Warrior 72: Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284
by Ross Cowan
List Price:
Our Price: $11.54
You Save: $7.41 (39%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.84 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Ross CowanIllustrator: Angus McBride
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-09
ISBN: 1841766011
Number of pages: 64
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Book Reviews of Warrior 72: Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284
Book Review: Excellent source for a little-known period
Summary: 5 Stars
This essential Osprey Warrior title examines the Imperial Roman legionary from the ascension of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus in AD 161, to the rise of Emperor Diocletianus and the end of the Third Century Crisis in AD 284. The author takes the history, organization, and experiences of the Second Parthica Legion, founded in AD 194, as the foundation for much of his text. He uses the Sassanid siege of Dura Europos c. AD 251, as well as various late Classical accounts of 3rd Century battles in the Middle East, for examples of the legionary in action.
Since this book is something of a sequel to the previous legionary title by Cowan, it contains similar but even more concise information on the experiences of the soldier in the army, as well as the chain of command.
Overall, Cowan paints the image of the 3rd Century Roman legionary as a soldier perhaps even better than his ancestors of Early Imperial Rome. It was perhaps more the stupidity of their leaders, and the general chaos of the mid 3rd Century that gives these soldiers their undue reputation for lack of quality. These troopers, lighter in arms than their ancestors and still fighting with javelin, long sword, and dagger, faced enemies ranging from seething Gothic hordes to cunning Parthian and Persian horsemen, and often emerged victorious.
The eight full-color plates by Angus McBride are awesome, depicting troopers of various legions and posts in their typical clothing and armor. The main text and the plate commentary both look at the armor and clothing, but not with overmuch detail. The author does not dig into the debate as to whether or not the 3rd Century legionary typically wore armor. According to the idea of the lightly-armed lanciarii skirmishers, it would appear that armor or lack thereof would depend on the individual soldier's place in the battle-order.
The text draws from a variety of sources, from Classical to modern historians' work to legionary gravestones to weapon hoards from northern Europe, to paint a picture of the Roman legionaries from the mid 2nd Century to the late 3rd Century-some of ancient Rome's most skilled, versatile, experienced, and arrogant soldiers.
Summary of Warrior 72: Imperial Roman Legionary AD 161-284
Between AD 161 and 244 the Roman legions were involved in wars and battles on a scale not seen since the late Republic. Legions were destroyed in battle, disbanded for mutiny and rebellion and formed to wage wars of conquest and defence. This volume explores the experience of the imperial legionary, concentrating on Legio II Parthica. Raised by the emperor Septimus Severus in AD 193/4, it was based at Albanum near Rome and as the emperor's personal legion, became one of the most important units in the empire.Rome Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Rome Books
The Praetorship in the Roman Republic: 2 Volume Setby T. Corey Brennan
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2000-12-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $225.00
Water Baby: The Story of Alvinby Victoria A. Kaharl
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1990-10-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
The Roman Empire, 27 B.C.-A.D. 476: A Study in Survivalby Chester G. Starr
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 1982-09-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $124.95
The Madness of Nero (Penguin Epics)by Tacitus
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2006-12-26; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.02
Price in other shops:
Christians & the Fall of Rome (Great Ideas)by Edward Gibbon
Penguin Books; Published: 2004-09-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.02
Dialogues and Letters (Penguin Classics)by Seneca
Penguin Classics; Published: 1997-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
The Fall of the Roman Republic: Six Lives (Penguin Classics)by Plutarch, Rex Warner, Robin Seager
Penguin Group USA; Penguin Classics; Published: 1954-02-28; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.24
Price in other shops:
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Penguin Classics)by Edward Gibbon
Penguin Classics; Published: 1983-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops:
Meditations (Penguin Classics)by Marcus Aurelius
Penguin Group USA; Penguin Classics; Published: 2006-10-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
The Civil War of Caesar (Penguin Classics)by Julius Caesar
Penguin Classics; Published: 1976-11-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Rome's Northern Frontier AD 70-235: Beyond Hadrian's Wall (Fortress)by Nic Fields
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2005-10-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.76
Price in other shops:
Late Roman Infantryman 236-565 ADby Simon MacDowall
Osprey Publishing; Published: 1994-07-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.84
Price in other shops:
Imperial Roman Naval Forces 31 BC-AD 500 (Men-at-Arms)by Raffaele D'Amato
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2009-11-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
The Praetorian Guard (Elite)by Boris Rankov
Osprey Publishing; Published: 1994-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.50
Price in other shops:
Teutoburg Forest AD 9: The destruction of Varus and his legions (Campaign)by Michael McNally
Osprey; Osprey Publishing; Published: 2011-01-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.27
Price in other shops:
Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman: AD 14-193 (Warrior)by Nic Fields
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2006-01-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops:
Rome's Enemies (1): Germanics and Dacians (Men at Arms Series, 129)by Peter Wilcox
Osprey Publishing; Published: 1982-11-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.00
Price in other shops:
Roman Battle Tactics 109BC-AD313 (Elite)by Ross Cowan
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2007-07-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.85
Price in other shops:
Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan (Men at Arms Series 46)by Michael Simkins
Osprey Publishing; Published: 1984-03-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Roman Legionary 58 BC-AD 69by Ross Cowan
Osprey Publishing; Published: 2003-06-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.86
Price in other shops: