Roman gladius (short sword)

Type Object Region Rome Time c. -300–300

The gladius was the standard close-combat short sword of the Roman legionary infantry, with a blade of about 50–60 cm, double- or single-edged and sh…

Timeline

c. -300–-100Iberian Peninsula · Iberian PeninsulaDuring the Second Punic War Rome encountered and adopted the short sword form of the Iberian Celts, with a broad blade and prominent point suited to thrusting behind a shield wall, gradually replacing the earlier longer Celtic-type swords.
c. -50–100Rome · LazioIn the time of Pompey and Augustus the 'Mainz-type' gladius became the standard pattern, with a slightly shorter blade and forward-shifted balance, forming the classic Roman infantry combat set with the large rectangular shield (scutum) and volleys of javelins.
c. 1–200Rhine frontier · Rhine basinIn the imperial period the 'Pompeii-type' gladius was unearthed in large numbers on the Rhine and Danube frontiers; around the third century the longer, slashing-oriented spatha spread among cavalry and infantry, and the gladius's status as the standard infantry sword began to decline.

Sources

Roman Military Equipment: From the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome — M. C. Bishop and J. C. N. Coulston (2006)
De Re Militari — Vegetius