Is the Short Sword and Shield Overrated?

[Lupercus]

Evidently, of the 1500 years the Roman Empire (meaning having an Emperor), 1200 years it was defended by a long sword :?

Henry, if Romans were the only culture to use short swords so heavily, so what? Maybe it's a weapon which simply takes a lot of training and discipline to use effectively. (Which is not to be saying that the later Roman army lacked training!) We also know that the Romans were very aggressive in combat, with the men personally competing with each other to display courage and virtus. (Read Jon Lendon's "Soldiers and Ghosts" on this one, it completely changed the way I visualize a Roman army in combat!) A shorter sword encourages up-close aggression and a very in-your-face attitude which is very intimidating.

Matthew

Germanic troops of the Renaisance used a tactic of two-handed swordsmen to pull pikes out of the way so men with short swords could raise Cain toe to toe.