The Crisis of Rome (Paperback)

Gareth C. Sampson

ISBN 10: 1526781778 / ISBN 13: 9781526781772

Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd, South Yorkshire, 2020

About this Item

Paperback. In the later 2nd century BC, after a period of rapid expansion and conquest, the Roman Republic found itself in crisis. In North Africa her armies were already bogged down in a long difficult guerrilla war in a harsh environment when invasion by a coalition of Germanic tribes, the Cimbri, Teutones and Ambrones, threatened Italy and Rome itself, inflicting painful defeats on Roman forces in pitched battle. Gaius Marius was the man of the hour. The first war he brought to an end through tactical brilliance, bringing the Numidian King Jugurtha back in chains. Before his ship even returned to Italy, the senate elected Marius to lead the war against the northern invaders. Reorganising and reinvigorating the demoralised Roman legions, he led them to two remarkable victories in the space of months, crushing the Teutones and Ambrones at Aquiae Sextae and the Cimbri at Vercellae. The Roman army emerged from this period of crisis a much leaner and more professional force and the author examines the extent to which the 'Marian Reforms' were responsible for this and the extent to which they can be attributed to Marius himself. AUTHOR: Dr Gareth Sampson has a PhD in Ancient History from Manchester University where he taught for a number of years. His first book was Defeat of Rome (Pen & Sword, 2008). He lives in Plymouth. 16 b/w illustrations Exciting account of one of the Roman Republic's greatest crises. Assesses Marius' rise to preeminence and his generalship. Analyses the significance of the 'Marian Reforms' for the development of the legions. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781526781772

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Crisis of Rome (Paperback)
• Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd, South Yorkshire
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1526781778
• ISBN 13: 9781526781772
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Exciting account of one of the Roman Republic's greatest crises.

In the later 2nd century BC, after a period of rapid expansion and conquest, the Roman Republic found itself in crisis. In North Africa her armies were already bogged down in a long difficult guerrilla war in a harsh environment when invasion by a coalition of Germanic tribes, the Cimbri, Teutones and Ambrones, threatened Italy and Rome itself, inflicting painful defeats on Roman forces in pitched battle.

Gaius Marius was the man of the hour. The first war he brought to an end through tactical brilliance, bringing the Numidian King Jugurtha back in chains. Before his ship even returned to Italy, the senate elected Marius to lead the war against the northern invaders. Reorganizing and reinvigorating the demoralized Roman legions, he led them to two remarkable victories in the space of months, crushing the Teutones and Ambrones at Aquiae Sextae and the Cimbri at Vercellae.

The Roman army emerged from this period of crisis a much leaner and more professional force and the author examines the extent to which the 'Marian Reforms' were responsible for this and the extent to which they can be attributed to Marius himself.

About the Author

After a successful career in corporate finance, Dr. Gareth Sampson returned to the study of ancient Rome and gained his PhD from the University of Manchester, where he currently teaches ancient history. He has made a detailed study of early Roman political history and in particular the political office of the tribunate of the plebs. He is currently engaged in a study of the power struggles and the civil warfare of the late Republic and its expansionist policies in the east.