fulham gladius 1st century adThe gladius was the most frequently used weapon of Roman legionaries from the 3rd century BC. until approx. the 3rd century AD. Different types of gladii have been found in several regions of the Roman Empire, named after the region where they were found. The weapon was designed for stabbing and slashing in close combat. The successor to the gladius was the spatha, a longer type of sword. This gladius is a replica of an original from the first century