"National Roman Legion"

[Hibernicus]

would give a soldier only between 30 and 15 cm space for his arm. I wonder how one would fight with a sword in such a formation

All a soldier needs in a press is enough room for his gladius to slide through or over the shoulder of the man in from of him. He doesn't even need to stab hard or fast.

I also think that we need to take some care when interpreting with a modern mind the words of ancients when describing combat. A certain spacing may be an ideal ( and we too often read 3 feet when it shoud read 3 "roman" feet).

VIRTUS embodies not just strength or toughness, or bravery but also duty and soldierliness.. doing what is needed under the most adverse circumstances. Sometimes it can take all one's being to not rush out to attack, but to wait, even if you are one passus away from an enemy soldier or from reaching the top of the wall first.. waiting for the order to advance... arrows and sling stones and sticks and rocks and all manner of debris and horror pommeling your scutum... and the enemy's taunts burning your ears... discipline and duty