- Ancient History, Military History, Medieval History, Modern History, Medieval Islam, Caesar (Classics), and 106 moreSilk Road Studies, Eurasian Nomads, Sasanian Archaeology, Sarmatians, Arms and Armour, Ancient History of Afghanistan, Indo-Roman Trade, Bosporan Kingdom, Historical Archaeology of Iran, Ancient Armenia, Early Islamic Polity, Late Roman Army, Naval Warfare, Naval Tactics (Military Science), Naval History, Economic History, History of China, Military Intelligence, Military Science, Roman military archaeology, Late Roman Archaeology, United States Naval History, Ancient naval warfare, Late Antiquity, Byzantine Studies, Classical Archaeology, Theodosius, Roman militaria, Military and Politics, Defence and Strategic Studies, Russia, Russian History, Old Rus', Varangians, Vikings in the East, Viking Ships, Medieval Fortifications, Medieval Siege, Medieval Engineers, Moesian Roman army, Late Roman Gaul, Merovingian Gaul, Frankish history, Military, Roman Troops, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Military History, Byzantine Army, Gallienus, Severan Age, Justinian I, Emperor, Emperor Diocletianus, Roman Emperors, Byzantine Empire, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Graeco-Roman Alexandria, Roman military history, Roman Warfare, Roman Auxilia, Poliorcetics, Maximinus Thrax, Roman Republic, Medieval battles, Medieval Warfare, Byzantine Warfare, The History of Archery, Maritime History, Late Roman and Visigothic Hispania, Ancient artillery, Ancient Catapults and Catapult Technology, Byzantine arms and armors, Roman arms and armour, Roman Army, Classical Greek Military History, Hellenistic Military History, Ancient Warfare, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Greek and Roman siege warfare, Fortifications, Byzantine fortifications, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Yemen (History), Himyarites, Hadramawt, Aksumite Archaeology, Ethiopian History, Arabian Peninsula in Antiquity, Late Roman Empire, Roman Archaeology, Beowulf, Archaeology of Ancient Armenia, The Diadochoi (The Successors of Alexander III the Great), Alexander the Great, Seleucid Empire, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, Septimius Severus, Roman History, Caracalla, Medieval Russian History, History of Muscovy, Byzantine History, Byzantine historiography, Kievan Rus', Byzantine history and archaeology, and Medieval Balkansedit
This article provides a short overview of the Parthian military and it tactics, and what were the Roman responses to that and what were the Parthian countermeasures against the Roman methods from ca. 53 BC until AD 224. It also suggests... more
This article provides a short overview of the Parthian military and it tactics, and what were the Roman responses to that and what were the Parthian countermeasures against the Roman methods from ca. 53 BC until AD 224. It also suggests that when the sources claim that the Parthian monarchs fielded massive numbers of cataphract cavalry that we should really accept what these sources state: namely that the entire Parthian cavalry force of Parthia proper was really encased in armour as cataphracts.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The article The Eyes and Ears:1) Provides a brief analysis of the several parallel security organizations of the two superpowers of antiquitywhen they were still at their prime; 2) Discusses both internal and external security matters; 3)... more
The article The Eyes and Ears:1) Provides a brief analysis of the several parallel security organizations of the two superpowers of antiquitywhen they were still at their prime; 2) Discusses both internal and external security matters; 3) Analyzes separately the military and civilian intelligence; 4) Examines the role of the religious organizations, ‘heresies’ and security; 5) Discusses briefly the ways in which the intelligence was obtained, analyzed, assessed and disseminated, and for what purpose; 6) Provides an overview of the successes and failures and of the limits of intelligence; 7) Demonstrates some similarities between modern and ancient practices
Research Interests: Engineering and Art
The article reconstructs the military history of Persia under a Bahrām V Gōr, and points out the historical significance of his reign and campaigns as well as the importance of his military reforms – in particular the importance of the... more
The article reconstructs the military history of Persia under a Bahrām V Gōr, and points out the historical significance of his reign and campaigns as well as the importance of his military reforms – in particular the importance of the adoption of the new style of archery and cavalry tactics.
Research Interests:
The article concentrates its attention on the practical aspects of the nation and empire building so that it: 1) Analyzes what methods, means and myths the founder Ardasīr I and his immediate successors used in the building of the Iranian... more
The article concentrates its attention on the practical aspects of the nation and empire building so that it: 1) Analyzes what methods, means and myths the founder Ardasīr I and his immediate successors used in the building of the Iranian nation and then the empire; 2) Provides an analysis of the importance of history and religion in the making of national myths so that the article analyzes how the Iranian leadership rewrote the past together with its religion for the purpose of uniting under their flag all those who spoke the Iranian dialects and/or practiced ancient Iranian religions, 3) Investigates what methods the Sasanians used to control the subjects; 4) Shows how the original set of falsified historical myths and the core set of religious beliefs were altered to meet the changing reality. 5) Asks whether the above provides any lessons for modernity.
Research Interests:
The first aim of this study is to reconstruct the main features of Peroz’s Hephthalite wars and their military significance for Persia. Secondly, it seeks to analyze the combat doctrine and tactics used by Peroz. Thirdly, the study aims... more
The first aim of this study is to reconstruct the main features of Peroz’s Hephthalite wars and their military significance for Persia. Secondly, it seeks to analyze the combat doctrine and tactics used by Peroz. Thirdly, the study aims to show what lessons the Persians drew from his defeat and how this affected the Persian combat doctrine. This article demonstrates how the reckless behaviour of Peroz resulted in military, political and economic disasters which undid the achievements of the previous generations. This analysis shows how his disastrous policies led to the abandonment of the reforms of the Bahram V Gur and caused the adoption of one-sided combat doctrine.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Military Science, Doctrine (Military Science), Logistics (Military Science), and 15 moreTactics (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Central Asian Studies, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Armenian History, Central Asia, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Sasanian Empire, Later Roman Empire, Cavalry, and Strategy military science
The article analyses the development of the holy war in East Rome from its beginning until the 11th century. The article takes the stance that it is meaningless what the official religious doctrine was when the soldiers themselves... more
The article analyses the development of the holy war in East Rome from its beginning until the 11th century. The article takes the stance that it is meaningless what the official religious doctrine was when the soldiers themselves believed and followed the doctrine of holy war which promised a place in heaven for all fallen soldiers.
Research Interests: Religion, History, Ancient History, Military History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Byzantium, Late Roman Army, Medieval Warfare, Holy War, Religious Studies, Warfare in the Ancient World, Jihad, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, and Strategy military science
The aim of this article is to show that there is an alternative way to reconstruct the Muslim conquest of Roman Levant, which is actually militarily more plausible than the current consensus view among historians.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic Studies, Byzantine History, History of the Islamic World, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Jerusalem, Islamic History and Muslim Civilization, Late Roman Army, Later Roman Empire, History of Jerusalem, ROMAN HISTORY, and Israel Palestine
Describes the war between the Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire in 1043 with a focus on naval tactics, strategy, intelligence gathering, naval organizations, military organizations, and ships.
Research Interests: Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Art, Maritime History, Byzantine Studies, Byzantine History, and 15 moreBlack Sea region, Constantinople, Maritime Security, Byzantine Military History, Byzantine Army, Espionage, Maritime Studies, Byzantine military equipment, History of Espionage, Kievan Rus, Konstantinopolis, Byzantine Warfare, Byzantine Cavalry, Byzantine Navy, and Ancient and Byzantine Crimea
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The first aim of this study is to reconstruct the main features of Peroz's Hephthalite wars and their military significance for Persia. Secondly, it seeks to analyze the combat doctrine and tactics used by Peroz. Thirdly, the study aims... more
The first aim of this study is to reconstruct the main features of Peroz's Hephthalite wars and their military significance for Persia. Secondly, it seeks to analyze the combat doctrine and tactics used by Peroz. Thirdly, the study aims to show what lessons the Persians drew from his defeat and how this affected the Persian combat doctrine. This article demonstrates how the reckless behaviour of Peroz resulted in military, political and economic disasters which undid the achievements of the previous generations. This analysis shows how his disastrous policies led to the abandonment of the reforms of the Bahram V Gur and caused the adoption of one-sided combat doctrine.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Military Science, Doctrine (Military Science), Logistics (Military Science), and 15 moreStrategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Central Asian Studies, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Armenian History, Central Asia, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Sasanian Empire, Later Roman Empire, and Cavalry
The article analyses the development of the holy war in East Rome from its beginning until the 11 th century. The article takes the stance that it is meaningless what the official religious doctrine was when the soldiers themselves... more
The article analyses the development of the holy war in East Rome from its beginning until the 11 th century. The article takes the stance that it is meaningless what the official religious doctrine was when the soldiers themselves believed and followed the doctrine of holy war which promised a place in heaven for all fallen soldiers.
Research Interests: Religion, History, Ancient History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Byzantium, Late Roman Army, Medieval Warfare, Holy War, Religious Studies, Warfare in the Ancient World, Jihad, and Ancient Weapons and Warfare
Analyses the reasons why the Romans were defeated at Teutoburg Forest 9 AD and how the Roman intelligence gathering practices and system of military promotions contributed to it.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), and 17 moreRoman History, Roman Historiography, Romanian History, Sociology of the Military, Intelligence, Logistics, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Military and Politics, Roman Army, Cassius Dio, Augustan Principate, Tacitus, Spying and Intelligence, Roman military equipment, Arminius, and Roman Archaeology
The article The Eyes and Ears: 1) Provides an analysis of the several parallel security organizations of the two superpowers of antiquity; 2) Discusses both internal and external security matters; 3) Analyzes separately the military and... more
The article The Eyes and Ears: 1) Provides an analysis of the several parallel security organizations of the two superpowers of antiquity; 2) Discusses both internal and external security matters; 3) Analyzes separately the military and civilian intelligence; 4) Examines the role of the religious organizations, 'heresies' and security; 5) Discusses the ways in which the intelligence was obtained, analyzed, assessed and disseminated, and for what purpose; 6) Provides an overview of the successes and failures and of the limits of intelligence: 7) Demonstrates some similarities between modern Iran and Sasanian Iran.
Research Interests: Religion, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 28 moreClassics, Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Middle East Studies, Intelligence Studies, History of Religion, Intelligence, Iranian Studies, Early Christianity, Security Studies, History of Iran, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Roman military history, Sasanian History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Civil-military relations, Roman Empire, Ancient Iranian Religion, Religious Studies, Sasanian Empire, Goths, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, and Barbarians societies, Late Antiquity, Ethnogenesis, Funerary World, Goths, Vandals, Sueves, Alans
This paper is a response to Arch Stanton's biased review on Amazon.com regarding Military History of Late Rome vol.1.
Research Interests: Military History, African Studies, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 27 moreClassics, Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Armenian Studies, Maritime History, African History, Naval History, Africa, Logistics, History of Iran, Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval History, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Armenian History, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Archaeology of Germanic tribes (Roman period), Late Roman Army, Medieval Military History, Military Logistics, History of Pre-Islamic Arabia, History of Georgia, and Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The book series Military History of Late Rome by Dr. Ilkka Syvanne gives a detailed account of the period military history which takes into account all the changes in the organization, strategy, tactics, and land and naval warfare as... more
The book series Military History of Late Rome by Dr. Ilkka Syvanne gives a detailed account of the period military history which takes into account all the changes in the organization, strategy, tactics, and land and naval warfare as never before. The first volume argues that many of the changes in tactics, strategy and organization that are usually thought to have taken place during the late Roman period actually took place much earlier. The book series breaks completely new ground in its analysis of the military structures and tactics and claims that previous research has also mistakenly grouped together many of the changes that actually took place during a much longer period of time as will be demonstrated by the following volumes in the series. This series is also the first treatment of the late Roman military history to fully take into account the importance personal relationships, sex, religion, economy, culture, enemies, and espionage in its analysis of military events.
- This book series, including its first volume, is the first book series in existence which deals with the late Roman period from the point of view of military history. It was on the battlefield that the destinies of the empires and peoples were decided.
- It is the first book series to take fully into account those sources which are usually neglected in the mainstream research.
- This is also the first book series which places the events taking place in the Mediterranean in its wider global context so that it takes into account events that took place in India, Central Asia, China, Northern and Eastern Europe, and Africa.
- The book series provides the first detailed and complete analysis of the changes in military organization, strategy, and tactics for the entire late Roman period. The books include also lengthy analyses of the period battles, sieges and equipment, and claim that the Persians and Romans used some sort of proto-gunpowder in sieges.
- The series proves that the Romans employed their naval assets far more widely and effectively than usually assumed and provides an analysis of the types of ships, crews and naval warfare.
- The book series demonstrates that many of the assumptions previously held by historians regarding this era are completely false.
- The first volume argues for a much greater role for the women followers of Mary of Magdalene in the political events of the late Roman period than has been previously recognized. This should be of greatest interest to all those who read the Da Vinci Code.
- It is the first book series to point out the importance of the sexual practices of the emperors and different peoples for the actual events that took place.
- The book series discusses the ways in which the late Romans dealt with refugee crises and their causes. It also traces the development of racists attitudes (especially volume 3) among the Roman elites and its consequences.
- The book series provides the first detailed and complete analysis of the changes in military organization, strategy, and tactics for the entire late Roman period.
- The first volume includes an analysis of how the Romans used religion and social security to overcome enemy resistance.
- This book series, including its first volume, is the first book series in existence which deals with the late Roman period from the point of view of military history. It was on the battlefield that the destinies of the empires and peoples were decided.
- It is the first book series to take fully into account those sources which are usually neglected in the mainstream research.
- This is also the first book series which places the events taking place in the Mediterranean in its wider global context so that it takes into account events that took place in India, Central Asia, China, Northern and Eastern Europe, and Africa.
- The book series provides the first detailed and complete analysis of the changes in military organization, strategy, and tactics for the entire late Roman period. The books include also lengthy analyses of the period battles, sieges and equipment, and claim that the Persians and Romans used some sort of proto-gunpowder in sieges.
- The series proves that the Romans employed their naval assets far more widely and effectively than usually assumed and provides an analysis of the types of ships, crews and naval warfare.
- The book series demonstrates that many of the assumptions previously held by historians regarding this era are completely false.
- The first volume argues for a much greater role for the women followers of Mary of Magdalene in the political events of the late Roman period than has been previously recognized. This should be of greatest interest to all those who read the Da Vinci Code.
- It is the first book series to point out the importance of the sexual practices of the emperors and different peoples for the actual events that took place.
- The book series discusses the ways in which the late Romans dealt with refugee crises and their causes. It also traces the development of racists attitudes (especially volume 3) among the Roman elites and its consequences.
- The book series provides the first detailed and complete analysis of the changes in military organization, strategy, and tactics for the entire late Roman period.
- The first volume includes an analysis of how the Romans used religion and social security to overcome enemy resistance.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, and 27 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, Armenian Studies, History of Religion, History of India, Maritime History, War Studies, African History, Naval History, Iranian Studies, Early Christianity, Roman Religion, History of Iran, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Christianity and Rome, Late Roman Archaeology, Strategy, Roman military equipment, History of Pre-Islamic Arabia, Greek and Roman siege warfare, Roman navy, Roman Archaeology, and Indian Navy
The article in Historia-i-Swiat (final version available online at http://www.ihism.uph.edu.pl/historia-i-swiat) reconstructs the military history of Persia under Bahram V Gur and points out the historical significance of his reign,... more
The article in Historia-i-Swiat (final version available online at http://www.ihism.uph.edu.pl/historia-i-swiat) reconstructs the military history of Persia under Bahram V Gur and points out the historical significance of his reign, campaigns as well as the importance of his military reforms – in particular the adoption of the new style of archery and cavalry tactics. It also includes material which is of interest to those who are interested in the history of late Rome, religion (Christianity, Jewish religion, paganism, Zoroastrians, Muslims), commerce between east and west, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, naval history, Huns, Middle East, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, East Africa, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Central Asia, India and China.
The article includes also material related to Roman history which will appear in a slightly different and longer form in the vols. 3-4 of my forthcoming A Military History of Late Rome due to be published by Pen & Sword Publishing.
The article included here is an earlier version which has a couple of mistakes left (affiliation after the name, illustration shown ‘between’ the pages so that it is not visible and some verbs missing) that have been corrected in the final version which is available online but it should not have any mistakes in the content but if there are those are my mistakes.
The final version available online at:
http://www.ihism.uph.edu.pl/historia-i-swiat/
Keywords: Sasanian Warfare, Military History, Sasanian Army, Late Antiquity, Archery
The article includes also material related to Roman history which will appear in a slightly different and longer form in the vols. 3-4 of my forthcoming A Military History of Late Rome due to be published by Pen & Sword Publishing.
The article included here is an earlier version which has a couple of mistakes left (affiliation after the name, illustration shown ‘between’ the pages so that it is not visible and some verbs missing) that have been corrected in the final version which is available online but it should not have any mistakes in the content but if there are those are my mistakes.
The final version available online at:
http://www.ihism.uph.edu.pl/historia-i-swiat/
Keywords: Sasanian Warfare, Military History, Sasanian Army, Late Antiquity, Archery
Research Interests: Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, History of Christianity, Middle East History, Indian studies, and 27 moreIranian Archaeology, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Iranian Studies, Central Asian Studies, History of Iran, Indian Ocean History, Central Asia (History), Saudi Arabia, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Indian ancient history, Byzantine History, Armenian History, Iranian History, Roman military history, Sasanian History, Indian Ocean Trade, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Yemen (History), Late Roman Army, Sasanian Empire, Indian History, Sasanian Archaeology, History of Georgia, and Ethiopian History
The article gives an overview of Julian's Persian campaign/Persian War in AD 363 and explains what went wrong and how Julian's own decisions contributed to its failure. It includes brief discussions of the plot to kill the emperor and... more
The article gives an overview of Julian's Persian campaign/Persian War in AD 363 and explains what went wrong and how Julian's own decisions contributed to its failure. It includes brief discussions of the plot to kill the emperor and its likely success, and also of the use of ruses/stratagems in the context of wars. The article includes also battle narratives and such mundane things as the logistics and the importance of cargo ships and beasts of burden in this.
Research Interests: Religion, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 27 moreRoman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, History of Christianity, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Logistics, Iranian Studies, Early Christianity, History of Iran, Shipping/ Transport Logistics, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Paganism, Intelligence and Espionage, Iranian History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Pagan/Christian Relations in the Early Middle Ages, Roman military equipment, Roman-sassanid wars and diplomacy, and Roman Archaeology
La batalla de Liegnitz (Battle of Liegnitz) was published in Desperta Ferro 12, 2012. It provides an overview of the Polish and Mongol military organization, strategy and tactics during the 1241 Polish campaign.The article dispels many... more
La batalla de Liegnitz (Battle of Liegnitz) was published in Desperta Ferro 12, 2012. It provides an overview of the Polish and Mongol military organization, strategy and tactics during the 1241 Polish campaign.The article dispels many of the myths surrounding Polish, knightly, Russian and Mongol warfare. It proves that the despite its successes the vaunted Mongol war machine was by no means so effective as usually stated. The article also proves that the Mongol cavalry tactics have been misunderstood and that the knights, squires and men armed with crossbows were more than a match against the Mongols on the battlefield.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 24 moreTactics (Military Science), Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Crusades, Polish History, Ukrainian Studies, Mongolian Studies, History of Hungary, History of the Mongol Empire, Russian History, Ukraine (History), Poland, Medieval Hungary, Medieval Germany, Teutonic Knights, Medieval Military History, The military religious orders of the Middle Ages : the Hospitallers, the Templars, the Teutonic knights, and others, history of Poland, Cavalry, Medieval Poland, Vikings in the East, Knighthood, Mongol world empire Seljuk, and Medieval Knights
This very short note/article was published in Saga Newsletter 122, February 2010, pp. 19-20. It analyses the basic structure of the contubernium in the context of cavalry and infantry organization, and claims that there was great... more
This very short note/article was published in Saga Newsletter 122, February 2010, pp. 19-20. It analyses the basic structure of the contubernium in the context of cavalry and infantry organization, and claims that there was great continuity in organization of the units from the Republican Rome to Imperial Rome all the way to the late Roman period. It does not include references to the so-called Byzantine era, but one can detect the continuity of the unit organization at least until the 12th century. Note that the Macedonian unit organization (dekarchy/lochos etc.) was also basically the same. This is not the edited text, but the original text that I sent to the editor (i.e. I have the copyright). Since I am not a native English speaker, it is probable that there may be a mistake or two in the text for which I apologize. I improved the grammar in two places and corrected one spelling mistake.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Roman History, and 20 moreLate Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Roman Republic, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, Imperial Rome, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, History of Ancient Macedonia, Ancient Warfare, Late Roman Army, Roman Warfare, Later Roman Empire, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Greek and Roman Warfare, and Late roman and early byzantine warfare
Los normandos frente a los bizantinos 1081-1085 (The Normans vs. the Byzantines 1081-1085) was published in Desperta Ferro No 3, 2010. It describes the war between the Emperor Alexios Komnenos and the Norman Duke Robert Guiscard. It... more
Los normandos frente a los bizantinos 1081-1085 (The Normans vs. the Byzantines 1081-1085) was published in Desperta Ferro No 3, 2010. It describes the war between the Emperor Alexios Komnenos and the Norman Duke Robert Guiscard. It provides a brief overview of the war and of the armies, tactics, strategies, and of the naval action. It dispels many myths of the Byzantine and Norman warfare. E.g. even if one would discard the other pieces of evidence in the sources (e.g. that all men accompanying Alexios at the battle of Larissa dismounted to sleep) it is clear on the basis of the fact that the peltasts were able to avoid contact with Norman cavalry on a plain that they had to consist of light cavalry and not of medium infantry as usually claimed. These details are not stated (the article had a word limit) but the resulting conclusions and their influence on the war is analyzed. In fact, the article provides the most detailed analysis of the battles and tactics and tactical formations available. I have written a much more detailed versions of these (including naval action) and will have those published in due course of time when my finances allow that (i.e. I have enough freetime to put finishing touches to those). It also shows that the side that has battlefield superiority is not always the one that wins the war. In fact, it suggests that by using navy (in this case the Byzantines had neglected their navy and needed Venetian help, which enabled the Normans to make the crossings) to blockade the invaders at the same time as the invaders were subjected to guerrilla warfare, famine, illnesses and their treasury was looted, it was possible to defeat the enemy even when it was impossible to defeat the Normans on the battlefield. The article also proves that it is a fallacy to think that the Byzantines would have always avoided pitched battles. That is a generalization that does not stand a closer scrutiny. There were periods in which the Byzantines were highly aggressive (e.g. from late 9th to early 11 century) and quite prepared to fight pitched battles and there are periods in which they used the more cautious way of fighting, and as the example of Alexios proves the way in which the Byzantines fought depended also on the personality of the commander and on the situation. There was no one Byzantine way of fighting.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, and 20 moreMedieval Studies, Balkan Studies, Balkan History, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Byzantine Studies, Byzantine History, Viking Age Archaeology, Norman Sicily, Old Rus', Medieval Balkans, Normans, Islamic and Norman Sicily, Medieval Europe, Anglo-Norman history, women and family, monasticism, Anglo-Saxon history, Vikings, History of Southern Italy, Byzantine Military History, Vikings in the East, Vikings in the East, Varangians, Old Rus', Alexios I Komnenos, and Anna Comnena / Anna Komnene
Offers an analysis of the sources, campaign and battle of Melitene AD 576 together with analysis of the armies and tactics of the East Roman Empire and Sasanian Iran. Offers also criticism of the methodology employed in the analysis of... more
Offers an analysis of the sources, campaign and battle of Melitene AD 576 together with analysis of the armies and tactics of the East Roman Empire and Sasanian Iran. Offers also criticism of the methodology employed in the analysis of the sources and shows how one can interpret the sources by using the military doctrine of both sides to clarify the text.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, and 25 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, War Studies, Logistics, History of Iran, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Armenian History, Roman military history, Sasanian History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Georgia, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Roman Near East, Sasanian Empire, Later Roman Empire, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Roman military equipment, Roman cavalry, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Sasanian Iran, and Roman-sassanid wars and diplomacy
Describes the reasons for the fall of the Sasanian Empire and the tactics employed by the Muslims and Sasanians with a focus on three decisive battles al-Qadisiyyah, Jalula and Nihavand.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 61 moreTactics (Military Science), Naval Tactics (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Middle East Studies, Middle East History, War Studies, Naval Warfare, Late Antique Archaeology, Iranian Studies, The Persian Gulf, Central Asian Studies, History of Iran, Central Asia (History), Turkish and Middle East Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Islamic History, Iranian History, Central Eurasian Studies, Asymmetrical Warfare, Roman military history, Central Asian History (Area Studies), Ancient Persia, Military and Politics, Sasanian History, History of Military Technology, Late Roman Empire, Central Asia, Late Roman Archaeology, Persian Gulf, Ancient Military History, Persian Culture, Archaeology of Central Asia, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Military, Ancient Warfare, Warfare, Islamic History and Muslim Civilization, Late Roman Army, Medieval Warfare, Holy War, Medieval Military History, Iran Archaeology, Middle Ages, Asymmetric Warfare, Late Roman Period, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Guerilla Warfare, Late antiquty, Religious War, Early Turks, Roman-sassanid wars and diplomacy, Ancient Turks, Arab history, Sassanid Civilization, Sassanian Studies, Military History of Iran, and Sassanian Arms and Armor
Describes the war between the Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire in 1043 with a focus on naval tactics, strategy, intelligence gathering, naval organizations, military organizations, and ships.
Research Interests: Military History, Russian Studies, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 54 moreNaval Tactics (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Maritime History, War Studies, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Ukrainian Studies, Russian Politics, Russian Foreign Policy, Medieval Archaeology, Shipping, Byzantine Studies, Viking Studies, Medieval Europe, Byzantine History, Russian History, Military and Politics, Ukraine (History), Old Rus', Black Sea region, Russia, Constantinople, Warfare, Medieval Warfare, Maritime Security, Ukrainian History, Spying and Intelligence, Medieval Military History, Medieval Europe, Anglo-Norman history, women and family, monasticism, Anglo-Saxon history, Vikings, Byzantine Military History, Vikings, Shipbuilding, Viking Age, Byzantine Army, Ship Design, Espionage, Maritime Studies, Byzantine military equipment, History of Espionage, Viking Ships, Kievan Rus', Ancient - Medieval Crimea, Konstantinopolis, Vikings in the East, Intelligence Gathering and Counter-Intelligence, Byzantine Warfare, Roman and byzantine warfare, Byzantine Cavalry, Byzantine Navy, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Ancient and Byzantine Crimea, and Byzantine and Medieval Shipping, Trade and Warfare In the Med. and Black Sea
The article describes the reign of Decius briefly in light of Roman use of large cavalry armies against equally massive Gothic cavalry forces. In this context, the text described the rise and fall of the Roman cavalry as the dominant arm... more
The article describes the reign of Decius briefly in light of Roman use of large cavalry armies against equally massive Gothic cavalry forces. In this context, the text described the rise and fall of the Roman cavalry as the dominant arm of service in the third century. The article also analyses briefly the strategies and tactics adopted by the Romans and Goths during the brief reign of Decius.
Research Interests: Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, Early Christianity, Gothic Studies, Roman military archaeology, and 13 moreRoman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Roman Empire, Late Roman Archaeology, Strategy, Late Roman Army, Goths, Roman cavalry, Cavalry, Barbarians societies, Late Antiquity, Ethnogenesis, Funerary World, Goths, Vandals, Sueves, Alans, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and Roman Archaeology
A brief analysis of three battles/campaigns (Balkans, Granicus, Gaugamela) of Alexander the Great to demonstrate that there still exists room for new research from a fresh perspective on topics that have been researched as thoroughly as... more
A brief analysis of three battles/campaigns (Balkans, Granicus, Gaugamela) of Alexander the Great to demonstrate that there still exists room for new research from a fresh perspective on topics that have been researched as thoroughly as the campaigns and battles of Alexander the Great.
Research Interests:
A brief preliminary analysis of Caesar's campaign, strategy, intelligence gathering and tactics against the Belgae in 57 BC.
Research Interests:
The research paper analyzes the political intrigue and military action briefly that took place during the Gainas Affair in Asia Minor, Constantinople, the Straits of Dardanelles (Hellespont/Hellespontus), Thrace, and the Danubian frontier... more
The research paper analyzes the political intrigue and military action briefly that took place during the Gainas Affair in Asia Minor, Constantinople, the Straits of Dardanelles (Hellespont/Hellespontus), Thrace, and the Danubian frontier in 399-400.The presentation is based on the third volume of my book series Military History of Late Rome (395-425). It was intended to be presented at the 42nd International Congress of Military History“”Regional Wars from 17th Century to the Present and Their Global Impacts” 03-15 September 2016 – Istanbul/Turkey, but it was not presented in practice.
Research Interests: Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and 14 moreEarly Christianity, Turkish and Middle East Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Armenian History, History of Turkey and Middle east, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Constantinople, Late Roman Army, Later Roman Empire, and Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The paper/presentation analyzes the conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims from the point of view of military narrative. It argues that the problem of who controls the city of Jerusalem should be ultimately viewed from the point of view of... more
The paper/presentation analyzes the conquest of Jerusalem by the Muslims from the point of view of military narrative. It argues that the problem of who controls the city of Jerusalem should be ultimately viewed from the point of view of military narrative and not through the lenses of the other narratives. Ultimately, the city belongs to the side which possesses the necessary military might to keep it and the faster this acknowledged by all those who live in this area the better it is for them all. The paper also argues that we should analyze the early Muslim conquest of the Levant mainly on the basis of Tabari's account which is based on the traditions preserved by Sayyf. This is the only detailed account of the events which provides internally cohesive account of the conquest and which is also clearly grounded in period military practices. In contrast, the Greek/East Roman texts are hopelessly confused. The text also argues that the sources (including most Arab texts) have confused the battle sof Jabiya-Yarmuk and Ajdanayn with each other so that there was actually only one battle of Ajdanayn but which took place only after the battle of Jabiya-Yarmuk. A fuller argumentation can be found from the forthcoming article and also from the Military History of Late Rome volume 7.
Research Interests: Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and 15 moreIsrael/Palestine, Palestine, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic Studies, Islamic History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Jerusalem, Islamic History and Muslim Civilization, Holy War, Arab-Israeli conflict, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Ancient Israel, and Palestinian-Israeli conflict
The presentation "Holy War and a Place in Paradise?Development of the East Roman Holy War from the 4th until the 11th Century" analyses the development of the concept of holy war from the pagan antiquity until the 11th century so that it... more
The presentation "Holy War and a Place in Paradise?Development of the East Roman Holy War from the 4th until the 11th Century" analyses the development of the concept of holy war from the pagan antiquity until the 11th century so that it points out what were the continuities and differences in the Christian concept of holy war. Its principal conclusion is that the Romans always motivated their soldiers with the promise of eternal life and that the New Testament version of Christianity was not followed up by those in charge of the armies. The paper also points out what was the basic difference between the Roman concept of holy war and the Islamic holy war/jihad. It is based on a research paper/article due to be published later.
Research Interests: Christianity, Military History, Military Science, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine Studies, History of Christianity, Early Christianity, Orthodox Theology, Byzantine Studies, Catholic Theology, Late Antiquity, Islamic Studies, Byzantine History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Army, Holy War, Jihad, and Roman Archaeology
This research paper presents an overview of the late Roman naval warfare in 284-565. It is based on five forthcoming books due to be published by Pen & Sword. The aim is to give an overview of the deployment and use of the naval forces... more
This research paper presents an overview of the late Roman naval warfare in 284-565. It is based on five forthcoming books due to be published by Pen & Sword. The aim is to give an overview of the deployment and use of the naval forces in 284-565 and to explain why this deployment pattern had been adopted and how the fleets were used. In addition, the paper gives a summary of the types of ships used and their comparative strengths vis-à-vis the enemy fleets together with a summary of the Roman naval tactics, operations and strategy.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Logistics (Military Science), Military Intelligence, and 28 moreStrategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Maritime History, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Late Antique Archaeology, History of Iran, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Indian ancient history, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Iranian History, Ancient Near East, Roman Army, Maritime Security, Medieval Indian History, Vandals, Roman military equipment, Military Logistics, Amphibious Warfare, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, Roman navy, and Marines
The paper/slide show/presentation describes and analyses Julius Caesar's Munda campaign in 45 BC and assesses what military (combined/joins arms strategy and tactics, logistics etc.) and other means (e.g. intelligence, disinformation and... more
The paper/slide show/presentation describes and analyses Julius Caesar's Munda campaign in 45 BC and assesses what military (combined/joins arms strategy and tactics, logistics etc.) and other means (e.g. intelligence, disinformation and propaganda) he used to achieve his goals. It also shows how his enemies managed to fool him while also demonstrating his resourceful and inventive responses to these. For example, the presentation shows how Caesar was able to overcome the advantages his enemies had by adapting his battle formation to the situation at the battle of Munda. This campaign also shows how Caesar conducted his joint and combined arms campaign when he had the advantage both in cavalry and navy, the arms in which he had previously been deficient when facing the Pompeians. This paper forms a part of a much larger study Caesar's career parts of which have already been posted on this site (Sabis, Caesar vs. Pompey) as advertisements of my forthcoming books, and (together with the other Caesarian material on this site) it shows how many of the previously held assumptions like the complete abandonment of the citizen cavalry after Marius are utterly false.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Military Law, Strategy (Military Science), and 24 moreTactics (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Naval History, Logistics, Roman Religion, Roman Republic, Shipping/ Transport Logistics, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Military and Politics, Roman Army, Republican Rome, Late Roman Army, Augustus, Late Roman Republic, Spying and Intelligence, Roman Spain, Roman military equipment, Julius Caesar, Roman cavalry, and Roman Archaeology
A brief analysis of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, which takes into account political propaganda, espionage, intelligence gathering, use of double agents, religion, military operations, tactics, equipment, mil. training, etc.... more
A brief analysis of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, which takes into account political propaganda, espionage, intelligence gathering, use of double agents, religion, military operations, tactics, equipment, mil. training, etc. Dispels many of the myths surrounding late Republican warfare and Caesar's campaigns against Pompey. Establishes Julius Caesar as the pre-eminent spy master of his age.
Research Interests: Christianity, Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, and 63 moreNaval Tactics, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Philosophy, Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Political Theory, History of Christianity, Maritime History, Propaganda, War Studies, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Political Science, Information Warfare, Early Christianity, Roman Religion, Political History, Ancient Religion, History of Political Thought, Intelligence and Espionage, Ancient Philosophy, Imperial Rome, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Military and Politics, Ancient myth and religion, History Of Propaganda, History of Military Technology, Roman Army, Republican Rome, Civil-military relations, Roman Empire, Roman Economy, Ethnic Conflict and Civil War, Naval History (History), Military, Ancient Warfare, Warfare, Roman Period, Strategy, Late Roman Army, Augustus, Late Roman Republic, Roman fleet, Spying and Intelligence, Ancient Rome, Pompey the Great, Roman Spain, Roman military equipment, Julius Caesar, Roman cavalry, Espionage, History of Espionage, Guerrilla Warfare, Ancient Weapons and Warfare, Roman navy, Octavianus Augustus, Roman Infantry Tactics, Pontifex Maximus, Augustus Caesar, History of Philosophy, and Roman Archaeology
Campaigns of Germanicus, AD 13-16 describes briefly the campaigns, joint and combined ops., tactics, strategy, foreign policy, espionage, intelligence gathering, and strategy between ca. 60 BC and AD 150 with particular focus on... more
Campaigns of Germanicus, AD 13-16 describes briefly the campaigns, joint and combined ops., tactics, strategy, foreign policy, espionage, intelligence gathering, and strategy between ca. 60 BC and AD 150 with particular focus on Germanicus' campaigns.
Research Interests: Military Intelligence, Tactics (Military Science), Naval Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, and 34 moreNaval Warfare, Naval History, Roman Republic, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Imperial Rome, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Republican Rome, Roman Empire, Byzantium, Late Roman Army, Augustus, Roman fleet, Caligula, Hadrian, Spying and Intelligence, Ancient Rome, Emperor Claudius, Roman military equipment, Julius Caesar, Roman cavalry, History of Espionage, Tiberius (Emperor), Special Operations Forces, Roman Cavalry Tactics, Roman Infantry Tactics, Germanicus, Trajan, and Byzantine Cavalry
The imperial biography of emperor Septimius Severus explains in detail how the African Septimius Severus achieved his position, how he won his wars and battles and how he used his newly gained power to secure his family’s position. The... more
The imperial biography of emperor Septimius Severus explains in detail how the African Septimius Severus achieved his position, how he won his wars and battles and how he used his newly gained power to secure his family’s position. The book analyses how he reformed the state and its military, and how he used these remodelled forces in wars of conquest to prove his worth as emperor to both the soldiers and the populace. This biography offers the first complete overview of the policies, events and military campaigns of Severus' reign in the fullest detail allowed by the sources. The biography offers a very detailed analysis of the Roman art of war and Septimius Severus’s reforms. Severus was described with a good reason as the most warlike of all men who had lived up to that moment in time. It is not surprising that his son Caracalla followed in his footsteps and followed his father’s advice to enrich the soldiers while scorning all other men.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 15 moreRoman History, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Late Antiquity, Roman Britain, Imperial Rome, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Army, Parthian Empire, Ancient Rome, Severan Age, Ancient naval warfare, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and Roman Archaeology
The Military History of Late Rome 602-641 provides a fresh analysis of the Roman Empire from the reign of Phocas (602-10) until the death of Heraclius (610-41). This was an era of unprecedented upheavals which is usually considered to... more
The Military History of Late Rome 602-641 provides a fresh analysis of the Roman Empire from the reign of Phocas (602-10) until the death of Heraclius (610-41). This was an era of unprecedented upheavals which is usually considered to have resulted in the end of antiquity. The usurpations of Phocas and Heraclius led to the collapse of the Roman defenses; The Persians conquered Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt; The Avars and Slavs ravaged the Balkans; The Lombards held the upper hand in Italy; the Visigoths conquered Spain; But then happened one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune in the history of mankind. Heraclius began his holy war against the fire-worshippers. He launched a very effective counterattack against the Persians as a result of which the Romans not only defeated the Persians but actually even extended their domains at their expense, and not only this, because by 633 Heraclius was already restoring the Roman fortunes in the Balkans.
This volume revises many of the previously held views of how this took place and what actually happened. The Roman armies seemed invincible and then happened yet another great reversal of fortune – the Muslims began their jihad to conquer the world. The author provides a fresh analysis of all of these upheavals; explains in detail why these reversals of fortune happened; what enabled the Romans to defeat the Persians; and why the Romans lost when they fought against the Muslims and, conversely, why the Muslims were so successful. This was an era of epic campaigns and battles all of which are explained in unprecedented detail. The epic campaigns needed equally talented commanders who include, for example, Heraclius, Chosroes II Parwez, Shahrbaraz, Shahin, Abu Bakr, Umar, Abu Ubaydah, and Khalid b. al-Walid, the Sword of Allah.
This volume revises many of the previously held views of how this took place and what actually happened. The Roman armies seemed invincible and then happened yet another great reversal of fortune – the Muslims began their jihad to conquer the world. The author provides a fresh analysis of all of these upheavals; explains in detail why these reversals of fortune happened; what enabled the Romans to defeat the Persians; and why the Romans lost when they fought against the Muslims and, conversely, why the Muslims were so successful. This was an era of epic campaigns and battles all of which are explained in unprecedented detail. The epic campaigns needed equally talented commanders who include, for example, Heraclius, Chosroes II Parwez, Shahrbaraz, Shahin, Abu Bakr, Umar, Abu Ubaydah, and Khalid b. al-Walid, the Sword of Allah.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 15 moreRoman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Islamic History and Muslim Civilization, Late Roman Army, Historia, Historia Militar, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, and Avars
Military History of Late Rome 565-602 provides a new fresh analysis of the Roman Empire in the aftermath of the reconquests of Justinian I (527-65). It is often claimed that Justinian overstretched the Roman resources, but this analysis... more
Military History of Late Rome 565-602 provides a new fresh analysis of the Roman Empire in the aftermath of the reconquests of Justinian I (527-65). It is often claimed that Justinian overstretched the Roman resources, but this analysis proves that view wrong. It demonstrates that the initial troubles were largely the result of the mistakes of Justin II (565-78) and that his successors, Tiberius II (578-82) and Maurice (582-602), not only restored its fortunes but were, at the time of the death of Maurice, actually poised to complete the reconquests of Justinian.
It was thanks to the reforms of Maurice, which were codified in the military treatise the Strategikon, that the Roman army had achieved a position of relative superiority over all of its enemies so that by 602 the Romans had decisively defeated the Persians, Slavs and Avars and were poised to complete the project of reconquest. These gains, however, were lost when Maurice was murdered in a military mutiny which brought Phocas to power. This volume explains why the Roman army overthrew one of the greatest Roman emperors who ever lived.
This was an era of epic battles so it is not a surprise that the author also pays particular attention to the period tactics and analyses all of the period battles in great detail. These include for example such battles as Melitene, Constantia, Sirmium, Nymphius River, Solanchon, Lake Urmiah, Plain of Canzak, Iatrus, and the larger than life engagements of Priscus and Comentiolus in the Balkans.
It was thanks to the reforms of Maurice, which were codified in the military treatise the Strategikon, that the Roman army had achieved a position of relative superiority over all of its enemies so that by 602 the Romans had decisively defeated the Persians, Slavs and Avars and were poised to complete the project of reconquest. These gains, however, were lost when Maurice was murdered in a military mutiny which brought Phocas to power. This volume explains why the Roman army overthrew one of the greatest Roman emperors who ever lived.
This was an era of epic battles so it is not a surprise that the author also pays particular attention to the period tactics and analyses all of the period battles in great detail. These include for example such battles as Melitene, Constantia, Sirmium, Nymphius River, Solanchon, Lake Urmiah, Plain of Canzak, Iatrus, and the larger than life engagements of Priscus and Comentiolus in the Balkans.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, and 13 moreStrategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Naval History, Late Antiquity, Roman Army, Pre-Islamic Persian History, Late Roman Army, Cavalry, Ancient naval warfare, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, and Avars
The Military History of Late Rome 518-565_ provides a new, fresh analysis of the revival of Roman fortunes during the reigns of Justin I (518-527) and Justinian I (527-565). The book narrates in great detail the re-conquests of North... more
The Military History of Late Rome 518-565_ provides a new, fresh analysis of the revival of Roman fortunes during the reigns of Justin I (518-527) and Justinian I (527-565). The book narrates in great detail the re-conquests of North Africa, Italy and southern Spain by Justinian's armies. It also explores the massive encounters between the Romans and Persians in the east, and the apocalyptic fights in the Balkans between the Romans and barbarians. The author pays particular attention to the tactics and battles so there is detailed analysis of all of the period engagements, such as Dara, Satala, Callinicum, Ad Decimum, Tricamarum, Rome, Scalae Veteres, Antonia Castra, Gallica, Campi Catonis, Hippis River, Busta Gallorum, Mons Lactarius, Casilinum, Archaeopolis, Phasis, and others. The narrative features the military exploits of the great Roman heroes, such as Belisarius and Narses, while not forgetting the many other overlooked generals such as Germanus, Mundus, John the nephew of Vitalian, Martinus, Dagistheus and Sittas, not to mention the dashing hero John Troglita whose achievements were immortalized by the Roman epic poet Corippus.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Strategy (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Medieval History, and 15 moreNaval Warfare, Naval History, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Roman military history, Sasanian History, Late Roman Empire, Byzantium, Roman military equipment, Siege Warfare, Espionage, History of Espionage, and Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
Gordian III and Philip the Arab. The Roman Empire at a Crossroads (Dr. Ilkka Syvänne, Pen and Sword Publishing, Barnsley 22 March 2021) offers not only detailed analysis of the reigns of Gordian III and Philip the Arab, but also a very... more
Gordian III and Philip the Arab. The Roman Empire at a Crossroads (Dr. Ilkka Syvänne, Pen and Sword Publishing, Barnsley 22 March 2021) offers not only detailed analysis of the reigns of Gordian III and Philip the Arab, but also a very detailed analysis of the wars and political developments that preceded their reigns between 222 and 238. It was during those years that the political and religious factions came into existence that dominated the events also after 238. The meager sources are milked for all their worth to achieve this.
The monograph shows how the Roman military organization, equipment and tactics changed from 222 until 249 and shows how and when the Romans developed the immediate predecessor of Gallienus’s famous cavalry corps and why it was that Decius was employing only cavalry when he fought against the Goths.
The campaigns of Alexander Severus, Maximinus Thrax, Pupienus, Crispinus, Timesitheus and the campaigns of the Arabic brothers Philip and Priscus, and others are analyzed in such detail as the sources allow. The monograph shows what type of Empire Gordian III inherited and in what state he left it to his successor. When Philip the Arab ruled the Roman Empire was still the most powerful Empire on earth. Philip and his brother Priscus kept both the Goths and Persians in check so that it can be said with great confidence that their death was a great blow to the Roman Empire because their successor Decius was defeated by both. The monograph explains why the two successful brothers were killed and what the mistakes were that led to this situation and what was their inheritance for their successor Decius.
Includes a discussion of the Roman use of germ warfare.
For those who are interested in Sassanian history the book also offers new material which explain for example the circumstances in which Shapur I rose to power and how he may have infiltrated the Roman high command with his own operatives.
The monograph shows how the Roman military organization, equipment and tactics changed from 222 until 249 and shows how and when the Romans developed the immediate predecessor of Gallienus’s famous cavalry corps and why it was that Decius was employing only cavalry when he fought against the Goths.
The campaigns of Alexander Severus, Maximinus Thrax, Pupienus, Crispinus, Timesitheus and the campaigns of the Arabic brothers Philip and Priscus, and others are analyzed in such detail as the sources allow. The monograph shows what type of Empire Gordian III inherited and in what state he left it to his successor. When Philip the Arab ruled the Roman Empire was still the most powerful Empire on earth. Philip and his brother Priscus kept both the Goths and Persians in check so that it can be said with great confidence that their death was a great blow to the Roman Empire because their successor Decius was defeated by both. The monograph explains why the two successful brothers were killed and what the mistakes were that led to this situation and what was their inheritance for their successor Decius.
Includes a discussion of the Roman use of germ warfare.
For those who are interested in Sassanian history the book also offers new material which explain for example the circumstances in which Shapur I rose to power and how he may have infiltrated the Roman high command with his own operatives.
Research Interests: History, Economic History, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, and 15 moreEarly Christianity, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Roman military history, Sasanian History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Late Roman Army, Barbarians, Severan Age, Roman military equipment, History of Pre-Islamic Arabia, Espionage, and Roman Crisis of the Third Century
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.5 (457-518) describes the pivotal years when West Rome fell despite the help it received from East Rome. The book explains why this happened and why it was the East Rome that was poised to begin the... more
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.5 (457-518) describes the pivotal years when West Rome fell despite the help it received from East Rome. The book explains why this happened and why it was the East Rome that was poised to begin the reconquest under Justinian (described in detail in MHLR Vol.6 (518-565) and what type of army and tactics the Romans used and why this was so.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine History, Naval Warfare, Intelligence and Espionage, Late Roman Empire, Ancient Military History, Sassanian Persia, Visigothic Spain, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Later Roman Empire, Goths, History of Pre-Islamic Arabia, and History of Espionage
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.3 (395-425) analyses the military history of the Roman Empire during the Great Migrations period together with an analysis of cultural, economic and religious matters that influenced it. It naturally... more
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.3 (395-425) analyses the military history of the Roman Empire during the Great Migrations period together with an analysis of cultural, economic and religious matters that influenced it. It naturally features all of the important persons of this period in the Roman Empire and includes analysis of the important decisions taken for example by Arcadius, Honorius, Gainas, Stilicho, Alaric, Constantius III etc. The book includes also a discussion of the military practices and policies of their neighbors.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and 15 moreNaval Warfare, Naval History, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Pre-Islamic Persian History, Sassanian Persia, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Later Roman Empire, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Roman military equipment, Ancient naval warfare, and Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.4 ( 425-457) analyzes in great detail how the Romans coped with the challenge posed by the masses of Huns in a situation in which the Germanic tribes had gained a permanent foothold in the territories... more
The Military History of Late Rome Vol.4 ( 425-457) analyzes in great detail how the Romans coped with the challenge posed by the masses of Huns in a situation in which the Germanic tribes had gained a permanent foothold in the territories of West Rome. The book focuses in particular on the strategy and tactics adopted. The monograph argues that Aetius and emperor Marcian deserve to be called as the saviors of Western civilization, a civilization which ultimately brought to us scientific thinking and everything connected with modernity.
Research Interests: History, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and 15 moreHistory of Iran, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Byzantine History, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Byzantium, Sassanid Empire, Late Roman Army, Later Roman Empire, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, and The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture
This is a narrative military history of the emperors Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ('Aurelian', reigned 270-275) and Marcus Aurelius Probus (276-282) which also includes the other reigns between the years 268 and 285. It shows how these two... more
This is a narrative military history of the emperors Lucius Domitius Aurelianus ('Aurelian', reigned 270-275) and Marcus Aurelius Probus (276-282) which also includes the other reigns between the years 268 and 285. It shows how these two remarkable emperors were chiefly responsible for the Empire surviving and emerging largely intact from a period of intense crisis. It was Aurelian who first united the breakaway regions, including Zenobia's Palmyra, and it was Probus who then secured his achievements. The reigns of Aurelian and Probus have been subjected to many studies, but none of these have approached the extant material purely from the point of view of military analysis. Most importantly, the previous historians have not exploited the analytical opportunities provided by the military treatises that describe the strategy and tactics of the period Roman army. It is thanks to this new methodology that Ilkka Syvänne has been able to reconstruct the military campaigns of these two soldier emperors and their other contemporaries in far greater detail than has been possible before.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Classics, and 15 moreRoman History, Middle East & North Africa, History of India, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Armenian History, Iranian History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Chinese history (History), Mediterranean and North Africa, Barbarians, Aurelian, Ancient Rome, and Roman Crisis of the Third Century
Publisher's description: "King Arthur is one of the most controversial topics of early British history. Are the legends based on a real historical figure or pure mythological invention? Ilkka Syvannes study breaks new ground, adopting a... more
Publisher's description: "King Arthur is one of the most controversial topics of early British history. Are the legends based on a real historical figure or pure mythological invention? Ilkka Syvannes study breaks new ground, adopting a novel approach to the sources by starting with the assumption that Arthur existed and that Geoffrey of Monmouths account has preserved details of his career that are based on real events. He then interprets these by using common sense and the perspective of a specialist in late Roman military history to form a probable picture of what really happened during the period (roughly AD 400-550). This approach allows the author to test the entire literary evidence for the existence of Arthur to see if the supposed events of his career match what is known of the events of the period, the conclusion being that in general they do. Arthurs military career is set in the context of the wider military history of Britain and Europe in this period and along the way describes the nature of armies and warfare of the period." In addition to this the book includes appendices dealing with Scandinavia, Baltic Sea, Huns, Odin, Russia, St. Patrick and Ireland.
Research Interests: History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, and 15 moreArthurian Studies, Early Medieval Ireland, Late Antiquity, Roman Britain, Late Roman Empire, Arthuriana, Strategy, Late Roman Army, Dark Ages History, Later Roman Empire, king Arthur, History of Russia, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, Arthurian Literature, and History of the Baltic Sea Region
This is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268). Considered the most blatantly military man of all of the soldier emperors of the third century, Gallienus is the emperor in... more
This is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268). Considered the most blatantly military man of all of the soldier emperors of the third century, Gallienus is the emperor in Harry Sidebottom's bestselling Warrior of Rome novels. Gallienus faced more simultaneous usurpations and foreign invasions than any other emperor, but somehow he managed to survive. Dr. Ilkka Syvanne explains how this was possible. It was largely thanks to the untiring efforts of Gallienus that the Roman Empire survived for another 1,200 years. Gallienus was a notorious libertarian, womanizer, and cross-dresser, but he was also a fearless warrior, duellist and general all at the same time. This monograph explains why he was loved by the soldiers, yet so intensely hated by some officers that they killed him in a conspiracy. The Reign of Emperor Gallienus celebrates the life and times of this great man.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, and 15 moreStrategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Naval History, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Roman military history, Roman Army, Sassanian Persia, Late Roman Army, Gallienus, Roman military equipment, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and Roman Archaeology
The Military History of Late Rome 361-395 (MHLR Vol.2, released on 6 Dec. 2018) gives a narrative analysis of the military history of late Rome from 361 until 395. These years were some of the most dramatic in the history of Rome... more
The Military History of Late Rome 361-395 (MHLR Vol.2, released on 6 Dec. 2018) gives a narrative analysis of the military history of late Rome from 361 until 395. These years were some of the most dramatic in the history of Rome beginning with the reign of Julian the Apostate and ending with the reign of Theodosius I. Among others it provides detailed analyses of the great Gothic invasions, battle of Adrianople, Persian wars and Roman campaigns in many far flung places including those that took place in the Sea of Azov, Indian Ocean and Africa.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, and 15 moreHistory of India, Naval Warfare, Naval History, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Ancient Military History, Late Roman Army, Late Roman and early Byzantine fortifications, Roman military equipment, and Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The book The Military History of the Third Century Iran is the result of several years of collaboration between the authors who undertake daily research on the history of pre-Islamic Iran. The present work is primarily addressed to... more
The book The Military History of the Third Century Iran is the result of several years of collaboration between the authors who undertake daily research on the history of pre-Islamic Iran. The present work is primarily addressed to students of history who acquire their first experiences in exploring the history of the Near East. We hope that it will help readers with a fascinating topic and will encourage them to continue their studies on ancient military.
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone whose work helped to bring this volume to press, above all our sincere thank to Vesta SARKHOSH CURTIS (the British Museum, London, United Kingdom), Vladimir DMITRIEV (Pskov State University, Russia), Kaveh FARROKH (Langara College, Vancouver, Canada), Gholamreza KARAMIAN (Tehran Azad University, Iran), Meysam LABBAF-KHANIKI (University of Tehran, Iran), Ehsan SHAVAREBI (University of Vienna, Austria) and Patryk SKUPNIEWICZ (Siedlce University, Poland).
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone whose work helped to bring this volume to press, above all our sincere thank to Vesta SARKHOSH CURTIS (the British Museum, London, United Kingdom), Vladimir DMITRIEV (Pskov State University, Russia), Kaveh FARROKH (Langara College, Vancouver, Canada), Gholamreza KARAMIAN (Tehran Azad University, Iran), Meysam LABBAF-KHANIKI (University of Tehran, Iran), Ehsan SHAVAREBI (University of Vienna, Austria) and Patryk SKUPNIEWICZ (Siedlce University, Poland).
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Military History, Sasanian History, Sasanian art, Sasanian Archaeology, Sasanian Army, and 4 moreSasanian numismatics, Archaeology of Central Asia in Parthian, Kushan and Sasanian times, Sasanian Rock Reliefs, and Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sasanian History; International Relations and Diplomacy between Roman-Byzantine and Persian Empires
Caracalla. A Military Biography is now available as a hardcover, Kindle and e-book an from the website of its publisher Pen & Sword Publishing and from most of the major booksellers. It is not only the first published biography in... more
Caracalla. A Military Biography is now available as a hardcover, Kindle and e-book an from the website of its publisher Pen & Sword Publishing and from most of the major booksellers. It is not only the first published biography in English of this remarkable individual, but also the first that reassess the evidence from the point of view of military history.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Military Law, Strategy (Military Science), and 48 moreTactics (Military Science), Roman History, Sociology of the Military, Hellenistic History, Rome, City of, Roman Law, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Iranian Studies, Early Christianity, History of Iran, Jewish History, Biography, Greek and Roman Sexualities, Late Antiquity, Intelligence and Espionage, Iranian History, Roman Britain, Imperial Rome, Alexander the Great, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Military and Politics, Sasanian History, History of Military Technology, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Roman social history, Cassius Dio, Civil-military relations, Ancient Greek History, Roman Economy, Christianity and Rome, Military, Roman Gaul, Caracalla, Late Roman Army, Parthian Empire, Spying and Intelligence, Ancient Rome, Severan Age, Roman military equipment, Goths, Gladiators, Guerrilla Warfare, Roman navy, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and Roman Archaeology
Odin the Man traces the life and times of Odin. The study suggests that Odin was a third century warrior captain who managed to convince his followers that he was a living god, and who caused the mass migrations of the Germanic tribes... more
Odin the Man traces the life and times of Odin. The study suggests that Odin was a third century warrior captain who managed to convince his followers that he was a living god, and who caused the mass migrations of the Germanic tribes against the Roman frontiers in the late third century. The analysis of several sources support the position taken by Snorri that we are dealing with a historical figure. Despite being a great warrior, Odin's greatest achievement was to fool people up to modern times that he was a god. He was not called a trickster, conjuror and magician for nothing. The study of the career forms the Appendix 3 of the forthcoming Britain in the Age of Arthur (Dark Ages Britain), and one of the purposes has been to advertise this book by demonstrating what sorts of results one can obtain if one pays more attention to what the sources state rather than follows the consensus view as well as the book series Military History of Late Rome.
Research Interests: Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Anglo-Saxon Studies, and 18 moreAnglo-Saxon Studies (History), Late Antiquity, Viking Studies, Viking Age Archaeology, Russian History, Roman Army, Ukraine (History), Late Roman Archaeology, Viking Age Scandinavia, Nazi Germany, Late Roman Army, Religious Studies, Norway, Viking Age, Vendel period, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, Vikings in the East, and Roman Archaeology
I am updating the previous draft paper with my comments posted on my Facebook page.
Research Interests:
In this short comment I raise the issue of potential failure of Russian military doctrine of deep battle in the Ukrainian war.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Comparative Military Systems, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), and 11 moreTactics (Military Science), Soviet History, Russian Foreign Policy, Post-Soviet Studies, Russian History, Soviet Union (History), Ukraine (History), Military, Russia, Strategy, and Ukraine
This analysis refutes the openly hostile and purposefully misleading and poorly argued comments about the numbers and tactics and other matters in a review published on the De re militari website on 11 February 2021. The heading for this... more
This analysis refutes the openly hostile and purposefully misleading and poorly argued comments about the numbers and tactics and other matters in a review published on the De re militari website on 11 February 2021. The heading for this review is formulated as follows: "Ilkka Syvänne, Military History of Late Rome 425-457 (Haggai Olshanetsky) by CRAIG NAKASHIAN posted on FEBRUARY 11, 2021." I take this strangely formulated heading to mean that the review was done by Haggai Olshanetsky and therefore refer to the reviewer constantly as Haggai Olshanetsky because it is this name that is also found at the end of the text. This paper will demonstrate that the reviewer Haggai Olshanetsky's arguments regarding army sizes and tactics and other things are not only openly hostile and false but also demonstrate the revieweräs complete lack of knowledge of period warfare, and not only that but it will prove that Olshanetsky sometimes unwittingly even goes on to prove Ilkka Syvänne's analysis correct when the reviewer has attempted the exact opposite.
Research Interests: History, Military History, Gothic Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, and 10 moreByzantine History, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Sassanian Persia, Late Roman Army, Barbarians, Medieval Military History, Later Roman Empire, The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture, and Byzantine history and archaeology
This paper refutes in detail the ill-founded and poorly formulated and incoherent comments regarding army sizes on a review of Ilkka Syvänne's monograph which was posted on the De re militari website on 5 November 2020. Its heading is... more
This paper refutes in detail the ill-founded and poorly formulated and incoherent comments regarding army sizes on a review of Ilkka Syvänne's monograph which was posted on the De re militari website on 5 November 2020. Its heading is formulated in the heading as follows: "lkka Syvanne, Aurelian and Probus: The Soldier Emperors Who Saved Rome (Haggai Olshanetsky) by CRAIG NAKASHIAN posted on NOVEMBER 5, 2020." I take this strangely formulated heading to mean that the review was done by Haggai Olshanetsky and therefore refer to the reviewer constantly as Haggai Olshanetsky because it is this name that is also found at the end of the text.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Naval History, Late Antiquity, and 14 moreRoman military history, Roman Army, Sassanian Persia, Late Roman Army, Barbarians, Ancient Rome, Barbaricum, Cavalry, Classical Antiquity, Roman Emperors, Roman navy, Intelligence and security studies, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and The World of the Huns: Studies in Their History and Culture
These are images of the Great Palace of Constantinople (extra material) to accompany the Military History of Late Rome Series especially the volumes 5-7 by Dr. Ilkka Syvanne (Syvänne/Syvaenne.
Research Interests:
This illustration will appear (but probably without the caption) in two forthcoming studies of mine and it represents, as noted in the title, the shahanshah Shapur I and Caesar Augustus Gordianus III (emperor Gordian III) at the battle of... more
This illustration will appear (but probably without the caption) in two forthcoming studies of mine and it represents, as noted in the title, the shahanshah Shapur I and Caesar Augustus Gordianus III (emperor Gordian III) at the battle of Meshike (Pērōz Šāpur, Victorious Shapur) in 244. I am posting this drawing of mine with the caption to ask two questions from the readers, which are included at the end of the text.
Research Interests:
This text gives some very small selection of details included in the forthcoming Caracalla: A Military Biography (as an advertisement) due to be published by Pen & Sword this year and in fact provides also a short overview of some of the... more
This text gives some very small selection of details included in the forthcoming Caracalla: A Military Biography (as an advertisement) due to be published by Pen & Sword this year and in fact provides also a short overview of some of the unconventional strategies and tactics employed by Caracalla together with some quite new info regarding period equipment and military practices. A much fuller discussion of all things connected to military matters in its widest sense can be found in the book.
Research Interests: Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, Strategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), and 24 moreRoman History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Terrorism, Middle East Studies, Middle East History, Naval History, History of Iran, Late Antiquity, Imperial Rome, Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Roman Army, Caracalla, Strategy, Late Roman Army, Barbarians, Parthian Empire, Ancient Rome, Severan Age, Roman military equipment, Roman Emperors, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, and Roman Archaeology
The presence of aegis is one of the typical phenomena of the imperial third century coins and medallions. This was not the first time the emperors are depicted with the aegis. . What is certain, however, is that from the Antonine era... more
The presence of aegis is one of the typical phenomena of the imperial third century coins and medallions. This was not the first time the emperors are depicted with the aegis. . What is certain, however, is that from the Antonine era onward it became ever more common for the coins and medallions to depict the aegis gorgoneion so that by the time of Probus's reign his coins are filled with these. The following is an attempt to reconstruct the likely shape and construction of the third century aegis with its main variants. It is based on the kind comments and suggestions given especially by Jean-Marc Doyen, Briac Michaux, Adam Kubik and Patryk Skupniewicz, and also on the comments of others (e.g.Kaveh Farrokh) who kindly commented my draft paper on a coin of Gordian III. In short, I cannot claim any credit or originality in the making this reconstruction, but I still hope that it is useful for sparking further discussion and analyses of the period coins and medallions – a source which is certainly underused. It goes without saying that if there are still some mistakes left (or new ones) that they are not to be blamed for any of these. Those are the sole responsibility of this author. Please feel free to comment and correct! The aim is to reconstruct the pieces of period equipment as accurately as possible for the studies in question and possibly also to write a separate paper on the same topic.
Research Interests: Classical Archaeology, Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Late Antique Archaeology, and 22 moreNumismatics, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, Byzantine Archaeology, Ancient numismatics (Archaeology), Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Roman Army, Roman Empire, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Ancient Roman Numismatics, Byzantine Numismatics, Caracalla, Late Roman Army, Ancient Numismatics, Aurelian, Ancient Rome, Roman military equipment, Roman Crisis of the Third Century, Roman Archaeology, and Roman Military Decorations
On the basis of Gordian IIIs coin I posed a question if it would be possible that his muscle armor would have had underneath it another armor of scales or mail. Thanks to the comments I got this mistake was avoided. The coin in question... more
On the basis of Gordian IIIs coin I posed a question if it would be possible that his muscle armor would have had underneath it another armor of scales or mail. Thanks to the comments I got this mistake was avoided. The coin in question just like some of the other similar coins are likely to be inaccurate in their details when these seem to depict two layers of "armor" (soft leather and underneath it another metal armor). There are other coins e.g. of Probus which show that these are likely to be Gorgoneion decorations which are represented inaccurately in the coins in question. However, one cannot entirely rule out the possibility that both conclusions would be correct because the coins that depict these are quite detailed in both cases. On balance, however, this is still less likely than the other alternative mentioned above. Thanks for all of the commentators! Much appreciated!
Research Interests: Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Late Antique Archaeology, Byzantine Studies, and 15 moreLate Antiquity, Byzantine History, Ancient numismatics (Archaeology), Roman military archaeology, Roman military history, Roman Army, Roman Empire, Late Antique Art and Archaeology, Roman numismatics and archaeology, Ancient Roman Numismatics, Ancient Numismatics, Byzantine arms and armors, Roman military equipment, Gordian III, and Roman Archaeology
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The aim of this article is to show that there is an alternative way to reconstruct the Muslim conquest of Roman Levant, which is actually militarily more plausible than the current consensus view among historians.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Strategy (Military Science), Roman History, and 15 moreLate Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Israel/Palestine, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Islamic Studies, Byzantine History, History of the Islamic World, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Jerusalem, Islamic History and Muslim Civilization, Late Roman Army, Later Roman Empire, and History of Jerusalem
The article gives a summary basic information of the new cavalry formations included in the Sylloge Tacticorum. It was originally published in Saga Newsletter 112, 2008 (p.36ff.) and then republished in Slingshot (November-December... more
The article gives a summary basic information of the new cavalry formations included in the Sylloge Tacticorum. It was originally published in Saga Newsletter 112, 2008 (p.36ff.) and then republished in Slingshot (November-December 2013, pp.7-13). The version included here is the unedited text into which I have added comments and a new beginning that provides a discussion of some of the recent research done on the topic with some additional comments and analyses.
Research Interests: History, Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Military Intelligence, and 15 moreStrategy (Military Science), Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, History of the Islamic World, Roman military history, Late Roman Empire, Ancient Greek History, Medieval Islamic History, Byzantium, and Greece
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.
Research Interests:
The article (or rather three articles) analyses the East Roman cavalry warfare from 410 until 641 and is based on a visiting lecture held at the University of Ottawa in 2010. It provides an overview of the East Roman cavalry... more
The article (or rather three articles) analyses the East Roman cavalry warfare from 410 until 641 and is based on a visiting lecture held at the University of Ottawa in 2010. It provides an overview of the East Roman cavalry organization, recruitment, training, strategy, enemies and tactics.
Research Interests: Ancient History, Military History, Military Science, Comparative Military Systems, Military Intelligence, and 24 moreStrategy (Military Science), Tactics (Military Science), Roman History, Late Antique and Byzantine History, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies, Strategic Studies, Naval Warfare, Naval History, Byzantine Studies, Late Antiquity, Byzantine History, Roman military history, Roman Army, Late Roman Empire, Ancient Military History, Sassanian Persia, Late Roman Army, Roman Near East, Later Roman Empire, Roman military equipment, Roman cavalry, Ancient naval warfare, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, and Roman Archaeology
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.
Research Interests:
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.
Research Interests:
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the... more
Dear colleagues, "History and the World" is a scientific yearbook at the Institute of History and International Relations at the University of Natural and Humanities in Siedlce. The first volume appeared in 2012. In the interests of the magazine's history. "History and the World" published materials science staff of the Institute, but does not close his column in front of authors from outside. It addresses the issues related to the scope of the research carried out by researchers of the Institute. Writing system is typically composed of three divisions: articles, source, and reviews and discussions. "History and the World" has the ambition to keep present the results of their study and become the leading journal of the historical region of Siedlce.