The Pugio: Combat Knife of a Roman Soldier

[@ivankavrakov9272]

I've been obsessed with the Roman empire since I was a small child, but that's the first time I've actually seen such a good explanation for the use of the pugio, superb job .

[@TheDocLamkin]

Same

[@larrysingleton2864]

Roman and Greek History, Etc. (My Library) If you're into “Roman” stuff Michael Curtis Ford's “Gods and Legions is the book to read. If you're into history I suggest you get Ammianus Marcellinus' History. The ass kicker here is that Marcellinus actually went to battle with Emperor Julian. The Loeb Classic is almost an adventure novel all by itself. As far as Gladiators, a couple of “definitive” books are The Way of the Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix and Spartacus by Howard Fast. Here are books from my library. Ass kickers every one. Ammianus Marcellinus History Loeb Classical Library The Battle for Gaul by Julius Caesar Illustrated edition by Anne & Peter Wiseman. Caesar: The Civil War by Jane F. Gardner Suetonius: The Twelve Caesars by Robert Graves The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon The Way of the Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix Spartacus by Howard Fast Julian by Gore Vidal Gods and Legions by Michael Curtis Ford The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford The Sword of Attila by Michael Curtis Ford The Fall of Rome by Michael Curtis Ford The Last King by Michael Curtis Ford Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield Tides of War by Steven Pressfield The Virtues of War by Steven Pressfield Last of the Amazons by Steven Pressfield Thucydides: History of the Peloponesian War. Alexander the Great by Paul Cartledge The Spartans by Paul Cartledge Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem The Eagle and the Raven by Pauline Gedge The Last Legionary: Life as a Roman Soldier in Britain AD 400 by Paul Elliott Gladiator: The Roman Fighter's (Unofficial) Manual by Philip Matyzak Legionary: the Roman Soldier's Manual by Philip Matyszak On Roman Military Matters (De Re Militari) by Flavius Vegetius Renatus Marius had long ago showed us that the legionary has a weapon that is the bane of the civilized world, one more formidable than the dual-edged Roman short sword, more effective than the bronze-headed javelin, of greater defensive strength than the concave bronze-sheathed shields. It is a weapon in which the legionary is trained from his first day of induction and which he uses daily, in peacetime or in war, on the march or hunkered in camp under siege from flaming missiles. And upon their arrival at The miscyra, every able-bodied Roman immediately whipped out this most fearsome of all weapons: The Legionary's shovel. Before even breaking to rest or scouting for supplies, the Roman troops had unpacked their shovels and commenced digging, and the dirt flew, and the dust rose. In the space of an afternoon, a Roman camp for thirty thousand men had been constructed just beyond range of our catapults. Before dark it had been ringed on all sides with a trench twelve feet deep and three feet across, the dirt thrown up into an embankment ten feet high inside the ring. Topped with a thick palisade of sharpened stakes. Inside, four sturdy walls were constructed of felled trees, guarded by squat log towers twenty feet high, stationed every fifty feet and surmounted by bolt-hurling field catapults. Inside, a space of a full two hundred feet was left between the walls and the tent line, a distance calculated to prevent our missiles and burning arrows from reaching the tents. This space was occupied by prisoners, cattle, plunder and supplies. Within a few hours, the Romans had constructed a stronghold that would be the envy of a lifetime's work of many civilizations poorer then theirs. A fortress impregnable. Yet this was not a permanent stronghold they had built. This was the Roman's usual daily campsite, Every day of a legionary's working life he would dig such a trench, construct such an embankment, hew trees, and build such palisade. All to be torched at sunrise, when the legions marched off to their next encampment. Javelins, when thrown, may miss their mark entirely. Shields may cave upon impact with a Scythian battle-ax; and a sword, though reliable at close quarters, still dulled, broke upon ribs. Or shivered if struck upon armor. But the shovel...the shovel was the legionary's best friend, his most faithful protector, the one weapon that allowed him to sleep soundly at night, behind his magnificent trenches and embankments. The shovel could stop a cavalry charge cold, stymie hordes of barbarians. Rome conquered not with its brutal leaders, not with the strength of its soldiers, not with the ingeniousness of its weapons...but with the most rustic, pigheaded, inglorious, gods-bedamned tool of them all...the shovel. Michael Curtis Ford “The Last King”

[@Prosper661]

​@@larrysingleton2864wow. Admire your passion and effort put into this post. Still not sure about logistical reality of building fortified camp every afternoon to specs described above. Surely some of it must have been roman propaganda

[@larrysingleton2864]

@@Prosper661Good point. It reminds me of the "bias" that might be said of people like Josephus or Caesar in his book The Battle for Gaul. (And weren't a lot of these writings by Caesar and others political speeches?) But the Romans did build those forts, as can be seen in archaeology, and there's a good argument that the Roman soldier's primary weapon was one of "prevention"; The Legionary's shovel. Also I seem to remember in the book The Battle for Gaul(?) Caesar's emphasis on keeping the soldiers busy. Thanks for the response. Surprised you got through the censors. I get almost ZERO replies in comparison to the dozens and dozens of comments I submit.

[@arnijulian6241]

Read the sources & you will realize that pugio is mentioned probably more then any other weapon. Cuspis are likely the only thing mentioned more then the pugio/dagger as cuspis means both javelins & spears like verutum, pilum or soliferrum etcetera. Scorpio's among all siege weaponry is mentioned extensively by the romans which no wonder when they are the equivalent role of the chain gun in ancient history as a ranged field weapon for surpassing consistent volley's. In a castra or high ground was hands down the best weapon that the romans possessed for it did not win the battle instantly but in a drawn out conflict decided the winner more often then not. If I could only have 1 ranged weapon in an armies composition in the ancient era it would be a Scorpio like how in industrial warfare onward it would be a chain gun. A Scorpio in it's time fulfilled 3 of the 4 roles in support fire. suppression, or attacking infantry & damaging structures like facilities/fortifications. Only thing a sorpio is no good for is (direct engagement) but you had melee infantry & other soldiers for that purpose in the past. Funnily a chain gun fulfils 3 out of 4 role but differs as great at 'direct engagement' but pretty bad at damaging structures like forts-bunkers etcetera. Mind you have field artillery guns for damaging structures as well as being the most harmful at attacking infantry though suppression or direct engagement it is useless if not on mass but that is really overwhelming fire rather then suppression or direct engagement. Auto cannons are the only ranged system that can fulfil all 4 forms of supportive fire but of course still have limitations in some regards like weight & overheating let alone the cost of feeding them munitions as it is pricey. The Romans were very ahead of their time in many regards as they basically all carried a combat knife with a supportive fire system while all wore helmets at the very least. Till Industrial war became a thing Rome really was at the forefront in so very much.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

The dagger was important in medieval & Renaissance warfare, so it's not surprising it was a serious weapon in the Roman military. One late-16th-century treatises mentions how pikers often lacked the space to use their swords effectively in the press of battle & had to employ their daggers. Roman formations may not have been as tight, but I suspect the same situations still came up from time to time.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

What a great example indeed, it indeed demonstrates perfectly how even a relatively short thing like a sword can be too unwieldy in (super) close combat. Very interesting! Thanks for sharing :)

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

English archers in the middle ages used knives, to kill downed horsemen, who could not rise from the ground when in heavy armour.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@EllieMaes-Grandad The idea of downed horsemen not being able to get back up is greatly exaggerated, unless they're exhausted, suffering from heat exhaustion or already wounded.

[@TheJarric]

@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 yes you can do back flips with knight armor

[@mathiasbartl903]

You also need a weapon, in case you've fallen to the ground.

[@WendussyDynamics]

Excellent work. The extra flourishes in post-production are appreciated, but I think they are fine at the current quality. Don't fall into the trap of incorporating ever more time-consuming details post-production, as this quickly leads to burnout! If the videos remain like this going forward, we will all be plenty happy.

[@DG-dy4tv]

Agreed!

[@3stone1]

Agreed.

[@elissitdesign]

As someone who knows this field well… I agree!

[@dredgewalker]

Yep, beyond this point is dininishing returns. The production will become longer to make and more expensive while the added details won't be notuced by the majority of viewers.

[@e4566547]

Really love this episode, never heard anyone else talk about Pugio so deeply. thank you.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank you, these kind of comments motivate us to continue our work.

[@laisphinto6372]

maybe not too deeply senators like it probably too. ouch...

[@70agrr]

Incredibly professional, entertaining and detailed historic channel about Roman militrary history, keep it up

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Much appreciated Andy, the best is still to come:)

[@renatoricci2010]

Very good!

[@sovietonion9542]

@@renatoricci2010 best

[@MintyLime703]

Always interesting to draw parallels throughout history and just how little some things change. A Roman soldier had his gladius and pugio just as the soldiers of recent history have rifles and handguns. A Roman officer may own a decorated ivory handle pugio just as a high ranking officer in say WW2 may have owned an ivory gripped 1911. A status symbol that also acts as a backup.

[@richardsherman2286]

😂 What self serving shite

[@randomobserver8168]

Interesting- and a convincing set of arguments for why more pugio could have been used in the northern regions, and/or be more likely to be buried there. Also solid reasoning on the greater value of the pugio in defense against ambush- I admit I was familiar with all the tropes about the superiority of the gladius itself in close combat especially formation combat, over longer swords. Although it makes much sense, I hadn't really thought through that the gladius itself would be too long and awkward a weapon under many conditions.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Hello Random observer, we are glad you learned from our video, thanks for sharing your experience.

[@j.f.fisher5318]

Sounds like the shorter swords or long knives that were shorter than other greeks' swords adopted by the Spartans for very closely packed presses between formations. In that context moving away from the gladius to a longer sword could be seen as moving from a sword that was a compromise in both close and more open formations to a longer sword for more open fighting and a long dagger for closely packed fighting.

[@samwill7259]

It says a lot about how narrow visions of popular history can be that I never thought about the soldiers of the greatest empire of their era keeping something as simple and universal as KNIVES around before now.

[@Lintary]

Once again a wonderful piece of work, glad to support.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Carde!

[@Oblivisci........]

I just wanna say how your ancestors would are rolling in their graves right now seeing their future men wearing Roman armor! You guys make amazing content and I look forward to new videos every time.

[@roffels11-gamingandhistory69]

Let them roll. Rome, despite being brutal like any other society of the time, brought at least some peace and lots of trade connections to southern and western Germany, so this is a perfect way to show our gratitude. ;D

[@kimashitawa8113]

To be fair didn't a lot of Germanic tribes in the what is now current-day Netherlands wear Roman armour too? Like the Batavians?

[@cal2127]

werent alot of them hired on as auxilia?

[@serennity0906]

Wow ... I've learned about Roman Empire militaries these recent times, but it first time I found out details of Pugio. I'm really glad to watch this awesome video.

[@akejohansson2860]

Unlike some daggers, The pugios broad blade would clearly make good size wound. Interesting with combat blades like seax, bowie, dirk, baselard, kukris etc. Good video! Thanks👍

[@eddarby469]

There is no doubt the Bowie knife would make a terrible wound. But, I believe it was really just for intimidation to have such a fat knife. A knife the size of a contemporary bayonet is all you need.

[@akejohansson2860]

@@eddarby469 well ..a danger is a 22 win mag....a fat Bowie is a 357mag, the way i see it😁👍

[@mikara518]

I absolutely love your style of telling Roman history and the amazing realistic scenes!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank you Milush, we are glad you like it:)

[@Legionary512]

I can already tell this is-going to be one of my favorite historical channels on KZbin.

[@Rymontp]

Great video. The acting in full gear really makes it come alive. Your videos always sound like they are very well researched. Well done & thanks!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Cheers Ryan!

[@fortunato4998]

Great Episode! Never knew how vital the Pugio was in adapting to local Germanic fighting styles. Truly interesting and the application of how it was used otherwise was something I’d never head before. Props to everyone who worked on this episode!

[@TheElitemarketing]

This channel is the best kept secret on KZbin. Amazing work guys.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Keeping it a secret won't help us much though haha ;)

[@TheElitemarketing]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT Agreed we must share.

[@l.p.8041]

The work these guys put into their content is amazing. Way better than most produced documentaries about Rome and you can really tell it’s a passion project. Really hope they get the 75. 000 views!

[@CasparMinning]

Yes that's exactly why I started supporting you via Patreon, great content!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Great to see you again Caspar:)

[@richardcimino1481]

Love your guy's commitment to historically accurate reenactment and bringing light to lesser-known aspects of Roman history!

[@larrysingleton2864]

Roman and Greek History, Etc. (My Library) If you're into “Roman” stuff Michael Curtis Ford's “Gods and Legions is the book to read. If you're into history I suggest you get Ammianus Marcellinus' History. The ass kicker here is that Marcellinus actually went to battle with Emperor Julian. The Loeb Classic is almost an adventure novel all by itself. As far as Gladiators, a couple of “definitive” books are The Way of the Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix and Spartacus by Howard Fast. Here are books from my library. Ass kickers every one. Ammianus Marcellinus History Loeb Classical Library The Battle for Gaul by Julius Caesar Illustrated edition by Anne & Peter Wiseman. Caesar: The Civil War by Jane F. Gardner Suetonius: The Twelve Caesars by Robert Graves The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon The Way of the Gladiator by Daniel P. Mannix Spartacus by Howard Fast Julian by Gore Vidal Gods and Legions by Michael Curtis Ford The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford The Sword of Attila by Michael Curtis Ford The Fall of Rome by Michael Curtis Ford The Last King by Michael Curtis Ford Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield Tides of War by Steven Pressfield The Virtues of War by Steven Pressfield Last of the Amazons by Steven Pressfield Thucydides: History of the Peloponesian War. Alexander the Great by Paul Cartledge The Spartans by Paul Cartledge Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem The Eagle and the Raven by Pauline Gedge The Last Legionary: Life as a Roman Soldier in Britain AD 400 by Paul Elliott Gladiator: The Roman Fighter's (Unofficial) Manual by Philip Matyzak Legionary: the Roman Soldier's Manual by Philip Matyszak On Roman Military Matters (De Re Militari) by Flavius Vegetius Renatus Marius had long ago showed us that the legionary has a weapon that is the bane of the civilized world, one more formidable than the dual-edged Roman short sword, more effective than the bronze-headed javelin, of greater defensive strength than the concave bronze-sheathed shields. It is a weapon in which the legionary is trained from his first day of induction and which he uses daily, in peacetime or in war, on the march or hunkered in camp under siege from flaming missiles. And upon their arrival at The miscyra, every able-bodied Roman immediately whipped out this most fearsome of all weapons: The Legionary's shovel. Before even breaking to rest or scouting for supplies, the Roman troops had unpacked their shovels and commenced digging, and the dirt flew, and the dust rose. In the space of an afternoon, a Roman camp for thirty thousand men had been constructed just beyond range of our catapults. Before dark it had been ringed on all sides with a trench twelve feet deep and three feet across, the dirt thrown up into an embankment ten feet high inside the ring. Topped with a thick palisade of sharpened stakes. Inside, four sturdy walls were constructed of felled trees, guarded by squat log towers twenty feet high, stationed every fifty feet and surmounted by bolt-hurling field catapults. Inside, a space of a full two hundred feet was left between the walls and the tent line, a distance calculated to prevent our missiles and burning arrows from reaching the tents. This space was occupied by prisoners, cattle, plunder and supplies. Within a few hours, the Romans had constructed a stronghold that would be the envy of a lifetime's work of many civilizations poorer then theirs. A fortress impregnable. Yet this was not a permanent stronghold they had built. This was the Roman's usual daily campsite, Every day of a legionary's working life he would dig such a trench, construct such an embankment, hew trees, and build such palisade. All to be torched at sunrise, when the legions marched off to their next encampment. Javelins, when thrown, may miss their mark entirely. Shields may cave upon impact with a Scythian battle-ax; and a sword, though reliable at close quarters, still dulled, broke upon ribs. Or shivered if struck upon armor. But the shovel...the shovel was the legionary's best friend, his most faithful protector, the one weapon that allowed him to sleep soundly at night, behind his magnificent trenches and embankments. The shovel could stop a cavalry charge cold, stymie hordes of barbarians. Rome conquered not with its brutal leaders, not with the strength of its soldiers, not with the ingeniousness of its weapons...but with the most rustic, pigheaded, inglorious, gods-bedamned tool of them all...the shovel. Michael Curtis Ford “The Last King”

[@martene.5624]

Stunning quality. And super informative, as always.

[@blythewood111]

Really interesting deep dive into the roman dagger. I like how your channel focuses on topics not covered by other history youtubers

[@mikemodugno5879]

Love this content. Can't wait to see your video about the late Roman Empire.

[@thcdreams654]

Love the content so far. Excited to see what else is coming in the pipeline. Thank you.

[@andyveres6245]

Remarkably professional, informative production. Absolutely evident that this is not only a labor of love but total commitment to produce a first rate documentary on the topic. Well done.

[@metalhead3389]

Once again an awesome documantery. Thank you for such great and interesting videos!

[@lupus_in_fabula]

Astounding analysis! The work you do and the revolutionary methods you use with in person acting and time related equipment is absolutely riveting, and more like this needs to be done in this field.

[@wisedragon173]

Love your energy, your commitment, and the passion you put into your recreation of Ancient Rome. Your realness will pay off and be rewarded with increasing subscribers. It will take some time, however, quality+ niche content is usually rewarded. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Thumbs up.

[@fpena6038]

Off to a good start. A well-done and well-researched video, delivered in an entertaining and engaging way.

[@brother_marzooq9097]

These videos are so well done and so insightful. The best Roman content on KZbin.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Given that the PUGIO is about the same blade size as the Spartan ZIPHOS, it does seem that when two Shield Walls crash , a shorter weapon is a very practical thing. Good video.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you, the depth of analysis on the Roman Pugio, is great.

[@CousinJesse1]

24.1 thousand subscribers.. that means every video should have 24.1 thousand well earned and deserved likes. This content is great and not as appreciated as it should be.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Jesse, we really hope to hit the 100K again, lets see how far we get!

[@NathanDudani]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT hear, hear

[@RENATVS_IV]

Thank you for the depth with which you explain and analyse this specific topic. You deserve to be in this platform for while, because Imperium Romanum is an extensive subject to talk about

[@randomthoughts9276]

I love how you tackled the pugio. The thing of the pugio being used in replacement of the gladius was very interesting. I'm also surprised it was mainly for military use. I thought for sure that a notable number of citizens would carry it around for protection.

[@stevenscott2136]

I suppose many citizens would have used household knives or hefty sticks for cost reasons. Or maybe it was simply unfashionable to carry a military knife -- considered pretentious, disrespectful, etc.

[@tonybutara9173]

Great information and a great channel. I love your dedication to detail and also the way you debunk stereotypes about the Roman military! I’ve been showing your videos to my son to help give him a more accurate idea of what it meant to be a Roman soldier.

[@santiagocardoso2684]

Its great how you are teaching history arround this channel keep up the great work.

[@RWNetworkEX]

Good job as always. Historical reinactments are such a gift to have. Rather than trying to imagine, experts give is a proper visual in a way we could experience and enjoy

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

What a spectacular little documentary!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks!

[@sunriselady2716]

Your video on the plug-in was very educational and entertaining. Very well produced and edited.

[@yannick6389]

Awesome video once again guys! I really like the detailed comparison between the three types of pugios. Can't wait for the next video; keep up the great work!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Cheers Yannick!

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

A very interesting argument! I'm not savvy enough to weigh in myself, but I very much appreciate the high-quality production and excellent information offered.

[@emmetpbyrne]

Loving this channel and how you are approaching the topic. Going to try forge one of these war daggers

[@ayparillo]

You guys create the most extraordinary content! Please keep it up. I'm always completely captivated by the videos you make. The way you guys dress up in the historical attire and address subjects that are often overlooked by others makes for unique, interesting videos. I know that this channel will explode once people start finding it. Please keep the content coming until they do.

[@LindaInpijn]

Amazing work Imperium Romanum! Can’t wait ‘till the next one.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Linda!

[@CZuskia]

Amazing work, as always! Loved the video. Incredibly informative, but not confusing (unlike many other videos from other channels can be).

[@erinmac4750]

Came here from M.Laser, definitely impressed by your detailed, insightful content. Although I'm unable to financially support your work, I will share your videos widely. Would love to see you succeed, as I've seen other channels do. Much luck! 🍀

[@corvusboreus2072]

Excellent presentation, I learned lots of new info concerning the pugio. Your crew have very good quality reenactment kit, and you present very interesting info in a logical way. Top notch channel.

[@2710gtb]

Excellent content! You provide a lot of information, which is presented beautifully. I have to say that your videos are, in my opinion, better than a vast majority of documentaries on TV. The full gear helps here a lot, of course! Keep doing the fine videos, will support you for sure :) P.S. Nice integration of Rome I and especially Rome II music ;)

[@legateelizabeth]

Thank you for the subtitles, guys. It’s an overlooked part of videos like this.

[@spencerirvine4308]

Impressive video! Reenactments like this are under-appreciated, but are SO valuable to give a visual image for people to learn from. Great job!

[@slysnake5617]

Excellent video, supreme quality.

[@pseudonym9599]

Love this channel. It is nice to see the little things in Roman history get covered. Keep up the awesome work, y'all.

[@Sanakudou]

I love deep dives like this into single items, every little thing has such detailed histories. Absolutely love the visuals for this video too!

[@kyjenkin]

Thank you for making great content over and over! Your dedication to history through re-enactment is really special!

[@JakobIlar]

As a man , I am required to think about Rome, several times a day. Thank you for making this more accessible. Subscribed!

[@BaronVonHobgoblin]

I'm glad to see there are historians out there who respectfully consider the truth in history rather than choosing to fabricate historical myth or historical allusion. I agree wholeheartedly with your theory that the Pugio was strictly a military weapon; its resemblance to a Sykes-Fairbairn is remarkable and I doubt that even the worst of mythmaking "historians" would dare call a Sykes-Fairbairn anything other than a strictly military weapon.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Goblin, we try our best and we are glad that you enjoyed it this much:)

[@vv8t9ttzvtvztvztvitv]

Amazing. Thank you for making such quality content

[@morgan97475]

Great info. Looking forward to seeing your channel expand. An episode about the Siege of Masada onsite would be fantastic. Even today, that place is quite magnificent & sad.

[@noskill_jeremy]

Thanks for the awesome video once again :) It's interesting to know that such a small weapon could be effective in combat. I would've guessed the moment an opponent sees that you are using such a tiny weapon, he'd try and keep his distance. But I am no expert on ancient combat. Then again, in a way like it was recorded, where they got pierced when climbing onto the ramparts, might also show that it was more effective in that kind of combat, where the enemy climbing up might not have the ways to keep his distance if he wants to get into the camp. And a longer weapon might not be the most useful if you have limited space yourself. Gives one a lot to think about. ^^

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Great to see you again Jeremy! It was indeed highly practical in very close combat, like the situation on the ramparts. It was a secondary weapon, but a very effective one.

[@I-need-a-hobby]

Would be cool to see you level some old ruins with a trebuchet. You have my full support ;). Jokes aside, great doc. again. Cant wait for the next one.

[@aardsnark940]

The leaf shape is very difficult to forge, but so iconic looking. I intend to make one this summer. Great video!

[@carlaolivo6144]

Very very good video , you can tell all the effort on this production. Keep up the good work guys 👍🏻

[@ateondeder5725]

This quickly became a must-watch channel. Amazing work!

[@marcotechio2869]

Amazing content and production!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks a lot Marco!

[@qwersad]

You guys showing real passion in these videos definitely more people need to see.

[@etiennesharp]

Another superb video, mijne heren! Just popped over to Patreon and signed up. All best wishes for the future.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks Etienne! Your support makes it possible for us to keep on going the way we are:)

[@CORPORAL-dn7nn]

Outstanding videos! I just found you and am binge watching all day today! Thank you for making these Awesome docs!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Great to hear, thanks a lot!

[@pietervanbeerendonk3741]

Love your videos, really educational. Keep it up

[@andreluislimaa]

Best Roman focused channel I've ever seen!!!! You guys have my "like" as soon as i open the videos, no need to watch first!

[@genghiskhan6809]

I’d like to posit that the reason that pugio saw very little to no use further east may have been because of the cultural influence of the Greeks. Perhaps the reason that pugios were so uncommon was that a Greek or other eastern dagger may have been playing the role of the pugio.

[@ChIGuY-town22_]

Good research on one of the most used weapons in history. I'm sure it's use on the battle field decreased due to improvements, an use of armor. Nice video, thanks for your hard work.

[@ee12321]

Great video love your content and dedication to historical acrucies but the sound could be improved

[@smeedatelierwijtvliet576]

Excellent artwork, combined with reenactment! Best channel for easily understandable yet in depth information. Thanks for this!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank you Wijtvliet! You are more than welcome!

[@smeedatelierwijtvliet576]

@@ImperiumRomanumYT if I’m going to make a pugio again I’ll be sure to contact you guys aswell for information 😉

[@AggelosKyriou]

Top quality content. I find there are some similarities with the 15th cent. cinquedea. Especially the handle. Were any of these discovered in the 15th century?

[@DEricTodd]

It's another win. Daggers always a nice option for up close and personal barbarian slaying

[@UNrDD]

I wonder if the Romans being as practical as they were, used broken or worn out gladii to repurpose into pugio? It would make sense to do so.

[@billsenapati8427]

This is the high quality roman history so many people have been waiting for.

[@G-Mastah-Fash]

This knife really doesn't seem like it was ever used as a kitchen implement.

[@Music7ube]

It's a really enjoyable format to look at. Not the typical boring/lame/hyped(Hollywood) documentary. I mean that you guys are actually reenacting the period and place makes the presentation all so much more viable and trustworthy.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Fantastic video again - have you read Pugio - Galdius Brevis Est (2012) ? They make a great argument that the 3rd century pugio is not the semi-spatha. Loved the video and look forward to the next one! Alex

[@Rymontp]

Didn't think I'd randomly find you in the comment section!

[@AlexIlesUK]

@@Rymontp ha I know some of the guys who are in the documentary! I really enjoy their work and it inspires me, though I don't have the production value they have... Yet :)

[@Rymontp]

@@AlexIlesUK Very cool. I enjoy their videos as well! It is probably easier if you make videos like these in a group. Division of labour etc. So the stuff you do on your own is very impressive too! And it will only get better

[@AlexIlesUK]

@@Rymontp thank you.. who knows maybe I can get some British reenactors onboard. You'll enjoy April's videos - Hadrians wall content coming!

[@Rymontp]

@@AlexIlesUK Sounds great, looking forward to it!

[@johnlansing2902]

Fantastic …… you have opened up the Empire history , this makes life back then real .

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Hello John, that is indeed our goal and we are glad you enjoy our videos!

[@percy3993]

Thanks

[@larsrons7937]

Very good video. You always have interesting content, not easily found elsewhere, and good real-life re-enactments.

[@juanpablorossicabrales9176]

Excelente video, muy informativo de un recurso generalmente ignorado por otras fuentes. Felicitaciones.

[@50megatondiplomat28]

These videos are very high quality. It's not just the expert knowledge or the highly accurate equipment. Even the scenery is well chosen. For example, the field the blonde man is standing in at 6:52 was so beautiful that it gave me a strange feeling. It looks like a painting I half remember or a dream I have forgotten. I wonder where it was filmed? Anyway, great job all around.

[@roffels11-gamingandhistory69]

Thanks for this very detailed video-documentary. It was entertaining and educational. It inspires me to practice "germano-Roman" re-enactment in the first century, after Augustus and his sons brought us southern Germans peace and stability. (Yes, I'm from southern Germany. No, I very much dislike the weird Germanic tribal hype some modern Germans display, because, although some Germanic tribes were not totally backwatered, the Romans brought trade connections, technological progress and an almost current day legislative to a very unstable society. The current democratic constitution Germany has clearly shows _Roman_ influence and straight up copies some old Roman ideas, while implementing some medieval structures, like certain councils and the title "Kanzler", but there is no trace of Germanic tribal elements, so why should I, a democrat, patriot and liberal, even bother with Germanic content, which is abused by weirdos, nationalists and neo-Nazis? Uff, this has become quite a tantrum. Ups.)

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thank you Roffels11, much appreciated:)

[@RENATVS_IV]

It's very cool to watch your videos a second time, because I refresh all I've learned with you, but also I see the details and explanations I missed. You deserve your spot here in YT lads. Thank you for your videos.

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

And thanks again René. Since I'm quite the perfectionist I often can't help myself and go all out on my research and even though I try to present it as clearly and simple as possible, there's still a LOT of info being condensed into a single video. So it's good to hear it adds some replay-value haha

[@r669charger7]

Great video! Do you have a recommendation on where to purchase correct reproductions of Roman weapons?

[@caervlevsmaximvs7518]

It depends to which degree of accuracy you want to go, and and also what your budget is... For example, there are plenty of websites that sell relatively cheap repro's that visually are quite decent, at least for that price. (120 eu or something) If you just want to have it as a nice walldecoration, some of those are perfectly fine. However, if you want a sword + scabbard that are actually made for you and based on an actual find, well then prices can easily hike from 600 to (more than) a 1000. There used to be a middle tier too, however those craftspeople increased their prices substantially after getting more exposure. (At least the ones I knew.)

[@r669charger7]

@@caervlevsmaximvs7518 Thank you. As someone who had done authentic campaigning in the American War Between The States, I can appreciate the price difference you mention above. Romans and Roman weapons are a new area of interest to me.

[@caervlevsmaximvs7518]

@@r669charger7 Always nice to look a bit further than one’s main period of interest. :) If you live in the U.S., I recommend you to look up Patrick Pointer (Google his name and add ‘Rhema Creations’). As far as I can tell, he’s your best pick for gladii and pugiones on your side of the Atlantic. I haven’t seen any of his creations in person however. Just make sure to check that it’s not made with a so-called “hollow grind’ and that it is as true to the original as possible. Unfortunately I can’t just place a link becausr it will automatically be deleted (this message is my 4th and final attempt.) Hope this helps!

[@r669charger7]

@@caervlevsmaximvs7518 Thank you Sir!

[@caervlevsmaximvs7518]

@@r669charger7 Np. ;)

[@calebprewer2718]

Wow, great content, I just finished listening to the Ancient warfare magazine podcast and was reminded of you guys. Would a video on ranged Roman weapons be possible, not very many people seem to talk about Roman slings, Pila, Plumbata etc? A talk and demonstration would be amazing. Thanks for all the amazing videos. Bring on the second Season!

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Hey Caleb, that's definitely something that is on our mind and very likely to happen somewhere this or next year!

[@sander7089]

I still wonder: Was there a difference between Pugio's in different countries?

[@yannick6389]

I'm curious about this as well, given the large area in which pugios were found.

[@silasklingelhofer973]

Great video (as always) on a not so well known part of the roman equipment. I would love to also see videos about the earlier roman army (republic/late republic) or late roman army.

[@Justin1Hunter]

Too sick

[@ladyofthemasque]

Thank you for all your hard work! By the way, just want you to know that there are a number of us Ancient World enthusiasts on Tumblr who share links to your videos--your audience is wider than KZbin alone.

[@johanvillemoes3374]

Cool

[@GliderBane]

I never liked the pugio until now. Thank you for the great video. I look forward to you covering other Roman Weaponry.

[@secario2135]

pugio is fast to draw because roman put it on the left because the germanic tribe could hide in the bushes and attack suddenly and faster the gladious is slow to draw because roman put it on on the right because the scutum is curved so take out the sword from the left side is a bad idea because the shield is in the way

[@sandervdbrink84]

Never underestimate the speed of a Roman soldier's sword draw. It's a lot easier to draw the sword, as that is done during every day's training. As far as I know there wasn't any training in drawing and using the pugio. At least no information about this survived.

[@skepticscircle1497]

What a really fantastic experience with you. I’m happy to have this channel. You guys really give it 100% and I hope that this channel grows!

[@neutralfellow9736]

very informative, though I disagree with the gladius being in any way unwieldy in pressed/close combat

[@ImperiumRomanumYT]

Thanks, good to hear! I agree the gladius doesn't seem very unwieldy when on a re-enacted battlefield during daytime - like we experience. Although actually it's definitely not the most nimble thing either, compared to medieval swords for example. But imagine having to defend yourself in the dark for example, or in a super tight space, that's a situation where I wouldn't pick a gladius over a pugio probably. I guess you could compare it to modern firearms; an assault rifle isn't unwieldy by any standard, but still there's situations where a handgun is preferred (entering a house or whatever).

[@KertPerteson]

Very amazing video again