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The selection of 'matched pairs' of different
types of gladiators of would ensure that one fighter was
hampered by heavy armor whilst the other was lightly armed.
The different types of Gladiators have therefore been
detailed on this page in four classes:
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The Elite Types of
Gladiators
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Types of gladiators who heavily
armed
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Types of gladiators who lightly
armed
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Types of gladiators who
specialised in unusual types of combat or
entertainment
One type of gladiator
might have freedom of movement but with little armor, or no
armor to protect him. The other type of gladiator matched
against him might be more heavily armed and protected but
restricted in his movements by his armor.
Types of Gladiators - How many different Types
of Gladiators fought in Ancient Rome?
How many different Types of
Gladiator fought in Ancient Rome? Good question but we cannot
provide a definitive answer. The history of the gladiators dates
back over 2000 years and much of the information about them has
been lost. We have, however, provided facts and interesting
information about 26 different types of gladiator including
their specialised fighting skills, their opponents and their
weapons, clothing, armor and shields.
Names given to different
Types of Gladiators
The first Roman Gladiators
were prisoners of war and were named according to their
ethnic roots such as Samnite, Thracian and the Gaul
(Gallus). Old enemies became allies and the names of
the different types of gladiators changed to reflect their
combat techniques such as Secutores (chasers), Bestiarii
(beast fighters) and Retiarius (net fighters).
Types of Gladiators -
List of the Elite
The elite types of
Gladiators were the Rudiarius who were gladiators who had
obtained their freedom but chose to continue fighting in
gladiatorial combats, the Tertiarius who were experienced
gladiators who acted as substitutes if a gladiator was unable to
fight and the Sagittarius, a rare delight for the spectators, as
these were highly accomplished mounted bowmen. Each of this type
of gladiator was well known to the spectators, highly
experienced and extremely skilful.
Types of Gladiators -
List of Heavily armed Gladiators
The different Types of Gladiators
who were heavily armed were as follows:
Cataphractarius (Heavily protected
gladiator)
Gallus (Heavily armed Gladiator )
Hoplomachi (Armed Fighters)
Provocatores (Challengers Protected by a Breastplate)
Samnites: (Large Shields and Plumed Helmets)
Secutores (Slashers / Carvers)
Scissores (Carvers - Short Swords)
Murmillones (Gladius and Shield Gladiator)
Types of Gladiators -
List of Lightly armed Gladiators
The different Types of Gladiators
who were heavily armed were as follows:
Dimachaeri (Gladiators With Two
Swords)
Thracian (Thrax - Curved Swords)
Eques (Horseback And Sword Gladiator)
Essedari (War-Chariot Fighters)
Laquerarii (Lasso Fighters)
Paegniarius: (Whip, Club and Shield Gladiator)
Retiarii (Net Fighters)
Velites (Fought in groups with Spears)
List of Unusual Types of Gladiators
There were also unusual
types of Gladiators. These types of gladiators were forced
to fight, or specialised in, unusual types of combat or
entertainment. The Andabatae (Sight Restricted Gladiators)
were convicted prisoners who were forced to wear helmets
without any eye holes. No other armor was worn. They fought
bare-chested and blindly lashed out at each other until the
last man was standing. The Bestiarii (Beast Fighters) were
lightly armored types of gladiators and fought wild animals.
The Venatores were Wild Animal Hunters who entertained the
spectators with their hunting skills. The Praegenarii were
the 'opening act gladiators'. This type of gladiator only
used wooden swords, accompanied to festive music. The
Bustuarii was a type of slave gladiator who fought in
combats to the death at the funerals of prominent Romans.
The Naumachiarii were combatants in sea-fights - the arena
of the Roman Colosseum was originally able to produce such
sea battles for more information see
Water Battles at the Colosseum.
Andabatae (Sight Restricted
Gladiators)
Bestiarii (Beast Fighters)
Bustuarii (Funeral Gladiators)
Naumachiarii ( Combatants in Sea-fights)
Praegenarii (Opening Act Gladiators)
Venatores (Wild Animal Hunters)
Paegniarius (Animal Fighters with a Whip)
Names of other Types of
Gladiators
Other specific names were
given to different types of gladiators according to their
status and roles:
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Auctorati -
Definition: Roman citizens who were in debt and sold themselves to
gladiator schools for money, swearing of a legal agreement agreeing
to submit to beating, burning, and death by the sword if they did
not perform as required. Auctorati gladiators were not deprived of
their Roman citizenship
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Tirones gladiatores
or Tiro - Definition: Trainee gladiators
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Veteranus (Veterani)
- Definition: A trained gladiator and a veteran of one or more
gladiatorial combats
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Meridiani -
Definition: Lightly armed gladiators who fought in the middle of the
day, after the wild beast fights
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Ordinarii -
Definition: These were the regular gladiators who fought in pairs in
the ordinary way
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Catervarii -
Definition: Name given to gladiators when they did not fight in
pairs, but when several fought together
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Noxii - Definition: Criminals who had been sentenced
to death fighting as gladiators in the arena
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Gladiatores Fiscales were maintained by the
private treasury of the emperor
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Gladiatores Postulatitii, were Gladiators of
great skill, maintained by the Roman state treasury
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Taurarii gladiators who were bullfighters
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