Synopses & Reviews
Your emperor needs you for the Roman army! The year is AD 100 and Rome stands supreme and unconquerable from the desert sands of Mesopotamia to the misty highlands of Caledonia. Yet the might of Rome rests completely on the armored shoulders of the legionaries who hold back the barbarian hordes and push forward the frontiers of empire. This carefully researched yet entertainingly nonacademic book tells you how to join the Roman legions, the best places to serve, and how to keep your armor from getting rusty. Learn to march under the eagles of Rome, from training, campaigns, and battle to the glory of a Roman Triumph and retirement with a pension plan. Every aspect of army life is discussed, from drill to diet, with handy tips on topics such as how to select the best boots or how to avoid being skewered by enemy spears. Combining the latest archaeological discoveries with the written records of those who actually saw the Roman legions in action, this book provides a vivid picture of what it meant to be a Roman legionary.
Review
"...usually checked out for a school project, but students report reading the entire book for pleasure after the fact." School Library Journal
Review
"A very useful introduction to military practice in the late First Century." New York Military Affairs Symposium
Review
"Highly informative and readable volume lays out in detail the high honor and great risk of defending Rome as a foot soldier.... The author knows his subject thoroughly and presents it with flare, a touch of humor, and authority.
Review
"A fascinating little handbook of serious scholarship and irrepressible wit, vividly illuminates military life in ancient Rome." Boston Sunday Globe
Synopsis
This carefully researched yet entertainingly unacademic book tells you how to join the Roman legions, the best places to serve, and how to keep your armor from getting rusty. Learn to march under the eagles of Rome, from training, campaigns, and battle to the glory of a Roman Triumph and retirement with a pension plan.
Synopsis
This carefully researched yet entertaining book takes readers back to AD 100 when Rome stands supreme, to provide a vivid picture of what it meant to be a Roman legionary. 40 illustrations.
Synopsis
Every aspect of army life is discussed, from drill to diet, with handy tips on topics such as how to select the best boots, or how to avoid being skewered by enemy spears.
Synopsis
An insider's guide: how to join the Roman legions, wield a gladius, storm cities, and conquer the world
About the Author
Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St. John's College, Oxford. His books include Legionary, Gladiator, Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day, Ancient Athens on 5 Drachmas a Day, The Classical Compendium, Chronicle of the Roman Republic, and The Greek and Roman Myths. He lives in British Columbia, Canada.