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The Gladius

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The Gladius

The gladius was the weapon of choice for hand-to-hand combat and probably responsible for more fatalities than any other tool in the Roman legion’s arsenal. This short sword, known as gladius hispaniensis, was originally introduced to Rome by Spanish mercenaries. By 200 BC, the gladius had become more or less a permanent fixture in the Roman legion. It possessed a 50 cm, two-edged blade with a sharp point and was a formidable weapon despite its small size. This quite wonderfully balanced blade, fashioned of Spanish iron, was also the perfect stabbing weapon! But while the gladius was designed as a...

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