The rise and decline of the late Roman field army / Richard S. Cromwell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cromwell, Richard S.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Germanic peoples--Employment.

Germanic peoples.

Rome--Army--History.

Rome.

Rome (Empire).

Armies.

History.

Rome--Army--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.

Sociology, Military--Rome--History.

Sociology, Military.

Rome--History, Military--30 B.C.-476 A.D.

History, Military.

Physical Description:

ix, 79 pages of plates, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Shippensburg, PA : White Mane Pub. Co., [1998]

Summary:

Facing unprecedented pressures from within and without, in the early fourth century A.D. the Emperor Constantine formed a new military force, a permanent Roman field army. Withdrawing detachments from his legions defending the frontiers, in a drastic step with far-reaching consequences, he recruited soldiers from the unconquered Germans east of the Rhine. Those new detachments of auxilia gave the western Roman army a strongly Germanic, but basically loyal character.

Was Constantine's decision one of the major causes of the fall of the Western Empire? 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.

Contents:

I. Prologue: Challenge, Response, Questions 1

II. Formation of the Field Army: The Tetrarchy and Constantine 5

III. The Field Army Fully Developed: Constantius II, Julian, and Valentinian I 13

IV. Disaster and Reorganization: Valens, Gratian, and Theodosius I 22

V. Breakdown in the West: Stilicho 36

VI. The Fading of the Field Army in the West: Stilicho's Successors 46.

Notes:

Map on lining papers.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 72-76) and index.

ISBN:

157249087X

OCLC:

38061530