What is a Pugio?
A pugio (plural: pugiones) was a type of Roman dagger weapon. It typically had a double-edged blade of between 7 to 12 inches long, and a handle of about 4 inches long which was made of bone, wood, or metal.
Primarily used by the legionaries as a back-up if their main weapon, the gladius, was lost or damaged in battle, the pugio dagger was used for thrusting or slashing, and could be used to great effect in close quarters combat.
The Design of the Pugio
The pugio developed from the daggers used by the Cantabrians of the Iberian peninsula. The design of the pugio was similar to that of the gladius, which, as mentioned above, was the primary Roman sword.
The main difference between the two weapons is that the pugio had a shorter blade. This made the dagger easier to carry and be concealed (see The Assassination of Julius Caesar section below). However, the shorter blade also made the pugio less effective against enemy armor. It was more effective against lightly armored opponents, or for finishing a wounded enemy off.
As with other ancient Roman weapons, the design of the pugio changed and varied over the many centuries of the Roman empire. Archaeological excavations have discovered pugiones of differing overall lengths, as well as the width of the blade; varying from longer and thinner to shorter and wider.
When not in use, a pugio was kept in a sheath that was fastened to the waist and hung at the side on the wearer's hip. These sheaths were often elaborately decorated.
Where Does the Name Pugio Come From?
The term "pugio" is derived from the Latin word for "dagger," which is "pugnus."
Pugiones were first used during the 1st century BC, and became more common during the 1st century AD. They continued to be used right up until the fall of the Roman empire in the 5th century AD, which is testament to their effectiveness.
Who Carried and Used a Pugio?
The pugio was primarily used by Roman legionaries, but it could also be used by auxiliaries and cavalry troops.
As well as Roman soldiers, pugiones were also used by some gladiators fighting in the arena.
As mentioned above, the design of the pugio changed so much that it can be difficult to neatly categorize exactly which blades should be classed as a pugio and which ones merely a dagger.
Smaller, simple daggers have always played a significant part in the lives, and deaths, of Roman citizens and plebeians alike. Whether it is the drunken street brawler stabbing someone in a fight, a disgraced general committing suicide, a political murder (see below), a high-ranking official wearing an ornate ceremonial dagger as a mark of office, or a person simply having a concealed blade in case of the need for self defense, knives and daggers were such simple yet deadly weapons, and remain so to this day.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
On 15th March 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of senators in the Curia of Pompey. This event has been memorialized in countless works of art and literature, most famously in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar.
Caesar was stabbed 23 times by the conspirators, which included his former friend Marcus Junius Brutus, and many of those wounds were inflicted by pugiones. The attack was supposedly so frenzied, that a number of the conspirators, including Brutus, were wounded themselves by the blades of their co-conspirators.
The decision to use pugiones was undoubtedly made for practical reasons. The daggers were likely chosen because they could be easily concealed beneath togas, the traditional clothing attire of Roman senators, unlike a gladius which would be too large and easily noticed.
Being shorter and weighing less than a heavy gladius weapon also enabled the conspirators to inflict quicker and more numerous thrusts in a short period of time; which was essential to ensure that Caesar was dead before there was any chance of help coming to his rescue.
The Legacy of the Pugio
The legacy of the pugio is one of a versatile and lethal weapon that served the Roman military for centuries. It is a reminder of the importance of having a good sidearm in any army.
The pugio is still studied by modern military historians, and is considered to be one of the most important weapons in Roman history.
Not only was it used to great effect on the battlefield, but its prominent role in the killing of Caesar has meant that the pugio remains one of the most prominent symbols of the often brutal and deadly time that was the period of ancient Rome.
A stroke with the edges, though made with ever so much force, seldom kills, as the vital parts of the body are defended both by the bones and armor; on the contrary a stab, though it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal.
_Vegetius, De Re Militari
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