Each legionnaire (or 'miles') carried a short sword, called a gladius ... had been born in an army camp and was a mascot to the Roman legions. At first, the arrival of Germanicus and his family ...

The army was grouped into legions of about 4,800 men ... Julia discovers a fragment of metal - part of a Roman sword, called a gladius. Julia describes how the gladius was a standard part of ...

but they lacked the organisation and military tactics of a Roman legion. The Romans were tightly disciplined and relied on a short stabbing sword in combat. Their front line was made up of ...