This guide to the Late Roman Army focusses on the dramatic and crucial
period that started with the accession of Diocletian and ended with the
definitive fall of the Western Roman Empire. This was a turbulent period
during which the Roman state and its armed forces changed.
Gabriele Esposito challenges many stereotypes and misconceptions
regarding the Late Roman Army; for example, he argues that the Roman
military machine remained a reliable and efficient one until the very
last decades of the Western Empire. The author describes the
organization, structure, equipment, weapons, combat history and tactics
of Late Roman military forces. The comitatenses (field armies),
limitanei (frontier units), foederati (allied soldiers), bucellarii
(mercenaries), scholae palatinae (mounted bodyguards), protectores
(personal guards) and many other kinds of troops are covered.
The book is lavishly illustrated in color, including the shield devices
from the Notitia Dignitatum. The origins and causes for the final
military fall of the Empire are discussed in detail, as well as the
influence of the 'barbarian' peoples on the Roman Army.