Adrianopole ad 378: The Goths Crush Rome's Legions (Praeger Illustrated Military History) - Hardcover

MacDowall, Simon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 027598835X ISBN 13: 9780275988357

Publisher: Praeger Pub Text, 2005

Synopsis

Never, except in the battle of Cannae, had there been so destructive a slaughter recorded in our annals. Thus the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus recorded the battle of Adrianople, which spelled the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Such a crushing Roman defeat by Gothic cavalry proved to the Empire, as well as to the Goths themselves, that the migratory barbarians were a force to be reckoned with. This book tells the story of the misguided Roman plans and the surprise attack of Gothic cavalry, and puts forward the most recent theories as to the true location of the battlefield.

Scarcely one third of the entire army escaped. Never, except in the battle of Cannae, had there been so destructive a slaughter recorded in our annals. Thus the Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus recorded the battle of Adrianople, 9 August AD 378, which spelled the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Such a crushing Roman defeat by Gothic cavalry proved to the Empire, as well as to the Goths themselves, that the migratory barbarians were a force to be reckoned with. Valens, the Emperor of the East, was killed along with up to 40,000 Roman soldiers. Simon MacDowall tells the story of the misguided Roman plans to attack, the lack of adequate scouting that resulted in the surprise attack of Gothic cavalry, and puts forward the most recent theories as to the true location of the battlefield.

About this title

About the Author:

SIMON BACDOWALL is a former army officer with a deep interest in military history, especially the period around the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. After 22 years in the Canadian army he worked for several years on the NATO International Staff and is now a Senior Civil Servant in the British Government. His combination of practical military background and his knowledge and understanding of the later Roman give him a unique perspective on the military aspects of the fascinating era. After living in Canada, Germany and Belgium, and seeing service in Central America, Bosnia and Kosovo, Simon now lives in Oxford, England.

About this edition

• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 027598835X
• ISBN 13: 9780275988357
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Gerrard Howard