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of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that the gladius was superseded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 spatha was technologically advanced, with a carefully controlled
use of steel. Easy maintenance was key to its success and the spatha
was designed to be easily repaired in the field where access to a forge
may have been limited. It remained the main Roman sword into the Late
Roman period and its influence survived into the Dark Ages with
Byzantine, Carolingian, and Viking blades.
Drawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts, and the
results of the latest scientific analyses of the blades, renowned
authority M.C. Bishop reveals the full history of the development,
technology, training, and use of the spatha: the sword that defended
an empire.
