{"product_id":"9781472832399-the-spatha","title":"The Spatha","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Roman Long Sword\u003cbr\u003eThe origins, development, combat use and lasting legacy of this feared close-combat weapon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, the \u003ci\u003espatha, \u003c\/i\u003ea lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the following centuries, the blade, its scabbard, and its system of carriage underwent a series of developments, until by the 3rd century AD it was the universal sidearm of both infantry and cavalry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Thanks to its long reach, the \u003ci\u003espatha\u003c\/i\u003e was the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the long \u003ci\u003egladius hispaniensis\u003c\/i\u003e in the later Republican period. Easy maintenance was key to its success and the \u003ci\u003espatha \u003c\/i\u003ewas designed to be easily repaired in the field where access to a forge may have been limited. Its influence survived into the Dark Ages with Byzantine, Carolingian and Viking blades.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrawing together historical accounts, excavated artefacts and the results of the latest scientific analyses of the blades, renowned authority M.C. Bishop reveals the full history of the development, technology, training and use of the \u003ci\u003espatha\u003c\/i\u003e: the sword that defended an empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40944502734945,"sku":"9781472832399","price":12.8,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_26683911.jpg?v=1722542177","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781472832399-the-spatha","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}