Early Roman Armies

The early Romans were only one of a number of peoples that inhabited Iron Age central Italy. From the 8th to the 3rd century BC, the Romans undertook territorial expansion, and conflict with neighbouring tribes and cultures resulted in open war, most notably with the Samnites. Alliances were created, too, but the rise of Rome was unstoppable. This title covers the equipment, weaponry and dress of the early Romans, from the traditional foundation in 753 BC to the third century BC, where the dominance of Rome was beyond challenge. It also deals with developments in warfare, covering the early cavalry, the pre-Hoplite Army, the Hoplite Army and the Manipular Army. Etruscan, Latin, and Samnite warfare is also discussed.

While copious amounts have been written about the Roman army, most study has focussed on the later Republic or the Imperial period when the legionary system was already well-developed. Here Dr Jeremy Armstrong traces the development of Rome's military might from its earliest discernible origins down to the First Punic War. He shows how her armies evolved from ad-hoc forces of warriors organized along clan lines and assembled for the city's survival, to the sophisticated organization of the legions that went on to dominate all of Italy and then (after the period covered) the entire Mediterranean world. The author reviews both the literary sources and the latest archaeological evidence to provide a fresh analysis of Roman military organization, equipment, tactics and strategy. He shows how Rome's military apparatus adapted to meet the changing strategic needs of new enemies and broader ambitions. This study of the origins of the Classical world's most formidable war machine will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in Classical, and especially Roman, military history.

The prototypical 'Roman Legionnaire' often seen on television and in movies is actually the product of nearly a millennium of military development. Far back in the Bronze Age, before the city of Rome existed, a loose collection of independent hamlets eventually formed into a village. From this base, the earliest Roman warriors launched cattle raids and ambushes against their enemies. At some point during this time, the Romans began a period of expansion, conquering land and absorbing peoples. Soon, they had adopted classical Greek fighting methods with militia forming in phalanxes. This book covers the evolution of the earliest Roman warriors and their development into an army that would eventually conquer the known world.

The image of the Roman legionary is as familiar today as it was to the citizens - and enemies - of the vast Roman Empire two thousand years ago. This book goes beyond the stereotypes found in popular culture to examine the Roman Army from the first armed citizens of the early Republic through the glorious heights of the Imperial legions to the shameful defeats inflicted upon the late Roman Army by the Goths and Huns. Tracing the development of tactics, equipment and training, this work provides a detailed insight into the military force that enable Rome to become the greatest empire the world has ever seen. As well as describing the changes in the army over the centuries, The Roman Army also sheds light on the talented men who led these soldiers in battle and the momentous battles fought, including Cannae, Pharsalus, and Adrianople. Illustrated with detailed maps, artwork and photographs, this volume provides a complete reference to the Roman Army from the 8th century BC to the period after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. Hardback edition ISBN: 9781849081627

An extraordinary eBook. Over 800 pages, 42 full-color illustrations, out of the text, of Tancredi Scarpelli, Italian illustrator, 30 full-color illustrations, out of the text, of great painters, various illustrations black and white in the text. All the texts of this eBook are free available on the web. Why buy it? Because the book is a resource that provide to a considerable added-value: it coordinates, in logical way, to gather texts scattered on the web the images in full-color and in black and white list of films set in ancient Rome the Most Important Movies All the arguments of the eBook: The History of all roman legions: Organization, Equipment, Body armour, Tactics, Levy and conditions of service, Campaign record, Marching-order and camps, Social impact of military service. Political history of the Roman military, Roman kingdom, Roman Republic from late Republic to mid-Roman Empire, Middle Roman Empire, Late Roman Empire Other: Imperial cavalry, Privileges, Relations, Oligarchical rule, Composition of legions, Roman conquest of Italy, Pattern of Roman expansion, Benefits of Roman hegemony, Military organisation of the Roman alliance, Historical cohesion of the Roman alliance, Samnite Wars, Pyrrhic War, 2nd Punic War, Social War, Integration of socii, Causes of socii revolt, Outbreak of revolt, Roman unification of Italy, Expansion of the Roman Republic, Imperial times, Conquest of the Iberian peninsula (219–18 BC), Macedon, the Greek poleis, and Illyria (215–148 BC), Jugurthine War (112–105 BC), Resurgence of the Celtic threat (121 BC), New Germanic threat (113–101 BC), Conflicts with Mithridates (89–63 BC), Campaign against the Cilician pirates (67 BC), Caesar's early campaigns (59–50 BC), Triumvirates, Caesarian ascension, and revolt (53–30 BC). Empire: Imperial expansion (40 BC – 117 AD), Year of the Four Emperors (69 AD), Jewish revolts (66–135 AD), Struggle with Parthia (114–217 AD), Usurpers (193–394 AD), Struggle with the Sassanid Empire (230–363 AD), Collapse of the Western Empire (402–476 AD), Social War, Civil Wars. Documents: The Battle of The Metaurus, B.: 207, The War with Porsena, The Conquest of Gaul, The Cimbri and Teutones – Political Quarrels, The Battle of Chalons, A.D. 451, The First Punic War, The Praetorian Influence, The Great Enemies of Rome: Pyrrhus, Relation of the Augustan Age to other Literary Epochs, Roman Religion. Bibliography. List of films set in ancient Rome, The Most Important Movies, Source of the Texts.

An illustrated guide to the organization, structure, equipment, weapons, combat history, and tactics of the Late Roman military forces. This guide to the Late Roman Army focusses on the dramatic and crucial period that started with the accession of Diocletian and ended with the definitive fall of the Western Roman Empire. This was a turbulent period during which the Roman state and its armed forces changed. Gabriele Esposito challenges many stereotypes and misconceptions regarding the Late Roman Army; for example, he argues that the Roman military machine remained a reliable and efficient one until the very last decades of the Western Empire. The author describes the organization, structure, equipment, weapons, combat history and tactics of Late Roman military forces. The comitatenses (field armies), limitanei (frontier units), foederati (allied soldiers), bucellarii (mercenaries), scholae palatinae (mounted bodyguards), protectores (personal guards) and many other kinds of troops are covered. The book is lavishly illustrated in color, including the shield devices from the Notitia Dignitatum. The origins and causes for the final military fall of the Empire are discussed in detail, as well as the influence of the “barbarian” peoples on the Roman Army. Praise for Armies of the Late Roman Empire, AD 284–476 “An excellent introduction to the subject for the novice, and seasoned students of the subject may find it of use as well.” —The NYMAS Review “This beautifully illustrated book depicts the very different arms and armour of the late Roman Empire as Roman soldiers adapted to the challenges of the rising barbarian armies . . . Very Highly Recommended.” —Firetrench “Superbly well-illustrated . . . historians, re-enactors and war gamers will find invaluable to understanding and picturing the Roman forces.” —Hoplite Association

A comprehensive narrative history of the greatest army the world has ever known from its earliest origins to its disintegration in AD 476.

From an award-winning historian of ancient Rome, a concise and comprehensive history of the fighting forces that created the Roman Empire Roman warfare was relentless in its pursuit of victory. A ruthless approach to combat played a major part in Rome's history, creating an empire that eventually included much of Europe, the Near East and North Africa. What distinguished the Roman army from its opponents was the uncompromising and total destruction of its enemies. Yet this ferocity was combined with a genius for absorbing conquered peoples, creating one of the most enduring empires ever known. In Roman Warfare, celebrated historian Adrian Goldsworthy traces the history of Roman warfare from 753 BC, the traditional date of the founding of Rome by Romulus, to the eventual decline and fall of Roman Empire and attempts to recover Rome and Italy from the "barbarians" in the sixth century AD. It is the indispensable history of the most professional fighting force in ancient history, an army that created an Empire and changed the world.

Rome's Vengeance In the year A.D. 9, three Roman Legions under Quintilius Varus were betrayed by the Germanic war chief, Arminius, and destroyed in the forest known as Teutoburger Wald. Six years later Rome is finally ready to unleash Her vengeance on the barbarians. The Emperor Tiberius has sent his adopted son, Germanicus Caesar, into Germania with an army of forty-thousand legionaries. The come not on a mission of conquest, but one of annihilation. With them is a young legionary named Artorius. For him the war is a personal vendetta; a chance to avenge his brother, who was killed in Teutoburger Wald. In Germania Arminius knows the Romans are coming. He realizes that the only way to fight the legions is through deceit, cunning, and plenty of well-placed brute force. In truth he is leery of Germanicus, knowing that he was trained to be a master of war by the Emperor himself. The entire Roman Empire held its collective breath as Germanicus and Arminius faced each other in what would become the most brutal and savage campaign the world had seen in a generation; a campaign that could only end in a holocaust of fire and blood.

The legionary soldier of the early Empire period, with his distinctive segmented armor, is one of the images most closely associated by popular imagination with ancient Rome. Such soldiers conquered most of Britain, suffered and avenged the terrible disaster of the Teutoburg Forest and vanquished the fearsome Dacians across the Danube, a feat immortalized on Trajan’s Column, as well as fighting many other tribes. In the East they overcame the Great Jewish Revolt and repeatedly contended with mixed success against the powerful Parthians. This was the army that enforced the so-called Pax Romana at the point of a gladius and maintained the greatest empire the world had yet seen. Of course, such troops were also employed to bloody effect in the many civil wars such as those of AD69, ‘the Year of the Four of the Emperors’. Gabriele Esposito describes the tactics, organization and equipment of the Roman army at the height of its powers, considered by many to be the most efficient and powerful fighting force of the ancient world. He gives an overview of the most significant campaigns and considers in detail not only the iconic legionaries but also the various auxiliary units, including cavalry. His clear, accessible text is supported by dozens of color photos of replica weapons, armor and other kit in use.