemy’s sword. And if the enemy fled... Then detachments of lightly armed soldiers and the victor’s cavalry rushed to pursue the infantry of the defeated army, which was forced to turn their rear. Deprived of cover and left to their own devices, the fugitives usually abandoned their shields and helmets; It was then that they were overtaken by the enemy cavalry with its long swords. Thus, the defeated army suffered huge losses. That is why in those days the first battle was usually decisive and sometimes ended the war. This also explains the fact that the losses of the winners were always very insignificant. So, for example, Caesar at Pharsalus lost only 200 legionnaires and 30 centurions, at Thapsus only 50 people, at Munda his losses reached only up to 1000 people, counting both legionnaires and horsemen; There were 500 people wounded in this battle.

Continuous training and excellent organization have done their job. It was precisely these tactics that defeated the hitherto invincible Macedonian phalanx of King Pyrrhus. This is exactly how the famous Hannibal was defeated, who was not helped by war elephants, archers, or numerous cavalry. Even the brilliant Archimedes could not save Syracuse from the powerful and battle-honed Roman military machine. And the Mediterranean Sea at that time was not called anything other than Mare Romanul - the Roman Sea. North African Carthage held out the longest, but alas... it suffered the same fate. Queen Cleopatra surrendered Egypt without a fight. Great Britain, Spain and half of Europe were then under Roman rule.

And all this was done by the Roman infantry, armed with a straight short sword - a gladius.

Today, a Roman sword can be bought at any souvenir weapons store. Of course, it is not as popular as the Japanese katana or knight's swords. It is too simple, devoid of an aura of legend and design sophistication. However... When you see such a sword in a store or among your friends, remember what is written above. After all, this sword conquered half of the ancient world and brought entire nations into awe.

Good day, dear ones. Today's guest is a representative Roman bladed weapon - Gladius sword.

Short Roman sword gladius- the most important type of hand-to-hand melee melee weapon in ancient times, which was initially used to execute criminals, and then was adopted by legionnaires. This edged weapon belongs to piercing-cutting-slashing type.

origin of name

There are different theories about the origin of the name gladius, which turned out to be very controversial among scientists. Latin word Gladius, means " stem“, which is perfect for designating a new type of edged weapon - the Roman sword. Word gladius the sound also turned out to be similar to the designation of a gladiator - translated from Latin “ fencer". The name is similar to the famous gladiolus flower, which has sword-like leaves. Gladiolus translated from Latin means “ small sword", i.e. reduced size gladius.

Use of Roman swords

As an instrument of execution in Rome gladius began to be used to replace the ancient axes. This was his first purpose. It was also initially used as a weapon for the Roman infantry when it was necessary to finish off a defeated enemy. Then the sword began to successfully replace broken ones and was suitable for close combat by Roman legionnaires.

Legionnaire status was determined by how he carried his sword. Ordinary soldiers wore it on their right side, and centurions, who were considered commanders, albeit junior ones, are on the left.

- not just a Roman sword. It was intended for infantry. The cavalry was equipped with other swords. The infantry fought in close formation, shoulder to shoulder. Even if the formation of the Roman legionnaires was broken, the distance was not too wide for penetration into his rear.

In close combat, long weapons lose their destructive power, that's why gladius was ideal for infantry. His short blade in the close quarters of a dense formation of warriors, it made it possible to deliver effective and powerful blows.

A big plus for the Roman army was the low cost of production of such swords. Its modest size made it possible to use not only very little metal, but also not very high-quality material without compromising the strength of the blade: everyone knows that the shorter the blade, the stronger it is.

History and types of gladius

The very first gladius were analogue ancient Greek swords. They had a pronounced leaf-shaped form, wooden handle and weighed up to 1 kg. It was pretty short weapon. It is all the more surprising that later, with its help, Roman legionnaires conquered half the world.

From the 3rd century BC, the Romans began to use swords similar to those used Celtiberians- tribes of northeastern Spain that appeared on the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th-3rd centuries BC as a result of the mixing of the Iberians with the Celts.

Gladius of the Celtiberians was known as Spanish sword — Gladius Hispaniensis. Later, other types of gladius appeared, designated by researchers as Mainz, Fulham And Pompeii- the most effective of the gladiuses. Pompeii focused on delivering slashing, not just piercing blows.

A fully equipped Roman legionnaire had a shield, spears, gladius, Sometimes . He threw spears before close contact appeared, while the enemy was at a sufficiently far distance. When approaching the enemy, the soldier covered himself with a shield and used a gladius.

The Roman warrior was finally added to the list of weapons for stabbing in order to deliver stabbing blows from behind a shield. At the same time, all types of gladius were suitable for delivering cutting and chopping blows.

By the end of the 3rd century BC, gladiuses lost their importance. It turned out to be ineffective even Pompeii. Unlike previous centuries, the tactics of the legions became more defensive, and therefore there was a need for long swords even for infantry. For changing gladius came spatha — cavalry sword, which was suitable for single battles and battles in free formation.

The Spanish gladius was known before the beginning of our era. It was distinguished by the length of the blade, which did not exceed 68 cm with a total sword length of up to 85 cm and a width of up to 5 cm. Of all the known gladiuses, it was the largest and heaviest.

If you wish and if you have a forge in close proximity to fans of edged weapons, it is not difficult to make a gladius. As stated above, it does not require high alloy steels or alloys.