The papers offered here by Hubert Devijver are the narrative counterpart to his Prosopographia Militiarum Equestrium. They bring to life the careers, the social and geographical origins, the tasks and status symbols of these men as well as the monuments on which our knowledge of them is based. The Equestrian Officers and their Monuments is an original contribution for this volume. Enhanced by the indices, this book helps us understand the social class and military role of Rome's equestrian officers.

In the Roman social hierarchy, the equestrian order stood second only to the senatorial aristocracy in status and prestige. Throughout more than a thousand years of Roman history, equestrians played prominent roles in the Roman government, army, and society as cavalrymen, officers, businessmen, tax collectors, jurors, administrators, and writers. This book offers the first comprehensive history of the equestrian order, covering the period from the eighth century BC to the fifth century AD. It examines how Rome's cavalry became the equestrian order during the Republican period, before analysing how imperial rule transformed the role of equestrians in government. Using literary and documentary evidence, the book demonstrates the vital social function which the equestrian order filled in the Roman world, and how this was shaped by the transformation of the Roman state itself.

A collection of 25 international papers dedicated to Eric Birley, on the subject of his principal interest, the Roman army. The essays focus on hierarchy and rank within the army and its position within the social and political structure of the empire. The book begins with a discussion of the valued contribution of seasoned volunteers and middle ranking officers and an assessment of the possibilities for reward and social position on retirement. Other subjects include inexperienced officers, senator generals, military service and Principilaires. The book finally assesses the contribution of the Roman army to the societies of Rome, Spain, Gaul, Germania, Dalmatia, Moesia Superior and Egypt. The meticulously detailed essays vary from broad discussions of the army as a whole to specific studies of individuals drawn from all ranks. Contributors include Lukas de Blois, David J Breeze, Anthony R Birley, Michael Redd�, Yann le Bohec, John J Wilkes, Michael P Speidel and Fritz Mitthof. English, German, French, Italian text.

This authoritative short volume introduces readers to the Roman army, its structure, tactics, duties and development. One of the most successful fighting forces that the world has seen, the Roman army was inherited by the emperor Augustus who re-organized it and established its legions in military bases, many of which survived to the end of the empire. He and subsequent emperors used it as a formidable tool for expansion. Soon, however, the army became fossilized on its frontiers and changed from a mobile fighting force to a primarily defensive body. Written by a leading authority on the Roman army and the frontiers it defended and expanded, this is an invaluable book for students at school and university level, as well as a handy guide for general readers with an interest in military history, the rise and development and fall of the Roman legions, and the ancient world.

This companion provides an extensive account of the Roman army, exploring its role in Roman politics and society as well as the reasons for its effectiveness as a fighting force. An extensive account of the Roman army, from its beginnings to its transformation in the later Roman Empire Examines the army as a military machine – its recruitment, training, organization, tactics and weaponry Explores the relationship of the army to Roman politics, economics and society more broadly Considers the geography and climate of the lands in which the Romans fought Each chapter is written by a leading expert in a particular subfield and takes account of the latest scholarly and archaeological research in that area