Some of the few surviving examples of Roman spathae (via University of Kiel) Thus, a longer sword, much better for fighting on horseback, began to eclipse the iconic legionary gladius (shortsword). This meant that Roman military tactics moved away from heavily armored legionaries, and closer toward the light infantry and light cavalry of their ‘barbarian’ neighbours. After the chaotic 3 rd century CE, marred by internal political struggles and a dizzying succession of Emperors, the Roman Army was more and more reliant upon non-Roman federated peoples for its recruits. The immediate ancestor of the Medieval sword was the Late Roman spatha. (via Wikimedia Commons) Grandfather of Swords: The Late Roman Spatha But we shall also see an evolution in the meaning of the sword: from a weapon that represented great wealth and power, to a potent symbol of masculinity that traded upon its bygone mystique. Our brief history of the sword will take in a sweep of the development of the sword in Medieval Europe: from the Late Roman cavalry spatha, via the knightly arming sword, all the way through to Late Medieval sidesword and the beginnings of the Early Modern rapier. Of course, the wielders of these weapons often fell far short of these lofty aims – all to frequently, the sword was a tool of mindless violence, of oppression, and of elite rule. From the mounted Carolingian knight, to the Viking warlord, to the swaggering German burgher, a sword is a symbol of martial prowess, and its steel is forged with layers of cultural significance: honour, purity, restraint and justice. The sword is one of the most instantly recognisable weapons in history.
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