31:
105:
423:
rather than the reality. The army of the early Empire was a formidable fighting force, but it probably was not in its entirety quite as good as
Vegetius describes. In particular, the 5-foot-10-inch minimum height identified by Vegetius would have excluded the majority of the men in Roman times (the Roman foot was 29.6 centimetres (11.7 in) and inch was 2.46 centimetres (0.97 in), hence a 5'10" Roman was 172.6 centimetres (5 ft 8.0 in), which is just above average height of Roman (Italian) men of the time from skeletal evidence from
590:
281:"is the only ancient manual of Roman military institutions to have survived intact". Despite this, Watson doubts its value, for Vegetius "was neither a historian nor a soldier: his work is a compilation carelessly constructed from material of all ages, a congeries of inconsistencies". These antiquarian sources, according to his own statement, were
273:
mainly focuses on military organization and how to react to certain occasions in war. Vegetius explains how one should fortify and organize a camp, how to train troops, how to handle undisciplined troops, how to handle a battle engagement, how to march, formation gauge and many other useful methods
422:
Vegetius emphasizes the shortcomings of the Roman Army in his lifetime. To do this, he eulogises the army of the early Empire. In particular, he stresses the high standard of the legionaries and the excellence of the training and the officer corps. In reality, Vegetius probably describes an ideal
312:
The first book is a plea for army reform; it vividly portrays the military decadence of the Late Roman Empire. Vegetius also describes in detail the organisation, training and equipment of the army of the early Empire. The third book contains a series of military maxims, which were (appropriately
201:
in 450, which appears in one of two families of manuscripts, suggesting that a division of the manuscript tradition had already occurred. Despite
Eutropius' location in Constantinople, the scholarly consensus is that Vegetius wrote in the
411:' accusation that he confused the institutions of diverse periods of the Roman Empire and G. Stewechius' opinion that the survival of Vegetius' work led to the loss of his named sources were more typical of the late
680:, translated with notes and introduction by N.P. Milner, Translated Texts for Historians, Vol. 16, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1993. (Second edition 1996; second revised edition 2011.)
374:
and others), Catalan, Spanish, Czech, and
Yiddish before the invention of printing. The first printed editions are ascribed to Utrecht (1473), Cologne (1476), Paris (1478), Rome (in
766:
published by
Heinrich Stayner with woodcuts variously depicting underwater diving suits, siege equipment, cannons, and air mattresses for the comfort of soldiers in the field.
30:
229:, dating the work to 430–35. Goffart agrees that the later date is likely, suggesting that the work may have been intended to support a military revival in the time of
738:
The 1944 abridged edition of
Lieutenant John Clarke's 1767 translation (omitting Books IV and V, "of interest only to military antiquarians") is available online:
338:, which afterwards played a great part in sieges until the development of modern cannonry. The fifth book gives an account of the materiel and personnel of the
313:
enough, considering the similarity in the military conditions of the two ages) the foundation of military learning for every
European commander from
371:
610:
605:
480:
Walter
Goffart. The date and purposes of Vegetius' De Re Militari. In Rome's Fall and After, chapter 3, pp 49-80. Hambledon Press 1989.
346:
820:
419:
based his own works on this acknowledged model, in Milner's words, Vegetius' work suffered "a long period of deepening neglect".
381:
However, from that point
Vegetius' position as the premier military authority began to decline, as ancient historians such as
805:
800:
825:
485:
352:, "In manuscript, Vegetius' work had a great vogue from its first advent. Its rules of siegecraft were much studied in the
670:
translated with a preface and notes by
Lieutenant John Clarke, London, 1767. Abridged reprint (Books IV and V omitted):
237:
might then have been the dedicatee. Rosenbaum uses allusions from
Vegetius's works and relationships to the work of
815:
810:
210:, in the manuscript family that was not edited in 450; the identity is disputed: some scholars identify him with
104:
773:(All 121 full-page woodcuts and 2 half-page woodcuts freely available for download in a variety of formats from
112:
431:(364–375) lowered the height minimum to 5' 7" Roman which equals 165.2 centimetres (5 ft 5.0 in).
356:." N.P. Milner observes that it was "one of the most popular Latin technical works from Antiquity, rivalling
462:
391:
500:, second edition (Liverpool: University Press, 1996), pp. xxxvii ff; T. D. Barnes, "The Date of Vegetius"
366:
in the number of surviving copies dating from before AD 1300." It was translated into English, French (by
795:
790:
774:
362:
151:). Nothing is known of his life or station beyond what is contained in his two surviving works:
523:(1876), 61–83. Seeck's conclusions changed the mind of Karl Lang, who twice edited the Teubner
386:
334:
595:
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
378:, 1487), and Pisa (1488). A German translation by Ludwig Hohenwang appeared at Ulm in 1475.
294:
203:
464:
Des Flavius Vegetius Renatus fünf Bücher über Kriegswissenschaft und Kriegskunst der Römer
451:(Liverpool University Press, 1993), pp. xxxi–xxxiii, believes the evidence favors Publius.
8:
318:
206:. Vegetius dedicates his work to the reigning emperor, who is identified as Theodosius,
166:
84:
447:
His name appears both as Publius Vegetius Renatus and Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Milner,
314:
246:
144:
770:
750:
A complete facsimile of John Clarke's 1767 translation is available at Google Books:
481:
238:
554:
332:
siege machines. Among other things, it shows details of the siege engine called the
416:
286:
754:
742:
715:
357:
226:
686:, Dutch translation by Fik Meijer, Polak/Van gennep Publishers, Amsterdam, 2004.
763:
703:
408:
282:
264:
250:
230:
198:
157:
139:
95:
729:
721:
784:
601:
596:
428:
234:
367:
211:
70:
708:
424:
412:
353:
148:
614:. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 968.
339:
222:
174:
400:
290:
233:'s supremacy. Rosenbaum also argues that he wrote in the early 430s;
396:
382:
329:
298:
80:
306:
270:
190:
302:
507:.3 (Autumn 1979), pp. 254–257, makes the case for Theodosius.
325:
60:
674:
Military Service Publishing Company, Harrisburg, Pa.. 1944.
404:
716:
Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection at the Library of Congress
476:
474:
496:
N.P. Milner sets forth the argument for Theodosius in
471:
460:
415:. While as late as the 18th century a soldier such as
241:
to suggest that Vegetius was a senior court official,
274:
of promoting organization and valour in the legion.
169:. He identifies himself in the opening of his work
555:https://www.academia.edu/5496690/Who_was_Vegetius
328:contains the best description of Late Empire and
193:(383); the earliest attestation of the work is a
782:
540:(Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1969), p. 26.
389:attempted to address Vegetius' defects in his
370:and others), Italian (by the Florentine judge
29:
672:The Military Institutions of the Romans,
600:
583:
581:
579:
577:
575:
256:
103:
744:The Military Institutions of the Romans
783:
678:Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science
572:
498:Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science
449:Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science
138:
35:Fanciful portrait from a 1529 edition
395:(Florence, 1521), with heavy use of
277:As G. R. Watson observes, Vegetius'
185:The latest event alluded to in his
13:
668:Military Institutions of Vegetius,
297:and the imperial constitutions of
14:
837:
756:Military Institutions of Vegetius
690:
553:" published on Academia.edu 2015
527:, and adopted Seeck's ascription.
197:by Flavius Eutropius, writing in
180:
762:1529 German-language edition of
588:
516:Seeck, "Die Zeit des Vegetius",
225:and identify him with the later
661:
644:
631:
618:
461:Lipowsky, Felix Joseph (1827).
216:
821:Ancient Roman military writers
559:
543:
530:
510:
490:
454:
441:
113:Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana
1:
771:Vier Bücher der Ritterschafft
434:
376:Veteres de re mil. scriptores
806:5th-century writers in Latin
801:4th-century writers in Latin
189:is the death of the Emperor
7:
826:Ancient Roman veterinarians
695:The complete Latin text of
163:Digesta Artis Mulomedicinae
10:
842:
262:
775:Science History Institute
208:ad Theodosium imperatorem
90:
76:
66:
56:
48:
40:
28:
21:
161:), and the lesser-known
611:Encyclopædia Britannica
427:in 79 AD). The emperor
348:Encyclopædia Britannica
143:), was a writer of the
816:5th-century Christians
811:4th-century Christians
221:, while others follow
116:
777:Digital Collections).
699:is available online:
258:Epitoma rei militaris
187:Epitoma rei militaris
171:Epitoma rei militaris
155:(also referred to as
153:Epitoma rei militaris
107:
204:Western Roman Empire
140:[u̯ɛˈɡɛtiʊs]
392:L'arte della Guerra
387:Niccolò Machiavelli
319:Frederick the Great
167:veterinary medicine
85:Veterinary medicine
796:5th-century Romans
791:4th-century Romans
684:Het Romeinse leger
385:became available.
315:William the Silent
249:, who had been an
247:praetorian prefect
145:Later Roman Empire
117:
704:The Latin Library
567:The Roman Soldier
551:Who was Vegetius?
538:The Roman Soldier
345:According to the
102:
101:
833:
655:
648:
642:
635:
629:
622:
616:
615:
594:
592:
591:
585:
570:
563:
557:
547:
541:
534:
528:
514:
508:
494:
488:
478:
469:
468:
458:
452:
445:
417:Marshal Puysegur
350:Eleventh Edition
287:Cornelius Celsus
220:
218:
142:
137:
128:Vegetius Renatus
111:(1250-1375 ca.,
33:
19:
18:
841:
840:
836:
835:
834:
832:
831:
830:
781:
780:
693:
664:
659:
658:
649:
645:
636:
632:
623:
619:
604:, ed. (1911). "
589:
587:
586:
573:
564:
560:
549:Rosenbaum, S; "
548:
544:
535:
531:
525:De re militaria
515:
511:
495:
491:
479:
472:
459:
455:
446:
442:
437:
363:Natural History
358:the elder Pliny
267:
261:
227:Valentinian III
215:
183:
135:
115:, pluteo 45.19)
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
839:
829:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
779:
778:
764:De re militari
760:
759:
748:
747:
736:
735:
731:De re militari
727:
723:De re militari
712:
711:
706:
697:De Re Militari
692:
691:External links
689:
688:
687:
681:
675:
663:
660:
657:
656:
643:
630:
617:
602:Chisholm, Hugh
571:
558:
542:
536:G. R. Watson,
529:
509:
489:
470:
453:
439:
438:
436:
433:
409:Justus Lipsius
283:Cato the Elder
265:De re militari
263:Main article:
260:
255:
251:agens in rebus
219: 379–395
199:Constantinople
182:
181:Dating of work
179:
158:De re militari
100:
99:
96:De re militari
92:
88:
87:
78:
74:
73:
68:
64:
63:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
44:4th century AD
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
838:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
788:
786:
776:
772:
769:
768:
767:
765:
758:
757:
753:
752:
751:
746:
745:
741:
740:
739:
733:
732:
728:
725:
724:
720:
719:
718:
717:
710:
707:
705:
702:
701:
700:
698:
685:
682:
679:
676:
673:
669:
666:
665:
653:
647:
640:
634:
627:
621:
613:
612:
607:
603:
598:
597:public domain
584:
582:
580:
578:
576:
568:
562:
556:
552:
546:
539:
533:
526:
522:
519:
513:
506:
503:
499:
493:
487:
486:1 85285 001 9
483:
477:
475:
466:
465:
457:
450:
444:
440:
432:
430:
426:
420:
418:
414:
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
393:
388:
384:
379:
377:
373:
372:Bono Giamboni
369:
365:
364:
359:
355:
351:
349:
343:
341:
337:
336:
331:
327:
322:
320:
316:
310:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
280:
275:
272:
266:
259:
254:
252:
248:
244:
243:primiscrinius
240:
236:
235:Theodosius II
232:
228:
224:
213:
209:
205:
200:
196:
192:
188:
178:
176:
172:
168:
165:, a guide to
164:
160:
159:
154:
150:
146:
141:
133:
129:
125:
121:
114:
110:
106:
98:
97:
93:
91:Notable works
89:
86:
82:
79:
75:
72:
69:
65:
62:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
761:
755:
749:
743:
737:
730:
722:
713:
696:
694:
683:
677:
671:
667:
662:Translations
651:
646:
641:, pp. xiiif.
638:
633:
625:
620:
609:
566:
561:
550:
545:
537:
532:
524:
520:
517:
512:
504:
501:
497:
492:
463:
456:
448:
443:
421:
390:
380:
375:
368:Jean de Meun
361:
347:
344:
333:
324:His book on
323:
311:
278:
276:
268:
257:
242:
212:Theodosius I
207:
194:
186:
184:
170:
162:
156:
152:
131:
127:
123:
119:
118:
109:Mulomedicina
108:
94:
71:Roman Empire
16:Roman author
429:Valentinian
425:Herculaneum
413:Renaissance
354:Middle Ages
195:subscriptio
149:4th century
130:, known as
67:Citizenship
785:Categories
435:References
340:Roman navy
326:siegecraft
269:Vegetius'
239:Merobaudes
223:Otto Seeck
714:From the
709:IntraText
654:, p. xiv.
628:, p. xiii
569:, pp. 25f
467:. Seidel.
401:Frontinus
291:Frontinus
175:Christian
83:affairs,
52:After 383
652:Vegetius
650:Milner,
639:Vegetius
637:Milner,
626:Vegetius
624:Milner,
606:Vegetius
565:Watson,
397:Polybius
383:Polybius
330:Medieval
299:Augustus
295:Paternus
132:Vegetius
81:Military
57:Language
23:Vegetius
599::
502:Phoenix
309:(1.8).
307:Hadrian
279:Epitoma
271:epitome
245:to the
191:Gratian
124:Flavius
120:Publius
77:Subject
593:
518:Hermes
484:
407:, but
403:, and
335:onager
305:, and
303:Trajan
231:Aetius
147:(late
136:Latin:
173:as a
61:Latin
726:N G.
482:ISBN
405:Livy
122:(or
49:Died
41:Born
608:".
360:'s
317:to
787::
574:^
521:11
505:33
473:^
399:,
342:.
321:.
301:,
293:,
289:,
285:,
253:.
217:r.
177:.
126:)
734:.
214:(
134:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
