The Roman Army

I have had an interest in the Armies of Imperial Rome for four years now, and have read a lot of different books about them. I bought this one more for the sake of a young family member who shares that interest, and it will suit that purpose well. Though it is pretty dated, this text is still very accurate in its information. It focuses primarily on the Roman Army under Traianus (Trajan, 98-117) and Hadrianus (Hadrian, 117-138), but makes mention of soldiers and tactics from the 1st-4th Centuries AD. It is a pretty short book, and doesn't waste a lot of time on jargon. It does not really make an attempt to entertain the reader, but at the same time is not dull to read (I read it in less than an hour). The author summarizes the equipment and recruitment of the legionaries and the auxiliaries, and also takes a useful look at Roman artillery. Included are a useful chart showing the command organization of a legion, and maps showing the main recruitment areas for the 2nd Century Empire. There are a number of black and white photos as well as some interesting and well-done line illustrations of the troops, and the front and back covers both show reenactors of the Ermine Street Guard. Overall, I would reccomend this book for either a young reader (maybe about 8-14) or an older person who is just now getting their feet wet in the study of the Roman Army. For you veterans of Roman military history, however, this book probably doesn't have anything new for you.

Wilkes' introduction to the Roman army may be near to three decades old now but it is still te standard text on the Roman army. Clearly written and well supported by the ancient evidence, it is an excellent book for both graduate and undergraduate student and a good beginning point for further research if one makes sure to review more current scholarship.