roman-auxillia single combat

[Marcus Mummius]

The width of 4.5cm is almost the same as the average width of a late roman or Merovingian spatha and later swords.

For soft unarmored targets the weapon will work fine.
But what against a chainmail?
The point will not go in very deep and you need a lot of force to open up the rings (butted).
If the rings are rivited, penetration is even harder.
If someone is then also wearing a submaralis it will even be harder.
To get trough chainmail you need a narrow pointed weapon, like some spearheads.

I think that a gladius is a perfect infantry weapon.
Short enough for being used in close formation.
Strong enough to strike and parry with it.
Pointy enough to stab with it.
Usable in any situation

Penetration of chainmail with handheld infatry weapons in the Roman period has been discussed on this forum at several occasions. It has been convincibly argumented that it was impossible to penetrate a rivetted mail with a sword. Butted mail is not attested for the Romans...

[Marcus Mummius]

The slash marks on the skulls of the Britons found at Maiden castle, dating from the Boudican revolt prove that the Romans at least somethimes used the gladius as a slashing weapon.

[garrelt]

On which part was the topic about chainmail?

[Marcus Mummius]

On which part was the topic about chainmail?

Perhaps someone will be so kind as to point to the right threads. I'm having an exam tomorrow so haven't got a lot of time...

[garrelt]

Thanks and good luck tomorrow.

[Robert Vermaat]

We have a lot of thread on the hamata, how about these?

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... 88&start=0

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... 35&start=0

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... ica+butted

[garrelt]

So actualy there is not a clear answer in what way the legionar would have used his primary sidearm.

[garrelt]

Thanks Robert i will look in to it.
Will see what the romec brings for clues about the use of the gladius

[Titus Martius]

Oops - http://www.jezirko.wz.cz/foto/GladiusVI ... 0_1375.jpg

It is safe and no barbarians complained so far.

O.K. There is one barbarian who complains. :oops:

[garrelt]

I hope he complaint directly after the show, and isn't still mad about the person who threw the pilum, and was given a good place at the later campfire with an apology about this "accident".
But these things can/will,not on purpose, happen.
Don't talk about these things during the show but afterwards, keep the show going.

[Titus Martius]

I hope he complaint directly after the show, and isn't still mad about the person who threw the pilum, and was given a good place at the later campfire with an apology about this "accident".
But these things can/will,not on purpose, happen.
Don't talk about these things during the show but afterwards, keep the show going.

Of course, show continued normally and nothing special happened...it was his fault, you know, he is a barbarian.

[Marcus Mummius]

I just noticed this piece of text from Diodorus on the website of Albion Europe:

"...Holding their sword straight out, they would strike their opponents in the groin, pierce their sides, and drive their blows through their breasts into their vitals. And if they saw any of them keeping these parts of the body protected, they would cut the tendons of their knees or ankles and topple them to the ground roaring and biting their shields and uttering cries resembling the howling of wild beasts..."

Here's the link: http://www.albion-europe.com/shop/the_a ... -p-52.html

[garrelt]

Thanks Jef for this piece of text.
This really sounds familiar to me.
A pity that there isn't stated what kind of shield they used, but it can be done with every shield type.
I don't mean biting the shield, but using it in a way that you create a area of target at the opponent.