A fully illustrated account of the large-scale reformation of the Roman Army from the reign of Diocletian to the fall of the Western Empire in AD 476.
After the 50-year chaos of the mid-3rd century AD, Emperor Diocletian (r. AD 284–305) and his successor, Constantine I (r. AD 306–37), the first Christian emperor, undertook major administrative reforms to reflect new realities and improve defensive strategy. These changes saw the Roman Army completely reorganized, with its old structure of legions and auxiliary units giving way to central mobile field armies and various classes of garrison troops. In addition, the Army also began recruiting ‘allied barbarians’ in ever-increasing numbers and even promoted some to the level of senior command.
Roman military expert Raffaele D’Amato draws on the latest archaeological and written evidence to explore this turbulent final period of the Western Empire. Illustrated with photographs and drawings of surviving artefacts and imagery, this latest entry in a series charting the Roman Army’s evolution also features eight newly commissioned colour plates depicting the uniforms and weaponry of Rome’s reformed military.
By:
Raffaele D’Amato (Author)
Illustrated by:
Raffaele Ruggeri
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 248mm,
Width: 184mm,
ISBN: 9781472862686
ISBN 10: 1472862686
Series: Men-at-Arms
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 03 February 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
INTRODUCTION SELECT CHRONOLOGY (AD) MILITARY ORGANIZATION COMPOSITION The Imperial Comitatus and the Palatini – Limitanei or Ripenses – Foederati and Laeti – Imperial Guards UNIT DISTRIBUTION WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING Barbaricum Diocese of Hispania – Provinciae: Gallaecia, Tarraconensis, Cartagenensis, Lusitania, Baetica (Mauretania Tingitana) – Iconography – Archaeology: weapons – Equipment – Belt fittings, brooches, etc. Diocese of Britannia – Provinciae: Britannia I and II, Maxima Caesariensis, Flavia Caesariensis, Valentia – Archaeology and iconography: weapons – Equipment – Belt fittings, brooches, etc. Diocese of Galliae – Provinciae: Germania I and II, Gallia Lugdunensis I, II, and IV, Belgica I and II, Maxima Sequanorum – Archaeology: weapons – Equipment – Belt fittings, brooches – Riding gear Diocese of Septem Provinciae – Provinciae: Viennensis, Aquitania I and II, Aquitania III Novempopulana, Narbonensis I and II, Alpes Poenninae, Graiae, AlpesmMaritimae – Iconography – Archaeology Diocese of Italia – Provinciae: Italia Annonaria, Italia Suburbicaria, Raetia I and II – Iconography and archaeology: weapons – Equipment – Belt fittings, brooches Diocese of Pannonia or Illyricum – Provinciae: Pannonia I, Pannonia Valeria, Dalmatia, Noricum Ripense, Noricum Mediterraneum – Archaeology: weapons – Equipment – Belt fittings, brooches, etc. Diocese of Africa – Provinciae: Africa Proconsularis, Byzacena, Mauretania Sitifensis, Mauretania Caesariensis, Numidia Cirtensis, Numidia Militiana et Tripolitania – Iconography – Archaeology SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY PLATE COMMENTARIES INDEX
Raffaele D'Amato is the author of some 40 books, including many for Osprey, and has written numerous articles on the Roman Empire, Byzantium, medieval Europe and the military of Ancient Greece. He is the author of several books covering various aspects the Roman Army in the Eastern and Western empires.
