The gladius was the short, stabbing sword of the legionary, an ideal weapon in close-quarters action, where the aim was to keep up one’s guard, avoid exposing the body, and thrust forwards through gaps in the opponent’s defence so as to inflict deep, deadly wounds to abdomen and groin. ![]() It could be hurled either in defence or, more typically, in attack, devastating and traumatising the enemy line before contact. The pilum was a heavy javelin comprising a wooden shaft, a long metal projection, and an armour-piercing triangular head. The scutum was a large oval or rectangular body-shield that could be used to form a defensive shield-wall, to give protection in attack, and as a weapon in its own right, when used to punch an enemy and knock him off balance. Their weapons system had been refined over three centuries of battle against Samnites, Greeks, Carthaginians, Gauls, and Celtiberians. Highly drilled, heavily armoured, and tightly disciplined, they had an exceptional esprit de corps. ![]() Recruited from the citizen farmers of Italy and the more Romanised provinces of the fast-growing empire, they were largely formed of volunteers, and increasingly of long-service veterans choosing a military career. The legions of the Late Republic were superb instruments of war. ![]() The story of Julius Caesar’s military career is the story of the special relationship between a brilliant commander and an elite fighting force. Vercingetorix surrenders to Julius Caesar
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