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Book Sword of Rome  The Complete Campaigns

Download or read book Sword of Rome The Complete Campaigns written by Richard Foreman and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-05-23 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The best-selling Sword of Rome novellas are collected together for the first time in one epic collection. The Sword of Rome series of novellas follow Julius Caesar and his centurion Lucius Oppius during their campaigns in Britain, Gaul and the Civil War. The stories are a blend of action, intrigue and Ancient History. 'Sword of Rome: The Complete Campaigns' includes: 'Sword of Rome: Standard Bearer'. Britain, 55 BC. Julius Caesar's invasion of the wild and mineral-rich land is becalmed, a stalemate exists between the forces of Rome and Britain. But the standard bearer of the Tenth Legion, Lucius Oppius, is about to display a depth of courage that will change the course of the invasion. 'Sword of Rome: Alesia'. Alesia, 52BC. Caesar's army stands upon the brink of annihilation, caught between two enemy armies. Oppius is ordered to venture north of Alesia to capture Vercingetorix's war chest of gold. He will be accompanied in his mission by one of Caesar's agents, the beguiling Livia - the centurion's former lover. As Caesar and Mark Antony face a battle for their lives outside the walls of Alesia, Oppius will have to fight against the odds to find and secure the gold. Yet will completing the mission exact too high a price? 'Sword of Rome: Gladiator'. Rome, 51BC. Lucius Oppius has left the battlefields of Gaul to venture to Rome. But he is about to discover the capital of the Empire can be every bit as dangerous as its provinces. Under orders from Caesar to secure an item of intelligence that will help him become a Consul again Oppius is manipulated into taking part in a gladiatorial contest. Oppius soon discovers that while in Gaul your the enemies stand before you in a shield wall in Rome they stab you in the back... 'Sword of Rome: Rubicon'. Ravenna, 50BC. Caesar's forces stand upon the borders of Gaul and Italy. The prospect of a civil war grows ever likelier each day. In Rome, Cicero attempts to secure a peace. Against him, a powerful faction in the Senate is bent upon destroying Caesar, for personal and political reasons. War hinges upon the will of Pompey, the only man capable of stopping Caesar. Caesar stands upon the banks of the Rubicon, an enemy of the state. The die is cast. An empire will now be at war, spearheaded by the two great men of the age... 'Sword of Rome: Pharsalus'. Pharsalus, 48BC. The battle will decide the fate of a civil war and empire. Caesar's forces are outnumbered, but he believes his veterans will not be outmatched. For one veteran, Lucius Oppius, the battle will be about revenge rather than glory. Oppius has vowed to avenge his father's death. His enemy is Flavius Laco - a former gladiator and an agent of Pompey the Great. Against the backdrop of one of Ancient History's most momentous battles two soldiers will wage their own personal war... Caesar, Pompey, Mark Antony, Brutus and Cicero all feature in the climax to the bestselling Sword of Rome series. Richard Foreman's books have been widely praised. Praise for 'Augustus: Son of Rome'. 'Augustus: Son of Rome forges action and adventure with politics and philosophy. This superb story is drenched in both blood and wisdom - and puts Foreman on the map as the coming man of historical fiction'. - Saul David, Author of the Zulu Hart series. Praise for 'Raffles: The Complete Innings'. "Classy, humorous and surprisingly touching tales of cricket, friendship and crime." - David Blackburn, The Spectator.

Book Sword of Empire  The Complete Campaigns

Download or read book Sword of Empire The Complete Campaigns written by Richard Foreman and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-05-23 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The best-selling 'Sword of Empire' novellas are collected together for the first time in one epic edition. The 'Sword of Empire' series follows Marcus Aurelius and his centurion Gaius Maximus during the final years of Aurelius' reign. The stories are a blend of action, intrigue and Ancient History. 'Sword of Empire: The Complete Campaign's includes: 'Sword of Empire: Praetorian' 171AD. Rome is at war with the northern tribes - and is yet to win a significant battle. The Germanic armies have crossed the Danube and have attacked the Empire, slaughtering thousands. The Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, is losing the support of the people and the Senate. Yet he has formed a plan he believes will change the balance of power in the region. Aurelius has despatched an officer in the Praetorian Guard, the centurion Gaius Maximus, to escort the son and daughter of a powerful German tribal chief back to their village through enemy territory - in hope of arranging an alliance with Rome. But Maximus, to complete his mission, must contest with enemies at home, as well as abroad. One man will change the fate of an Empire, or die trying... 'Sword of Empire: Centurion' 174AD As the war continues in the north Marcus Aurelius orders Gaius Maximus and Rufus Atticus to return to Rome. Enemies lurk in the shadows in the capital, spreading propaganda and sowing dissent. The praetorian guards must lure their enemies out - and defeat them. Yet Maximus is returning home for something, or rather someone, else: Aurelia. The soldier will be caught between his duty and his happiness. Rufus Atticus will also be forced to make a choice, between the duty he owes to his Emperor and the duty he owes to his family. The centurions will be caught-up in a web of intrigue - as well as a battle on the streets of Rome - that will decide the fate of Marcus Aurelius and the Empire. 'Sword of Empire: Emperor' Britain. 179AD. The centurion Rufus Atticus is intent on finding Gaius Maximus - a fugitive and friend. Whilst doing so however Atticus finds trouble - in the form of the brutal Meriadoc clan. The Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, wants to offer the former praetorian a pardon. Atticus also has important news for Maximus, which will change his life. But as well as offering the soldier a pardon the Emperor has summoned Maximus to ask him to complete one final mission. He must venture into enemy territory and assassinate Balomar, king of the Marcomanni. Maximus will not only need to best barbarians and the king's bodyguard to fulfill his mission however. To succeed - and survive - Maximus will have to defy the future Emperor Commodus and defeat a band of Roman mercenaries. Richard Foreman's books have been widely praised. Praise for 'Augustus: Son of Rome': 'Augustus: Son of Rome forges action and adventure with politics and philosophy. This superb story is drenched in both blood and wisdom - and puts Foreman on the map as the coming man of historical fiction'. - Saul David, Author of the Zulu Hart series. Praise for 'Raffles: The Complete Innings': "Classy, humorous and surprisingly touching tales of cricket, friendship and crime." - David Blackburn, The Spectator. Richard Foreman is the author of numerous best-selling books, including 'Augustus: Son of Rome' and the Sword of Rome series of historical novellas. He is also the author of 'Warsaw', a literary novel set during the Second World War. He lives in London. You can find him tweeting at @rforemanauthor.

Book Why Did Hitler Hate the Jews

Download or read book Why Did Hitler Hate the Jews written by Peter den Hertog and published by Frontline Books. This book was released on 2020-09-30 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This investigation into the Nazi leader’s mindset is “an inherently fascinating study . . . a work of meticulously presented and seminal scholarship”(Midwest Book Review). Adolf Hitler’s virulent anti-Semitism is often attributed to external cultural and environmental factors. But as historian Peter den Hertog notes in this book, most of Hitler’s contemporaries experienced the same culture and environment and didn’t turn into rabid Jew-haters, let alone perpetrators of genocide. In this study, the author investigates what we do know about the roots of the German leader’s anti-Semitism. He also takes the significant step of mapping out what we do not know in detail, opening pathways to further research. Focusing not only on history but on psychology, forensic psychiatry, and related fields, he reveals how Hitler was a man with highly paranoid traits, and clarifies the causes behind this paranoia while explaining its connection to his anti-Semitism. The author also explores, and answers, whether the Führer gave one specific instruction ordering the elimination of Europe’s Jews, and, if so, when this took place. Peter den Hertog is able to provide an all-encompassing explanation for Hitler’s anti-Semitism by combining insights from many different disciplines—and makes clearer how Hitler’s own particular brand of anti-Semitism could lead the way to the Holocaust.

Book The Sword of Rome

Download or read book The Sword of Rome written by Jeremiah McCall and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2012-07-19 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fascinating biography of the ancient Roman military commander and politician who led the Siege of Syracuse during the Second Punic War. The military exploits of Marcus Claudius Marcellus were largely unmatched in the Roman Middle Republic. As a young soldier in the First Punic War, he won a reputation for his skill in single combat. In his first consulship, he slayed the Gallic chieftain Britomartus in single combat, thus earning the spolia opima, an honor which had only been earned twice before, once by Romulus himself. Marcellus defeated the hitherto-invincible Hannibal in a small battle, then led an army to conquer Syracuse in an epic two-year siege—which was achieved despite the ingenious defensive measures of the inventor Archimedes. Yet, despite his great success as a warrior and commander, Marcellus met with considerable political opposition in Rome. This thrilling biography offers an insightful perspective on the military and political struggles of the Roman Middle Republic and the role of military successes in the aristocratic culture of the time. Sword of Rome was previously published as Sword of the Republic.

Book Roman Conquests

    Book Details:
  • Author : Michael Schmitz
  • Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
  • Release : 2015-08-30
  • ISBN : 1473865573
  • Pages : 224 pages

Download or read book Roman Conquests written by Michael Schmitz and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2015-08-30 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Roman conquests of Macedonia in the 2nd century BC led directly to the extension of their authority over the troublesome tribes of Thrace to the south of the Danube. But their new neighbor on the other side of the mighty river, the kingdom of the Dacians, was to pose an increasing threat to the Roman empire. Inevitably, this eventually provoked Roman attempts at invasion and conquest. It is a measure of Dacian prowess and resilience that several tough campaigns were required over more than a century before their kingdom was added to the Roman Empire. It was one of the Empire's last major acquisitions (and a short-lived one at that). Dr. Michael Schmitz traces Roman involvement in the Danube region from first contact with the Thracians after the Third Macedonian War in the 2nd century BC to the ultimate conquest of Dacia by Trajan in the early years of the 2nd Century AD. Like the other volumes in this series, this book gives a clear narrative of the course of these wars, explaining how the Roman war machine coped with formidable new foes and the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and climate. Specially commissioned color plates bring the main troop types vividly to life in meticulously researched detail.

Book Caesar s Great Success

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alexander Merrow
  • Publisher : Frontline Books
  • Release : 2020-03-30
  • ISBN : 1473855888
  • Pages : 210 pages

Download or read book Caesar s Great Success written by Alexander Merrow and published by Frontline Books. This book was released on 2020-03-30 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An in-depth look at the world’s first ever military logistical supply system and how it fed Caesar’s armies in the field. Logistics have become a principal, if not a governing factor, in modern military operations. Armies need to be fed and supplied, and the larger the army, the greater the logistical difficulties that have to be overcome. Two thousand years ago, when communications were far more primitive, the size of armies was limited by the difficulties of supply. It was because the Romans developed a sophisticated supply system that they were able to maintain large armies in the field—armies that conquered much of the then known world. In Caesar’s Great Success, the authors examine and detail the world’s first ever fully-developed logistical supply system—the forerunner of today’s complex arrangements. This includes an examination of the sea, river, and land transportation of food while on campaign, and of how the food was assembled at the operational bases and subsequently distributed. The defense of the Roman food supplies, and especially of lines of communication, was an important factor in Caesar’s operational planning, as was interdicting the enemy’s supplies. The eating habits of Caesar’s men are considered and what items could be obtained locally by forage and which were taken by requisition—and how much food a legionnaire was expected to carry on campaign. With this, the nature of the actual food consumed by the legionnaires is therefore examined and sample recipes are provided with each chapter of the book to enable the reader to relive those momentous days when Caesar and Rome ruled the world.

Book Swords Against The Senate

Download or read book Swords Against The Senate written by Erik Hildinger and published by Da Capo Press. This book was released on 2008-11-05 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the first century B.C., Rome was the ruler of a vast empire. Yet at the heart of the Republic was a fatal flaw: a dangerous hostility between the aristocracy and the plebians, each regarding itself as the foundation of Rome's military power. Turning from their foreign enemies, Romans would soon be fighting Romans.Swords Against the Senate describes the first three decades of Rome's century-long civil war that transformed it from a republic to an imperial autocracy, from the Rome of citizen leaders to the Rome of decadent emperor thugs. As the republic came apart amid turmoil, Gaius Marius, the "people's general," rose to despotic power only to be replaced by the brutal dictator Sulla. The Roman army, once invincible against foreign antagonists, became a tool for the powerful, and the Roman Senate its foe.

Book Military History of Late Rome  284   361

Download or read book Military History of Late Rome 284 361 written by Ilkka Syvänne and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2015-09-09 with total page 782 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This ambitious series gives the reader a comprehensive narrative of late Roman military history from 284-641. Each volume (5 are planned) gives a detailed account of the changes in organization, equipment, strategy and tactics among both the Roman forces and her enemies in the relevant period, while also giving a detailed but accessible account of the campaigns and battles. Volume I covers the period 284-361, starting with recovery from the 'third-century crisis' and the formation of the Tetrarchy. Constantine's civil wars and stabilization.are also major themes, with the pattern repeated under his sons. Constantius II's wars against the usurper Magnentius, the Danubian tribes and the Sassanid Persians illustrate the serious combination of internal and external threats the Empire faced at this time. The author discusses these and the many other dramatic military events in their full context and puts forward some interesting conclusions on strategic and tactical developments. He argues, for example, that the Roman shift from infantry to cavalry as the dominant arm occurred considerably earlier than usually accepted. Anyone with an interest in the military history of this period will find it both informative and thought-provoking.

Book Soldier of Rome

    Book Details:
  • Author : James M. Mace
  • Publisher : James Mace
  • Release : 2008-02-12
  • ISBN : 059560420X
  • Pages : 194 pages

Download or read book Soldier of Rome written by James M. Mace and published by James Mace. This book was released on 2008-02-12 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It has been three years since the wars against Arminius and the Cherusci. Gaius Silius, Legate of the Twentieth Legion, is concerned that the barbarians-though shattered by the war-may be stirring once again. He also seeks to confirm the rumors regarding Arminius' death. What Silius does not realize is that there is a new threat to the Empire, but it does not come from beyond the frontier; it is coming from within, where a disenchanted nobleman looks to sow the seeds of rebellion in Gaul. Legionary Artorius has greatly matured during his five years in the legions. He has become stronger in mind; his body growing even more powerful. Like the rest of the Legion, he is unaware of the shadow growing well within the Empire's borders, where a disaffected nobleman seeks to betray the Emperor Tiberius. A shadow looms; one that looks to envelope the province of Gaul as well as the Rhine legions. The year is A.D. 20.

Book The Complete Campaigns

Download or read book The Complete Campaigns written by Richard Foreman and published by . This book was released on 2017-03 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Sword of Empire  Praetorian

Download or read book Sword of Empire Praetorian written by Richard Foreman and published by Sword of Empire. This book was released on 2019-02-20 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The coming man of historical fiction'. - Saul David. 171AD. Rome is at war with the northern tribes - and is yet to win a significant battle. The Germanic armies have crossed the Danube and have attacked the Empire, slaughtering thousands. The Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, is losing the support of the people and the Senate. Yet he has formed a plan he believes will change the balance of power in the region. Aurelius has despatched an officer in the Praetorian Guard, the centurion Gaius Maximus, to escort the son and daughter of a powerful German tribal chief back to their village through enemy territory - in hope of arranging an alliance with Rome. But Maximus, to complete his mission, must contest with enemies at home, as well as abroad. One man will change the fate of an Empire, or die trying. From the backstreets of Rome, to the forests of Germany, and onto the Battle of Pannonia, Sword of Empire: Praetorian is the first book in a new series from the bestselling author of the novel Augustus: Son of Rome - and the Sword of Rome collection of novellas about the campaigns of Julius Caesar. For fans of Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden. Richard Foreman's books have been widely praised. Praise for 'Augustus: Son of Rome'. 'Augustus: Son of Rome forges action and adventure with politics and philosophy. This superb story is drenched in both blood and wisdom - and puts Foreman on the map as the coming man of historical fiction'. - Saul David, Author of the Zulu Hart series. Praise for 'Raffles: The Complete Innings'. "Classy, humorous and surprisingly touching tales of cricket, friendship and crime." - David Blackburn, The Spectator. Richard Foreman is the author of numerous best-selling books, including 'Augustus: Son of Rome' and the Raffles series of historical crime novellas. He is also the author of 'Warsaw', a literary novel set during the Second World War. He lives in London.

Book Greco Roman Medicine and What It Can Teach Us Today

Download or read book Greco Roman Medicine and What It Can Teach Us Today written by Nick Summerton and published by Pen and Sword Archaeology. This book was released on 2022-01-30 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There can be little doubt that the Romans experienced many of the illnesses that are still encountered today, and individuals have always had to decide how best to deal with their health-related concerns. The Roman Empire was an amalgam of many cultures, often with dissimilar ideas and beliefs. The Greek impact on health was particularly dominant and, therefore, this book focuses on Greco-Roman medicine as it was practised during the Pax Romana, the period between the accession of Augustus and the death of Marcus Aurelius. Drawing on ancient literature supplemented with evidence from archaeology, paleopathology, epigraphy and numismatics the Greco-Roman medical context is carefully examined. A particular focus is on the effectiveness of approaches to both preventing and treating a range of physical and psychological problems. Detailed consideration is also given to the ancient technical and hygienic achievements in addition to the place of healers within Roman society. Uniquely, within each chapter, the author draws on his own clinical and public health experience, combined with modern research findings, in assessing the continuing relevance of Greco-Roman medicine. For example, Galen`s focus on access to fresh air, movement, sensible eating and getting sufficient sleep matter as much today as they did in the past. Our classical forebears can also assist us in determining the best balances between prevention and treatment, centralised control and individual responsibility, as well as the most appropriate uses of technology, drugs and surgery. Some ancient pharmaceutical compounds are already showing promise in treating infections. In addition, practising Stoicism and getting some locotherapy should be considered by anyone struggling to cope with the stresses and strains of modern life.

Book Rome s Great Eastern War

    Book Details:
  • Author : Gareth C. Sampson
  • Publisher : Pen and Sword Military
  • Release : 2021-08-31
  • ISBN : 1526762692
  • Pages : 417 pages

Download or read book Rome s Great Eastern War written by Gareth C. Sampson and published by Pen and Sword Military. This book was released on 2021-08-31 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This military history of Ancient Rome analyses the empire’s revitalized push against rising enemies to the East. In the century since Rome’s defeat of the Seleucid Empire in the 180s BC, the East was dominated by the rise of new empires: Parthia, Armenia, and Pontus, each vying to recreate the glories of the Persian Empire. By the 80s BC, the Pontic Empire of Mithridates had grown so bold that it invaded and annexed the whole of Rome’s eastern empire and occupied Greece itself. But as Rome emerged from the devastating effects of the First Civil War, a new breed of general emerged with it, eager to re-assert Roman military dominance and carve out a fresh empire in the east. In Rome’s Great Eastern War, Gareth C. Sampson analyses the military campaigns and battles between a revitalized Rome and the various powers of the eastern Mediterranean hinterland. He demonstrates how this series of conflicts ultimately heralded a new phase in Roman imperial expansion and reshaped the ancient East.

Book Augustus

    Book Details:
  • Author : Richard Foreman
  • Publisher : Independently Published
  • Release : 2018-07-09
  • ISBN : 9781980483595
  • Pages : 318 pages

Download or read book Augustus written by Richard Foreman and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-07-09 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Richard Foreman, the author of the bestselling 'Raffles: The Gentleman Thief' books, blends the political intrigue of Robert Harris' series of Cicero novels with the action and adventure of Simon Scarrow in this sweeping historical epic. 'Augustus: Son of Rome' tells the story of the assassination of Julius Caesar and the rise of his heir, Gaius Octavius, as he journeys to Rome from Apollonia. We see a boy grow into a man as Octavius develops the moral courage, intelligence and ruthlessness that will finally see him become Augustus, Emperor of Rome. The pen and sword will be employed to defeat his enemies and Octavius will earn the name of "Caesar." Yet Rome will exact its price - and triumph will be accompanied by tragedy. Julius Caesar, Cicero, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Brutus and Marcus Agrippa all feature in this epic adventure, which will appeal to fans of Shakespeare, Plutarch and Conn Iggulden alike. Richard Foreman is the author of the Raffles series of books and the historical novel 'A Hero of Our Time'. He has worked as a literary consultant and publicist to a number of bestselling authors, including Tom Holland, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow. He lives in London. 'Augustus: Son of Rome forges action and adventure with politics and philosophy. This superb story is drenched in both blood and wisdom - and puts Foreman on the map as the coming man of historical fiction'. (Saul David, Author of the Zulu Hart series)

Book Emperor s Sword

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alex Gough
  • Publisher : Simon and Schuster
  • Release : 2022-07-26
  • ISBN : 166720128X
  • Pages : 381 pages

Download or read book Emperor s Sword written by Alex Gough and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2022-07-26 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This edition originally published in the United Kingdom in 2020 by Canelo."--Title page verso.

Book The Vandals

    Book Details:
  • Author : Simon MacDowall
  • Publisher : Pen and Sword
  • Release : 2016-07-31
  • ISBN : 147388022X
  • Pages : 195 pages

Download or read book The Vandals written by Simon MacDowall and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2016-07-31 with total page 195 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An up-close look at the Germanic people who sacked Rome in the fifth century AD. On 31 December AD 406, a group of German tribes crossed the Rhine, pierced the Roman defensive lines, and began a rampage across Roman Gaul, sacking cities such as Metz, Arras, and Strasbourg. Foremost amongst them were the Vandals, and their search for a new homeland took them on the most remarkable odyssey. The Romans were unable to stop them and their closest allies, the Alans, marching the breadth of Gaul, crossing the Pyrenees, and making themselves masters of Spain. However, this kingdom of the Vandals and Alans soon came under intense pressure from Rome’s Visigothic allies. In 429, under their new king, Gaiseric, they crossed the straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. They quickly overran this rich Roman province and established a stable kingdom. Taking to the seas, they soon dominated the Western Mediterranean and raided Italy, famously sacking Rome itself in 455. Eventually, however, they were utterly conquered by Belisarius in 533 and vanished from history. Simon MacDowall narrates and analyzes these events, with particular focus on the evolution of Vandal armies and warfare.

Book The Spatha

    Book Details:
  • Author : M.C. Bishop
  • Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Release : 2020-01-23
  • ISBN : 147283240X
  • Pages : 81 pages

Download or read book The Spatha written by M.C. Bishop and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-01-23 with total page 81 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adopted from the Celts in the 1st century BC, the spatha, a lethal and formidable chopping blade, became the primary sword of the Roman soldier in the Later Empire. Over 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. Thanks to its long reach, the spatha was the ideal cavalry weapon, replacing the long gladius hispaniensis in the later Republican period. As the manner in which Roman infantrymen fought evolved, styles of hand-to-hand combat changed so much that the gladius was superseded by the longer spatha during the 2nd century AD. Like the gladius, the spatha was technologically advanced, with a carefully controlled use of steel. Easy maintenance was key to its success and the spatha was designed to be easily repaired in the field where access to a forge may have been limited. It remained the main Roman sword into the Late Roman period and its influence survived into the Dark Ages with Byzantine, Carolingian and Viking blades. Drawing 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 spatha: the sword that defended an empire.