Osprey Men-at-Arms 93 : The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine

With the sun flashing on her oarblades, a Roman trireme pulled steadily into one of the Channel ports. The waiting soldiers and civilians saw the pennant fluttering from the mast and gave up a great welcoming shout: 'Imperator, Imperator!' - for aboard the vessel was the man who was to beget one of the most impressive and enduring Roman military works to survive into modern times: Publius Aelius Hadrianus - the Emperor Hadrian. This year of 122 was the first time a Roman Emperor had set foot in the Province of Britannia since the invasion in 43 AD. No doubt he had read many reports concerning the damage caused by marauding tribesmen crossing from what is now Scotland into the Province. And so Hadrian decided - in the words of his biographer - 'to build a wall to separate the Romans from the Barbarians'. Michael Simkins explores in depth the organisation, equipment, weapons and armour of the Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine, one of the most exciting periods in Roman history. Numerous illustrations and photographs accompany the engaging text, together with eight full page colour plates by Ronald Embleton.

Contents

• Chronology
• The Great Wall
• Military Equipment
• The Plates