Legions in Crisis: Transformation of the Roman Soldier AD

Legions in Crisis: Transformation of the Roman Soldier AD 192–284

The third century AD was a turbulent and testing time for the Roman Empire. A new and powerful foe in the east had risen up to challenge Rome directly. Barbarians on the northern frontiers were now more aggressive and more numerous than before and internally the population of the empire had to contend with rampant inflation and a series of terrible plagues. Unfortunately, the chaos became magnified by a lack of continuity on the imperial throne. The army had real political power in the third century, making and unmaking emperors as it saw fit. It had been aided in this by Septimius Severus, the African emperor who had won out in the civil wars following Commodusâ€™ assassination. He increased the armyâ€™s pay and granted other privileges. While the army gained rapidly in size, stature and political savvy during the reign of Septimius Severus, it also accelerated a material transformation. Armor, shields, helmets, swords and javelins all began to be replaced with new styles. Legions in Crisis looks closely at the new styles of arms and armor, comparing their construction, use and effectiveness to the more familiar types of Roman kit used by soldiers fighting the earlier Dacian and Marcomannic Wars. What did this transformation in military technology mean for the tactical choices used on the battlefield? Although the outcome had looked in doubt, the army and the empire it protected weathered the storm to emerge into the fourth century fully able to tackle the challenges of a new age.
Country USA
Brand Fonthill Media
Manufacturer Fonthill Media
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 16 pages of colour
ReleaseDate 2014-07-19
UnitCount 1
Format Illustrated
EANs 9781781553343

Country	USA
Brand	Fonthill Media
Manufacturer	Fonthill Media
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	16 pages of colour
ReleaseDate	2014-07-19
UnitCount	1
Format	Illustrated
EANs	9781781553343

Legions in Crisis: Transformation of the Roman Soldier AD 192–284

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