spathe

Spatha Cavalry Roman medium Spatha Cavalry Roman medium 2
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spathe

Spatha Cavalry Roman medium

123890000
60.97 €
Spatha cavalry roman steel sheet and prints, saves and knob with finishes in nickel and recorded. The holster is black in color with a finish of nickel. Includes support for on-board.
spathe

latex roman sword

Epic Armoury
020410000
41.32 €
Discover the authentic Roman latex Sword, the perfect weapon for your adventures in the world of LARP and live role-playing games. Manufactured by Epic Armory, a leader in the historical re-enactment industry, this sword perfectly combines aesthetics and functionality. With a strong and resistant latex coating, this Roman sword offers you maximum...
spathe

Functional Germanic Roman Spatha

Ulfberth
027820000
143.98 €
Discover the functional Germanic Roman Spatha from Ulfberth®! This impressive sword, made in Germany, perfectly combines beauty and functionality in a single product. The fluted blade is hand forged in EN 45 carbon steel, which gives it great strength and durability. With a hardness of 48 HRC, this sword is ready to take on any challenge with ease. The...
spathe

Roman Spatha Cavalry with scabbard

Battle Merchant
032780000
119.98 €
Are you a lover of Roman culture and looking for an authentic cavalry sword? Then the Spatha Roman Cavalry Sword with scabbard is perfect for you. Made with an EN45 carbon steel blade, this sword guarantees strength and durability. The Spatha Roman Cavalry Sword has an impressive length of 81.5 cm, making it a perfect replica of the swords used by Roman...
95.93 €
Roman sword Spatha Cav sheath. It is a decorative piece only. Made of sheet steel, wood guard and pommel and hilt imitation bone. It includes wooden sheath coated with metallic finishes.
84.98 €
Sword, roman Spatha cavalry, with finishes in antique gold on the pommel the guard and the grip. With a total size 80cm, sheet steel, imitation steel damascus. Includes a black cover, lined in synthetic leather red with details in antique gold.
spathe

Feltwell Saxon Roman Sword

Battle Merchant
033370000
111.98 €
Are you a lover of history and ancient weapons? Then the Feltwell Saxon Roman Sword is perfect for you. This sword of Saxon origin has a high-quality carbon steel blade, which gives it exceptional resistance. Its blunt finish gives it an authentic and vintage look that will transport you to the time when this sword was used by the Saxons. The wooden hilt...
spathe

Roman spatha fiberglass, 85 cms.

Epic Armoury
025950000
82.64 €
Are you looking for a sword that combines style and resistance? Then the Epic Armory Fibreglass Roman Spatha is perfect for you! This decorated sword is made of fiberglass, a material known for its durability and resistance. The Spatha Romana fiberglass has a length of 85 cm, which makes it a powerful and versatile weapon. One of the advantages of this...
spathe

Roman spatha in latex, 105 cms.

Epic Armoury
035150000
90.91 €
Are you ready to embark on an epic adventure in ancient Rome? With the 105 cm latex Roman Spatha, you can immerse yourself in the world of live role-playing games, historical re-enactments and much more. Made from high-quality materials, this strong latex-coated fiberglass sword gives you a realistic and safe experience. Its detailed design and balanced...
84.98 €
Sword, roman Spatha cavalry, with finishes in nickel, old in the pommel the guard and the grip. With a total size 80cm, sheet steel, imitation steel damascus. Includes a black cover, lined in imitation leather brown with details in nickel old.
spathe

Roman spatha with scabbard, 3rd century AD

Battle Merchant
036380000
127.98 €
Discover the Roman Spatha with scabbard from the 3rd century AD, an impressive replica of the Roman sword found in Germany. This exceptional piece is not only a treasure for history buffs and collectors, but is also perfect for displaying as a decorative item in your home or workplace. The sword has a carbon steel blade, which guarantees its durability...
spathe

Spatha Romana with sheath, 4th century AD

Battle Merchant
036410000
127.98 €
Have you ever dreamed of owning an authentic Roman sword from the 4th century AD? Now you can make it a reality with our amazing Spatha Romana replica with scabbard! This magnificent sword is perfect for history lovers and Roman culture enthusiasts. Our Spatha Romana is a true work of art. Every detail has been carefully designed to ensure maximum...
spathe

Roman spatha with scabbard

Battle Merchant
036470000
111.98 €
Immerse yourself in history with the Roman Spatha with scabbard! This decorative sword perfectly represents the style and splendor of the 3rd century AD. C. Its blade is exquisitely forged in carbon steel, which guarantees its resistance and durability. In addition, its bone handle gives it an authentic and original look. But it's not just a collector's...
300.00 €
Raise your warrior spirit with the imposing UNofficial Roman Sword of General Maximus! This formidable, though unofficial, weapon is a tribute to the famed general's bravery and skills. Its blade, hand forged in high carbon steel, guarantees exceptional resistance and durability in every battle. The wood and brass hilt is a true work of art, with detailed...
spathe

Roman Spatha Podlodów, S. III

Battle Merchant
113990000
127.98 €
Discover the Roman Spatha model Podlodów, S. III, an authentic piece of Roman history that will transport you to the heyday of the Empire. This sword is a faithful reconstruction based on several 3rd-century originals found near Podlodów, in the archaeological region of the Przeworsk culture. The blade of this Spatha is forged from EN45 high carbon steel,...
spathe

Spatha type Roman handmade sword with scabbard

VB SwordShop
161760000
767.72 €
Take your imagination back to ancient Rome with this amazing Spatha type Roman handcrafted sword with scabbard! From VB SwordShop we get this jewel of Hungarian craftsmanship, designed with all the care and precision that characterizes its expert craftsmen. This sword has a bone hilt, which gives you a comfortable and secure grip, allowing you to handle...
111.98 €
Long Roman spatha of a Roman legionary, 2nd-3rd century AD Immerse yourself in history and show your passion for ancient Rome with our authentic Roman Legionary Roman Spatha! This amazing sword model is perfect to decorate your home or add to your collection. Its design is based on the original finds of the II-III centuries AD, which guarantees its...
spathe

Roman spatha in latex for LARP, 60 cm.

Epic Armoury
165150000
74.38 €
Epic Armoury's Spatha is a latex hybrid short sword designed for LARP, inspired by the Roman gladius. Measuring 60cm in length, this sword features a double-edged, double-fuller blade, giving it an authentic and powerful look. The hilt of this sword, known as a capulus, features an intricate design indicating the position of an officer or dignitary....
Showing 1-18 of 18 item(s)

The Roman Spatha is a sword used by warriors of the Roman Empire during barbarian invasions. It was first used by cavalry and then also by Roman infantry. The Roman Spatha is a sword larger than the gladius (70-100 cm.)

What is Spatha like?

The Roman Spatha was presented as a long combat sword, it had a straight and double-edged blade. Being a descendant of the famous Gladius, he kept the same materials:

  • The guard and knob were usually made of wood or bronze, sometimes with brass parts.
  • The handle was made of animal bone, leather or wood.
  • The scabbard was made of wood covered in leather and with metal details.

This type of sword was intended to attack the opponent from a farther distance, using cutting blows instead of thrusts. The main difference with the Gladius is in its size: the Spatha used to measure between 75 and 100 cm. This type of sword was less maneuverable than the Gladius but offered a "safe distance" when fighting barbarians.

Types of Roman Spathas

There are different types of Spathas depending on their blade, guard, hilt or pommel. These are the best known:

  • Spatha Feltwell: It appeared in a Roman villa in Feltwell, near Norfolk, England, and it is thought that it may be from the 4th century AD. With a wooden handle and knob.
  • Spatha Buch-Podlodów: The original is from the 3rd century and was found in Podlodów, Poland, archaeological region of the Przeworsk culture. It has the particularity of having a grooved blade with several grooves.
  • Spatha Roman Cavalry: From the end of the 2nd century AD, the Cavalry adopted the Roman long sword, Spatha, and abandoned the Gladius.
  • Late Roman Spatha: The most recent Spatha from the end of the 3rd century AD It has a longer blade with double fluting, which reduced the weight of the sword for better maneuverability.

Why the Spatha replaced the Gladius

At the time of the barbarian invasions, the Roman Empire had difficulty containing enemy attacks. Although the invaders' battle tactics were not very good, they managed to win battles for two main reasons: their brutality and their weapons.

The weapons most used by barbarians were axes and swords. The swords they used were long swords, typical of the Nordic lands, with one and a half and two hands. With these long swords, they could keep the Roman soldier at a distance, without giving him the opportunity to attack, since the Gladius sword was used for melee attacks and for launching lunge attacks. It then became a problem for the Roman army, since they had to change weapons and train soldiers for battles with long swords.

Many experts say that this sudden change in battle technique was fatal for the Roman Empire, which lost prestige and was one of the reasons that led to the fall of Rome.

Training in Weapons of the Roman Legion

The training of Roman soldiers with the new sword led them to study new attack techniques, leaving aside the fearsome thrust, the favorite blow when using the Gladius sword. The first to use this sword were the knights, who needed a longer sword to hit the opponent since they were mounted on their horses.

Soldiers adopted this type of sword later. As with the Gladius, soldiers could train with wooden Spathas to avoid injuries or blows that could take them out of battle. Gladiators began to use the Spatha only in the final era of the Roman Empire.

The Spatha was a very important weapon for the Roman army to counter barbarian invasions.

Curious Questions about the Roman Spatha

  • What was the main difference between the Spatha and the Roman Gladius?
    The main difference was in size, as the Spatha was longer than the Gladius, measuring between 75 and 100 cm, while the Gladius was shorter and designed primarily for lunges.
  • What motivated the change from the Gladius to the Spatha in the Roman army?
    The change was due to the difficulties that the Roman army faced in the face of barbarian invasions. Barbarians used longswords that surpassed the Gladius's capabilities in ranged combat, leading to the adoption of the Spatha to keep enemies at a safe distance.
  • What was the role of the Spatha in the training of Roman soldiers?
    The Spatha required a new combat technique, moving away from the Gladius's typical thrust. The Roman knights were the first to use it, adapting it to their style of mounted fighting. Later, the Roman infantry also adopted it, leading to the formation of new combat methods.
  • Where were some famous specimens of Roman Spatha found?
    Famous specimens of Roman Spatha were found in places such as Feltwell, Norfolk, England, and Podlodów, Poland, among other archaeological sites of ancient Rome.
  • How did the use of the Spatha affect the prestige of the Roman Empire?
    The sudden change in combat technique due to the use of the Spatha contributed to the loss of prestige of the Roman Empire, as its army was forced to adapt to the combat tactics of the barbarians, which ultimately contributed to the fall of Rome.
  • What was the typical length of a Roman Spatha?
    The typical length of a Roman Spatha ranged between 75 and 100 cm, being significantly longer than the Roman Gladius.
  • What type of enemies led to the adoption of the Spatha in the Roman army?
    The adoption of the Spatha in the Roman army was largely due to the need to confront barbarian enemies who used long swords and ranged combat techniques, making the Gladius inadequate to confront them effectively.

Discover more about this fascinating weapon from the past and its impact on the history of Rome!

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