'A superb analysis of the military power that underpinned Augustus' rise
to power, his conquests, and his ability to sustain his rule. Powell's
achievement is to demonstrate just how much Augustus deserved his name
of 'Imperator'.'- Tom Holland, presenter of BBC Radio 4 Making
History, author of Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of
Caesar.
'Powell meticulously details and analyzes the composition, deployment,
and actions of this army and provides a much needed resource of
information that has no parallel in astute comprehensiveness. His superb
treatment shows Imperator Caesar Augustus in action and helps us
understand the military Augustus and his times more clearly.' - Karl
Galinsky, Floyd A. Cailloux Centennial Professor of Classics, University
of Texas at Austin, author of Augustus: Introduction to the Life of an
Emperor.
'Lindsay Powell provides us with valuable insights into an
under-appreciated aspect of Augustus' reign, and does so in his usual
highly competent and readable style.' - Philip Matyszak, author of The
Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty.
The words Pax Augusta - or Pax Romana - evoke a period of uninterrupted
peace across the vast Roman Empire. In this new book Lindsay Powell
exposes the truth for the lie that it is. Almost every year between 31
BC and AD 14 the Roman Army was in action somewhere, either fighting
enemies beyond the frontier in punitive raids or for outright conquest;
but it was also entangled in suppressing rebellions within the borders -
or itself on the verge of mutiny.
Remarkably over the same period Augustus succeeded in nearly doubling
the size of the Empire, outperforming either Pompey the Great or Julius
Caesar for conquests. How did Augustus, a second-rate field commander,
and a man known to become physically ill before and during battle,
achieve such extraordinary success? Did he, in fact, have a grand
strategy?
The decisions Augustus made determined the future of the empire - and of
the Europe which followed. Powell reveals Augustus as a brilliant
strategist and manager of war. As commander-in-chief he made changes to
the political and military institutions to keep the empire together -
and to hold on to power.
His genius was to build a team of semi-autonomous legati - 'deputies' -
to ensure internal security and to fight his wars for him. Often bound
by ties of blood and marriage, but above all loyalty, these men - more
than 50 of whom are profiled in this volume - fought for Augustus, who
claimed for himself the credit for their achievements.
Augustus at War is lucidly written by the author of the acclaimed
biographies Marcus Agrippa and Germanicus. Drawing on archaeology,
art, coins, inscriptions and documents of the period, Lindsay Powell
presents a new and provocative assessment of the men and events shaping
a crucial period in world history, which still reverberates down to our
own time.
