Leading the Roman Army - Soldiers and Emperors, 31 BC - 235 AD

2-225150

The Roman imperial army represented one of the main factors in the exercise of political control by the emperors. The effective political management of the army was essential for maintaining the safety and well-being of the empire as a whole. Synthesizes a range of evidence from archaeological, epigraphic, literary, and numismatic sources on the relationship between the emperor and his soldiers from the battle of Actium in 31 BC, to the demise of the Severan dynasty in AD 235. Analyzes the means by which emperors controlled their commanders and troops while ers and sustaining their political allegiance. The emperors created an imperial army organization that contained a complex network of interlocking ties. Includes 20 color illustrations.