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QUORA
Why was the Dacian Falx so devastating against the Romans?
The falx came in two sizes and were two separate weapons. This is the short, one handed weapon:
Short is relative. The working end of this sica varied in length but the combat version was 16 inches long. Obviously, this type of weapon could work its way around a shield and was good for stabbing. When it was used with a downward cut, the bend meant 1/3 of the weapon would be point below the shield after being blocked. Being one handed, expect the wielder to be carrying a shield and using the stabbing technique.
The second falx was a two handed weapon:
The blade is about three feet long. The handle is 2 feet long. This thing is heavy enough to cleave into a legionary’s shield with the sharp edge; out of range of the gladius. The angled spike is designed to inflict damage after contact with the shield and hurt the man behind it. A blow can even strike at the back of the neck.
The legions were clearly challenged by these weapons. The legionary gear changed to mitigate. Pre-falx helmet(Imperial Gallic):
Post-falx helmet(Imperial Italic):
The Dacian Wars helmet is bigger, more reinforced, more neck protection, heavily reinforced helmet top, far larger “energy dissipating” horizontal protrusion and more cheek protection. The horizontal protrusion is not only larger, it is tilt slightly upwards. Some helmets still had the “crumple zones” of the Gallic helmets. Probably some Gallic helmets were modified into the Italic standard. The Italic helmet was certainly heavier.
Not only was the helmet redone, the legionary had to add armor. The legionary’s right arm was covered in a manica:
Trajan’s column shows legionaries wearing greaves so the Dacians were aiming for legs and feet as well.
So, a legionary in Dacia wore more metal to stay alive. No soldier adds more weight to his load unless he must.
Reenactors demonstrate, the falx could penetrate the Roman shield:
Please note, the man’s torso is outside gladius range and overhead strike has gone through where the Roman’s face is supposed to be. If the reenactor above strikes to the Roman’s right side, the observed level penetration means a severe arm wound; thus the manica. Even if the falx is imbedded in the shield, the Dacian is now in prime position to pull the shield away from the Roman or pull the soldier out of formation for another Dacian to kill.
In 85/86, the Dacians crossed the Danube and annihilated Legio V Alaude. Domitian led an army into Dacia, then returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph. He left his Praetorian Prefect and several legions to continue the war. That praetorian was killed and at least one other legion suffered the same fate. The other three legions returned to their forts to lick their wounds and the Dacians were paid to stay on their side of the river.
The Romans were NOT pleased.
Trajan returned with more men, more of everything, won a very difficult war and built his column. Provinces north of the Danube were organized. All these gains were abandoned over time as being too difficult to maintain.
The falx was a fearsome weapon. It functioned more as a pole arm than a sword.
After the Dacian Wars, the Roman gear slowly returned to something more normal. The greaves were dropped. Manica was seen on illustrations but they were rare. The helmet shed some reinforcement and the “lobster tail” grew shorter again but flared downward to cover more of the neck back. Or, the reversion to “normal” occurred in areas outside of Dacia. The Romanian frontier was a difficult one and Romans eventually abandoned the provinces north of the Danube.
This is from the Tropaeum Traiani in Romania:
Note the peak on the helmet to deflect blows, the manica, the lobster tail at the back of the helmet and the suggestion of greaves. The legionary trying to protect his face is noteworthy too.
