Description

Book Synopsis

The Roman long sword, the spatha, was central to the Romans'' defense of their empire--this title investigates the origins, development, combat use, and lasting legacy of this feared close-combat weapon.

Adopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, the spatha, a lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire. Over the following centuries, the blade, its scabbard, and its system of carriage underwent a series of developments, until by the 3rd century AD it was the universal sidearm of both infantry and cavalry.

Thanks to its long reach, the spatha was the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the long gladius hispaniensis in the later Republican period. As the manner in which Roman infantrymen fought evolved, styles of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that the gladius was superseded by the longer spatha during the 2nd century AD. Like the gladius, the spat

Table of Contents
Introduction Development: Changing function Use: The cut and thrust Impact: The sword that defended an empire Conclusion Bibliography Index

The Spatha

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    A Paperback / softback by M.C. Bishop, Peter Dennis

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      Book details

      Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
      Published 23 January 2020
      ISBN-13 9781472832399
      978-1472832399
      ISBN-10 1472832396
      Also in:
      Military History Weapons and equipment Technology, Engineering & Agriculture Ordnance, weapons technology

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      The Roman long sword, the spatha, was central to the Romans'' defense of their empire--this title investigates the origins, development, combat use, and lasting legacy of this feared close-combat weapon.

      Adopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, the spatha, a lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire. Over the following centuries, the blade, its scabbard, and its system of carriage underwent a series of developments, until by the 3rd century AD it was the universal sidearm of both infantry and cavalry.

      Thanks to its long reach, the spatha was the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the long gladius hispaniensis in the later Republican period. As the manner in which Roman infantrymen fought evolved, styles of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that the gladius was superseded by the longer spatha during the 2nd century AD. Like the gladius, the spat

      Table of Contents
      Introduction Development: Changing function Use: The cut and thrust Impact: The sword that defended an empire Conclusion Bibliography Index

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