Steel Tiger
Senior Master
While hunting about looking for interesting tidbits of information I happened across this. It is from Livy's History of Rome, and may be the earliest reference to a Roman using a gladius hispaniensis. I thought someone might find it interesting.
I have emphasised the most pertinent part. Now the shield that Manlius was using would have been of the early Republican type with a rounded top and bottom and was probably slightly lighter (probably not significant) than the iconic rectangular shields of the middle empire, so this technique may not have continued beyond the changes in shield design.
What is interesting is the way in which he used the sword, close-in with upward thrusts from low down. It is quite different to the images we get of Roman legionaires standing with their swords slightly above waist height, pressed firmly against the rim of their shields, and apparently ready to thrust straight forward.
This is, of course, an image of individual combat, but what it does do is present another way of looking at the gladius, which, due to imperial imagery, has come down to us as an almost archetypical close order fighting weapon (a task it is very well suited to).
This particular variety of the gladius was probably about 75-80cm long with a 65cm blade and probably weighed around 1.4kg, a form that continued in use until about 20BC.
I also quite like the name of the Roman involved - Titus Manlius.
When they had taken their stand between the two armies, while so many hearts around them were in suspense between hope and fear, the Gaul, like a great overhanging mass, held out his shield on his left arm to meet his adversary's blows and aimed a tremendous cut downwards with his sword. The Roman evaded the blow, and pushing aside the bottom of the Gaul's shield with his own, he slipped under it close up to the Gaul, too near for him to get at him with his sword. Then turning the point of his blade upwards, he gave two rapid thrusts in succession and stabbed the Gaul in the belly and the groin, laying his enemy prostrate over a large extent of ground. He left the body of his fallen foe undespoiled with the exception of his chain, which though smeared with blood he placed round his own neck. Astonishment and fear kept the Gauls motionless; the Romans ran eagerly forward from their lines to meet their warrior, and amidst cheers and congratulations they conducted him to the Dictator. In the doggerel verses which they extemporised in his honour they called him Torquatus ("adorned with a chain"), and this soubriquet became for his posterity a proud family name. The Dictator gave him a golden crown, and before the whole army alluded to his victory in terms of the highest praise. The History of Rome, vol II, 7.10 - Livy
I have emphasised the most pertinent part. Now the shield that Manlius was using would have been of the early Republican type with a rounded top and bottom and was probably slightly lighter (probably not significant) than the iconic rectangular shields of the middle empire, so this technique may not have continued beyond the changes in shield design.
What is interesting is the way in which he used the sword, close-in with upward thrusts from low down. It is quite different to the images we get of Roman legionaires standing with their swords slightly above waist height, pressed firmly against the rim of their shields, and apparently ready to thrust straight forward.
This is, of course, an image of individual combat, but what it does do is present another way of looking at the gladius, which, due to imperial imagery, has come down to us as an almost archetypical close order fighting weapon (a task it is very well suited to).
This particular variety of the gladius was probably about 75-80cm long with a 65cm blade and probably weighed around 1.4kg, a form that continued in use until about 20BC.
I also quite like the name of the Roman involved - Titus Manlius.