Generalissimos of the Western Roman Empire

Generalissimos of the Western Roman Empire PDF Author: John M. O'Flynn
Publisher: University of Alberta
ISBN: 9780888640314
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
John Micheal O'Flynn traces the development of the position of the generalissimo, or emperor's commander of the military forces, in the western part of the Roman Empire during the first century AD. From the arrogant barbarian Arbogast, who treated the youthful emperor Valentinian as his puppet, to Odovacar, who dismissed the last western emperor and was pronounced king of Italy in 476, the generalissimos' seizure of power led to dissolution and chaos from which would emerge the political patterns of medieval and modern Europe.

The Late Roman West and the Vandals

The Late Roman West and the Vandals PDF Author: Frank M. Clover
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1040248551
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description
The impact of Roman civilisation on the Empire’s clients in the West forms the subject of the first parts of this volume. Even the most successful Germanic kingdoms of the 5th-6th centuries, the author argues, such as that of the Vandals in North Africa, could not escape the grasp of the Roman Empire: their politics and culture remained conditioned by imperial models and by the continuing reality of imperial power throughout late antiquity. The subsequent articles deal with the Historia Augusta, but approaching that difficult text from the periphery, by first attempting to establish its broad literary and topical context before considering questions of its nature and date. L’impact de la civilisation romaine sur les clients de l’empire en Occident forme le sujet des premières parties de ce recueil. Selon l’auteur, même les royaumes germaniques, bénéficiant du plus grand des succès aux 5e et 6e siècles, tel celui des Vandales en Afrique du Nord, ne pouvaient échapper à l’emprise de l’empire romain: leurs politiques et leurs cultures restaient sous l’influence des modèles impériaux et de la réalité constante du pouvoir impérial tout au long de l’Antiquité tardive. Les études suivantes traitent de l’Historia Augusta, approchant cependant ce texte ardu depuis sa périphérie, tentant tout d’abord d’établir son contexte littéraire et thématique, ce, avant d’en considérer la nature et la date.

Aetius

Aetius PDF Author: Ian Hughes
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1783461349
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
“The history of Aetius’ life and his dealings with Attila . . . [and] of the (western) Roman Empire throughout the pivotal fifth century.” —Ancient Warfare Magazine In AD 453, Attila—with a huge force composed of Huns, allies, and vassals drawn from his already-vast empire—was rampaging westward across Gaul (essentially modern France), then still nominally part of the Western Roman Empire. Laying siege to Orleans, he was only a few days march from extending his empire from the Eurasian steppe to the Atlantic. He was brought to battle on the Catalaunian Plain and defeated by a coalition hastily assembled and led by Aetius. Who was this man that saved Western Europe from the Hunnic yoke? Aetius is one of the major figures in the history of the late Roman Empire and his actions helped maintain the integrity of the West in the declining years of the Empire. During the course of his life he was a hostage, first with Alaric and the Goths, and then with Rugila, king of the Huns. His stay with these two peoples helped to give him an unparalleled insight into the minds and military techniques of these “barbarians” which he was to use in later years to halt the depredations of the Huns. Ian Hughes assesses Aetius’ fascinating career and campaigns with the same accessible narrative and analysis he brought to bear on Belisarius and Stilicho. “A lively, often insightful account of the declining years of Roman power in the West which will be of interest to students of Roman history, the onset of the Dark ages and early Byzantine history.” —The New York Military Affairs Symposium

City Walls

City Walls PDF Author: James D. Tracy
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521652216
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 732

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Book Description
The essays presented in this volume, first published in 2000, describe a phenomenon so widespread in human time and space that its importance is easily overlooked. City walls shaped the history of warfare; the mobilisation of manpower and resources needed to build them favoured some kinds of polities over others; and their massive strength, appropriately ornamented, created a visual language of authority. Previous collective volumes on the subject have dealt mainly with Europe, but the historians and art historians who collaborate here follow a comparative agenda. The millennial practice of wall building that branched out from the ancient Near East into India, Europe, and North Africa shows continuities and points of contact of which the makers of urban fortifications were scarcely aware; separate traditions in China, sub-Saharan Africa, and North America illustrate universal themes of defensive strategy and the symbolism of power, each time embedded in a distinctive local context.

In Praise of Later Roman Emperors

In Praise of Later Roman Emperors PDF Author: C. E. V. Nixon
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520342828
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 750

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Book Description
Here, for the first time, is an annotated English translation of the eleven later panegyrics (291-389 C.E.) of the XII Panegyrici Latini, with the original Latin text prepared by R. A. B. Mynors. Each panegyric has a thorough introduction, and detailed commentary on historical events, style, figures of speech, and rhetorical strategies accompanies the translations. The very difficult Latin of these insightful speeches is rendered into graceful English, yet remains faithful to the original.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII PDF Author: Jan Willem Drijvers
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004215999
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
Continuing the series of philological and historical commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae this volume deals with Book 28, which is devoted primarily to the deplorable events in Rome during the reign of Valentinian and his defense of the Rhine frontier.

A History of the Later Roman Empire (Vol. 1&2)

A History of the Later Roman Empire (Vol. 1&2) PDF Author: J. B. Bury
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 863

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Book Description
J. B. Bury's 'A History of the Later Roman Empire' (Vol. 1&2) is a seminal work that delves deeply into the political, social, and cultural aspects of the declining Roman Empire. Bury's detailed narrative style captures the complexity of the later empire, offering insights into key events such as the reign of Constantine and the rise of Christianity. His analysis is both comprehensive and engaging, making it a must-read for anyone interested in Roman history. Bury's clear and concise writing allows readers to grasp the intricacies of the period while also shedding light on the broader historical context. As a distinguished historian and classicist, J. B. Bury's extensive knowledge of Roman history is evident in this magnum opus. His meticulous research and scholarly approach provide readers with a thorough understanding of the later Roman Empire and its significance in shaping the course of Western civilization. Bury's expertise in the subject matter shines through in every chapter, offering readers a nuanced perspective on this pivotal period in history. I highly recommend 'A History of the Later Roman Empire' to history enthusiasts, students, and scholars alike. Bury's insightful analysis and in-depth exploration of the subject make this book an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Roman Empire's decline and its lasting impact on Western history.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII PDF Author: Jan den Boeft
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004224025
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
In Book 28 Ammianus describes the military activity of Valentinian on the Rhine. The historian speaks with admiration about his efforts to strengthen the northwestern border of the empire. He shows a similar esteem for the general Theodosius, who re-established order in Britain. However, in the greater part of Book 28 there is an air of gloom. Ammianus writes reluctantly about the judicial terror inflicted on the Roman aristocracy by powerful magistrates. In his digression about Roman manners he speaks with contempt about the senatorial elite and the Roman plebs, because they fail to live up to the standards of their ancestors. The final chapter illustrates the disastrous effects of the mismanagement of the province of Tripolis by corrupt officials.

The Classical Journal

The Classical Journal PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Classical philology
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description


Military Diasporas

Military Diasporas PDF Author: Georg Christ
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000774074
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 507

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Book Description
Military Diasporas proposes a new research approach to analyse the role of foreign military personnel as composite and partly imagined para-ethnic groups. These groups not only buttressed a state or empire’s military might but crucially connected, policed, and administered (parts of) realms as a transcultural and transimperial class while representing the polity’s universal or at least cosmopolitan aspirations at court or on diplomatic and military missions. Case studies of foreign militaries with a focus on their diasporic elements include the Achaemenid Empire, Ptolemaic Egypt, and the Roman Empire in the ancient world. These are followed by chapters on the Sassanid and Islamic occupation of Egypt, Byzantium, the Latin Aegean (Catalan Company) to Iberian Christian noblemen serving North African Islamic rulers, Mamluks and Italian Stradiots, followed by chapters on military diasporas in Hungary, the Teutonic Order including the Sword Brethren, and the Swiss military. The volume thus covers a broad band of military diasporic experiences and highlights aspects of their role in the building of state and empire from Antiquity to the late Middle Ages and from Persia via Egypt to the Baltic. With a broad chronological and geographic range, this volume is the ideal resource for upper-level undergraduates, postgraduates, and scholars interested in the history of war and warfare from Antiquity to the sixteenth century.