The Abandonment of the Gladius for the Spatha - Why?

[Tarbicus]

Well, then; there's something we can disagree on!

Ah, hang on, that's where I really shouldn't post when I'm really tired. I misread your post and mistook for a comment on the crouching fighting stance. Two apologies today. :roll:

The Connolly theory of the crouching stance has nothing to do with kneeling on the ground afaik. It's about going low and bending forward to get under the enemy's usually high attack. The scutum offers more protection over a smaller profile, and the larger neckguard offers protection to the upper back as a weapon overeaches the scutum. Another thing I've reckoned before is that adds some sort of (maybe unnecessary) extra reasoning for the shoulder doubling on hamata extending all the way across the upper back in the absence of the large neckguard on a Montefortino helmet, or even a smaller necked Coolus or early Gallic. With a seg there is even more reason to increase the neckguard size as the plates are a single row between the shoulder plates. Then when the legionary is more involved in siege warfare it gets larger to protect from above, which is no change to the reason for its inception in the first place.

The resting on one knee thing is an ancient description of the Triarii being held in reserve while the Hastati and Princes get stuck in.