The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army PDF
Preview The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army
itSUll 1-J7WeW/eA $40.00 Facing unprecedented pressures from within and without, in the early fourth cen tury A.D. the Emperor Constantine formed a new military force, a permanent Roman field army. He levied detachments from his legions defending the frontiers, and in a drastic step with far-reaching conse quences, he recruited soldiers from the un conquered Germans east of the Rhine. Those new detachments of auxilia gave the western Roman army a strongly Ger manic, but basically loyal character. Was Constantine’s decision one of the ma jor causes of the fall of the Western Em pire? Dr. Cromwell argues that misuse of that army by later generals who wanted to intimidate their enemies rather than defend the empire led to the final economic and military disasters. Using original charts and clear explanations of terms, Cromwell shows both how the Roman field army was organized and why it was initially success ful. He also illustrates the geographical and political differences which made the Eastern Empire based on Constantinople more viable than that of the West. This study makes a significant contribution to understanding the military and social situ ation of the late Roman Empire. Detail from Roman sculptured slab set up by the Second Legion at the eastern end of the Antonine Wall. About A.D. 143 National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland Jacket design by Michele R. Fritz The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army Richard S. Cromwell White Mane Publishing Company, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED —No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review. This White Mane Publishing Company, Inc. publication was printed by Beidel Printing House, Inc. 63 West Burd Street Shippensburg, PA 17257-0152 USA In respect for the scholarship contained herein, the acid-free paper used in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. For a complete list of available publications please write White Mane Publishing Company, Inc. P.O. Box 152 Shippensburg, PA 17257-0152 USA Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cromwell, Richard S. The rise and decline of the late Roman field army / Richard S. Cromwell, p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57249-087-X (alk. paper) 1. Rome—Army—History. 2. Rome-Army-Recruiting, enlistment, etc. 3. Germanic peoples—Employment. 4. Sociology, Military- -Rome-History. 5. Rome-History, Military-30 B.C.-476 A.D. I. Title. U35.C76 1998 355' .00937—dc21 97-46692 CIP PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Old soldiers never die; They only fade away. British army song (c. 1915)
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