Description
Book SynopsisFollows the military lives of three soldiers across the Roman world, providing interesting, historical insight into the Roman military from the late republic to the end of antiquity in the west
This book introduces readers to three historical Roman soldiersTitus Pullo from the late republic, Aurelius Polion from the high imperial era, and Flavius Aemilianus from late antiquity. The three men inspire the themes and chronological organization of the text.?Drawing on a wide and diverse body of evidence, the author charts their lives from enlistment to death or retirement, allowing students to envision the life of a Roman soldier who is on duty or experiencing adventures across the Roman world.
An Introduction to the Roman Military: From Marius (100 BCE) to Theodosius II (450 CE) starts with a historical overview before introducing readers to the Roman soldier. It covers such things as the military hierarchy, soldierly origins, recruitment and training, and t
Table of Contents
List of Figures vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Part I Background 1
1 Sources and Approaches 3
2 Historical Overview 25
3 Soldierly Origins and Background 51
Part II Becoming a Soldier 65
4 Recruitment and Training 67
5 Unit Organization and Structure 81
6 Appearance, Equipment, and Identity 97
Part III Preparing for War 111
7 Strategy, Frontiers, and War 113
8 Food: Campaigns and Supply 127
9 Rome’s Foes 141
Part IV Fighting at the Front 157
10 Combat: Battle 159
11 Combat: Sieges 175
12 Life After War: Celebrating Victory, Mourning Defeat, and Readjusting to Civilian Life 189
Part V Beyond War 203
13 Friends and Family 205
14 The Military and the State 219
15 Retirement: Veterans and Their Legacy 235
Conclusion 249
Glossary 253
Timeline 259
Further Reading and Bibliography 269
Index 285
