Leading the Roman Army: Soldiers and Emperors, 31 BC - 235 AD

by Jonathan Mark Eaton

Overview

Leading the Roman Army investigates all ranks of the imperial army to explore how officers and troops owed their allegiance to the emperor.

The Roman imperial army represented one of the main factors in the exercise of political control by the emperors. The effective political management of the army was essential for maintaining the safety and well-being of the empire as a whole. This book analyzes the means by which emperors controlled their soldiers and sustained their allegiance from the battle of Actium in 31 BC, to the demise of the Severan dynasty in AD 235.

Recent discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of the Roman army. This study provides an up to date synthesis of a range of evidence from archaeological, epigraphic, literary and numismatic sources on the relationship between the emperor and his soldiers. It demonstrates that this relationship was of an intensely personal nature. He was not only the commander-in-chief, but also their patron and benefactor, even after their discharge from military service. Yet the management of the army was more complex than this emperor-soldier relationship suggests.

An effective army requires an adequate military hierarchy to impose discipline and command the troops on a daily basis. This was of particular relevance for the imperial army which was mainly dispersed along the frontiers of the empire, effectively in a series of separate armies. The emperor needed to ensure the loyalty of his officers by building mutually beneficial relationships with them. In this way, the imperial army became a complex network of interlocking ties of loyalty which protected the emperor from military subversion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473855632
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	08/05/2020
Pages:	216
Sales rank:	1,104,836
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Preface vi

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 The Political Influence of the Rome Garrison 1

Chapter 2 Discipline and Morale 19

Chapter 3 The Legionary Centurionate 40

Chapter 4 Commanding the Emperor's Army 52

Chapter 5 Political Awareness in the Army 78

Chapter 6 The Emperor and his Soldiers 103

Conclusion 128

Appendix 1 Military Units in Rome 132

Abbreviations 138

Editions Used 140

Bibliography 141

Notes 160

Index 201

Editorial Reviews

…readers familiar with ancient Roman history or classical literature will easily become immersed in the book. Eaton uses fascinating evidence to demonstrate precisely how Roman soldiers formed a formidable force ‘invested emotionally’ in serving the emperor—yet were the linchpin that could overthrow any ruler.

HistoryNet

…readers familiar with ancient Roman history or classical literature will easily become immersed in the book. Eaton uses fascinating evidence to demonstrate precisely how Roman soldiers formed a formidable force ‘invested emotionally’ in serving the emperor—yet were the linchpin that could overthrow any ruler.

Military History Quarterly

"...this is an important read for those with an interest in the Roman Army during the early empire."

The NYMAS Review