We Are Not Spartans!

Marcellus stood within the courtyard of his Villa, while the Imperial Palace of Rome was under reconstruction, he chose to live within the home that he had dwelled in for many years. Currently, he stood tall with a wooden sword in his hand. His opponent? The young boy Theodosius II. 

The Imperator of the Roman Empire, who had recently unified both the east and west, wanted nothing more than his nephew to grow into a man capable of defending Rome. As such, he was giving the boy a lesson on basic swordsmanship. Naturally, as a Roman, there were no complex maneuvers that made use of a two handed blade like those that would develop in future centuries. 

Instead, a roman commanded a sword in one hand, and a shield in the other. Thus, as the boy launched his attack towards his uncle, it was quickly dispelled, as he had not kept his shield raised when he struck.