Gladius Pattern Sword Metal Ornament

Gladius pattern sword. The Gladius pattern sword was originally a Spanish design, adopted by the Roman Legions it was instrumental in conquering most of the known world. This example is Napoleonic. A huge fan of Rome and all things Roman, Napoleon produced these Gladius swords as sidearms for his infantry, even though firearms had been around for some time. Roman examples used wood and bone for the handle although Roman officers often had handles of more exotic materials.