Sam Hughes. BA, MA.
Edge of Empire
Irish Sub-Roman swords:
Problems of Origins and Chronology
sam.hughes@ucdconnect.ie
Although far shorter than the average Roman Spatha, (fig. 3) The Irish SubRoman type distinguish themselves from the Gladius imitations through their
longer and narrower blade proportions. While the Spatha remained in use in
the Roman military for far longer than the Gladius, The peening blocks which
survive on four of these swords provide us with convincing evidence for an
An isolated Ireland?
early date: a comparison with a typology of hilt furnishings developed from
the Danish bog deposits at Illerup Ådal shows that the Irish examples most
A group of Irish swords with characteristically Roman blade construction (fig.1) square shoulders, diamond blade section, and Roman style peening blocks (fig.4) - has
closely resemble type 3a1, dated to c. AD 150 – c. AD 200 (see fig.4).
long been recognised. However, these weapons have hitherto been assigned to the
Fig.1: Four Sub-Roman swords ©National Museum of Ireland
Irish Early medieval period (c. AD 400 – AD 800) (Rynne 1982, 95).
Fig.4. Type 3a1 peening blocks after Biborski & Ilkjaer 2006 (left) compared
with a Sub-Roman example (right)
Context
Previous theories about the origins of these weapons rested on the
assumption that the Irish Iron Age was an almost purely La Tène or “Celtic”
period with little to no influence from the Empire. However, recent work has
The reliance on Medieval texts to date all material, including the first known Sub-
highlighted the extent of connections between Ireland and the Roman
Roman swords, from Lagore crannóg, Co. Meath, led to the general acceptance that
Empire (Cahill Wilson 2014; fig. 5).
Fig.5: Sub-Roman swords in the context of Roman material in Ireland
these swords belonged to very late or post Roman period (Rynne 1982). It was
suggested that 4th/5th cent. Irish raids on Britain led to the copying of what was
considered to be superior Roman weapons (Warner 1991). Radiocarbon dating and
recent reassessments of the Lagore material, however, have demonstrated a much
longer history of human activity at this location. In this light, a reassessment of the
origins of Sub-Roman swords was long overdue.
Back to basics
Sub-Roman swords can be divided into two groups: those that resemble the Pompeii
type Gladius - a short sword which was used by legionaries from the mid 1st to mid
2nd centuries AD - and those that resemble the Spatha - a longer blade usually
associated with auxiliaries and cavalry before the mid 2nd century AD, but which
thereafter replaced the gladius as the legionary sword (Bishop & Coulston 2006).
Lagore (BM 1867.0720.1)
10
"Northern Ireland"
8.4
37.20
35.70
River Erkina
9.6
38.40
Derrymore
10.1
37.50
Lagore (NMI 0003:Wk003)
31.80
9
Dunshaughlin
33.80
10.2
0
5
Fig. 3 (bottom): Lengths of
surviving Sub-Roman spathae
33.90
9.2
NMI X2118
Fig.2 (left): Lengths of
surviving Sub-Roman gladii
10
15
Tang length (cm)
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Lagore (NM 13055)
10.5
Craigywarren
10.7
5
evolving in concert with British and continental styles, remained exceptionally
46.3
short.
45.80
9.9
0
examples. This indicates that the hilt furnishings did not copy Roman styles as
earlier in the Iron Age whereby Irish La Tène swords, despite blade morphology
10.7
Lagore (BM OA.1709)
take inspiration from Roman types, their tangs are far shorter than Roman
they would not fit on such a small tang. A similar set of choices can be seen
55
Blade length (cm)
Lagore (NMI 0002:Wk002)
However, these swords are not Roman imports: although the blades undoubtedly
38.3
This continuity in size from the La Tène swords, combined with the potentially
51.75
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Tang length (cm)
Blade length (cm)
45
50
55
60
65
70
Although shorter overall than their Roman counterparts, ca. half of the Irish swords
bear close resemblance to the Pompeii type gladius, making the mid-2nd cent. AD a
likely terminus ante quem for the introduction of this specific type to Ireland. The
chances of a gladius being found by Irish raiders after this time are relatively low
and as such, the Sub-Roman swords most likely predate the 4th/5th centuries AD.
local style hilt furnishing, raises questions: are we seeing a change in the
portrayal of Irish warrior identity that has taken on some aspects of the Roman
military? A potential parallel is the introduction of spurs to burial assemblages in
Germania during the Roman Iron Age, interpreted as a way of displaying the
deceased’s identity as part of the Roman military (Wells 1999). Could Irish people
have been involved in a similar way with the Roman military earlier than
previously thought?
References
Biborksi, M. & Ilkjaer, J. 2006. Illerup Ådal Bd. 11. Die
Schwerter: Textband. Aarhus. Aarhus University Press
Bishop, M. & Coulston, J. 2006. Roman Military
Equipment. 2nd Ed. Oxford: Oxbow
Cahill Wilson, J. 2014. Late Iron Age and Roman Ireland.
Dublin: Wordwell
Rynne, E. 1982. Pre-Viking Irish Iron Swords, In: B. G. Scott Warner, R. 1991. The earliest history of Ireland. In: M.
Wells, P. (ed). 2013. Rome beyond its frontiers: Imports,
(ed). Studies on early Ireland. Belfast. Association of
Ryan (ed). The illustrated archaeology of Ireland. Dublin. attitudes, and practices. Portsmouth. JRA.
Young Irish Archaeologists
Country house