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Roman Legionary 109-58 BC: The Age of Marius, Sulla and Pompey the Great (Warrior) Paperback – November 21, 2017

by Ross Cowan (Author), Seán Ó’Brógáin (Illustrator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 63 ratings
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The Roman centurion, holding the legionaries steady before the barbarian horde and then leading them forward to victory, was the heroic exemplar of the Roman world. This was thanks to the Marian reforms, which saw the centurion, although inferior in military rank and social class, superseding the tribune as the legion's most important officer. This period of reform in the Roman Army is often overlooked, but the invincible armies that Julius Caesar led into Gaul were the refined products of 50 years of military reforms.

Using specially commissioned artwork and detailed battle reports, this new study examines the Roman legionary soldier at this crucial time in the history of the Roman Republic from its domination by Marius and Sulla to the beginning of the rise of Julius Caesar.

Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Warrior
  2. Print length
    64 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Osprey Publishing
  5. Publication date
    November 21, 2017
  6. Dimensions
    7.25 x 0.25 x 9.7 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1472825195
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1472825193
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Ross Cowan is a British author and historian. He is a specialist in Roman warfare and makes occasional forays into Scottish military history. For more information, and examples of his work, please visit http://independent.academia.edu/RossCowan

Seán Ó'Brógáin lives and works in Donegal, Ireland. He has a BA (Hons) in Scientific and Natural History illustration from Lancaster University and has worked for a wide range of clients. These include Manchester University, An Post, the National Museum of Ireland, the Irish Office of Public Works, as well for a variety media companies, museums, councils, and private individuals.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Osprey Publishing (November 21, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 64 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1472825195
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472825193
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 0.25 x 9.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 63 ratings

About the author

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Ross Cowan

Ross Cowan

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British. Inspired by David Gemmell. Sustained by classic rock and metal. Writes about Roman warriors. For examples of my work go to https://independent.academia.edu/RossCowan1

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
63 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Melanie "Vaxxed & Masked" Gilbert
5.0 out of 5 stars Conquest
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
The quote “let us watch well our beginnings and the results will manage themselves” certainly applies to the Roman legionnaires. The battle tactics they develop and deploy from 109-58 BC, under the leadership of Marius, Sulla, Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar serve them well over the next 300 years. From 58 BC to 324 AD, there are improvements and additions to weaponry, uniforms, transportation, organization, composition, and leadership, but the legionnaires role in the defense of the empire is set down in this period.

This book, then, provides the best overview of the battle readiness of the Roman Empire’s soldiers. Author Ross Cowan writes several subsequent volumes that build on the themes organized here with interesting supplementary detail in each edition, but this book is the map of the Romans military conquest by way of the foot soldier.

If you have time to only delve into one of Cowan’s books in the Roman Legionary series, make it this one. The combination of individual valor led by brilliant generals to form a singular, disciplined, and lethal fighting machine is what gave Rome the edge over all her enemies and conquered peoples. Cowan succinctly lays out the role that unit cohesiveness, superior arms, unparalleled training, and charismatic and visionary leaders made in creating an empire. His story is enhanced by outstanding graphics (I particularly liked the sections on slingshot and spear-throwing soldiers) and pictures of historical artifacts.

A lively and engaging book despite its 63 pages.
2 people found this helpful
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Dennis J. Ulrich
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2017
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Good, well written, only a few historical errors.
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Robert B. Lloyd
5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable and informative book
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2019
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book, it was extensively researched but very readable. It also had numerous photographs of artifacts and locations related to the discussion about the Roman military at that time. Finally I enjoyed how it discussed in depth how the soldiers trained and developed into an army.
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JPS
5.0 out of 5 stars Rome’s unruly Legionaries
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2018
The main thrust of this Warrior Osprey’s title from Ross Cowan is to show that the legionaries from the time of Marius to Caesar were not necessarily the superbly disciplined soldiers of modern popular imagination. It also shows that virtually all of the Roman generals of the time, including Marius, Sulla and Pompey, had to handle them with care and know when to be lenient and when to exact strict discipline. Some of them failed at doing so and consequently suffered mutinies or even loss of life. They could, however, be superb fighters and soldiers, through their rigorous training.

The author also explains the reasons for this apparent paradox, suggesting that they were essentially fighting for plunder rather than anything else and that a large proportion of them came from the poorer classes with little else to expect. As a consequence and as well shown in the book, one of the biggest challenges for Roman generals was to keep control of their troops once victory was theirs and, more precisely, to prevent them from pillaging and looting enemies defeated in the field or cities that were stormed. This was all the more difficult to achieve because general themselves made huge fortunes through war spoils and attempting to restrain their soldiers could make these suspect their general of waiting to keep most of the loot for themselves.

The related point he makes, by reviewing lengths of service in particular, is that at least some were becoming increasingly professionalised during what was essentially a period of transition between the citizen armies that had conquered most countries around the Mediterranean and what would become the full-time professionals of the early Empire under Augustus.

A related and very interesting point is the author’s explanations showing how some generals managed their legionaries better than others. This seems to boil down to their respective characters. Some generals were clearly more charismatic than others. In addition, some were ready to cajole them and were not above a bit of melodramatic theatre to rally them and require yet another “last effort”. Others, however, did not understand the need for this or, in the case of Lucullus in particular, were too proud to do so, believed that such theatrics were beneath them and were consequently unloved by their troops and had to face mutinies which they were unable to control.

These well-made points can be found spread across the book and as part of the various sections describing the main features associated with the roman legionary. These include pieces on recruitment and terms of service, which were in practice quite variable, the military oath and the soldier’s beliefs and belonging alongside interesting parts on training, equipment, organisation and campaign and battle. The illustrations are good and support the main text rather well. Five stars
9 people found this helpful
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studioprod.
2.0 out of 5 stars Missing illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is incomplete and misssing illustration. Different lists of the equites section are not accompanied by the illustrations listed. The editing is rather shoddy throughout.
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Top reviews from other countries

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William Sherman
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on March 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
Good book
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Caroff Pierre
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bon ouvrage très détaillé.
Reviewed in France on May 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
L'ouvrage est intéressant car il se base sur des textes historiques réels et référencés. Je le conseil bien entendu il faut maîtriser l'anglais.
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JPS
5.0 out of 5 stars Rome’s unruly Legionaries
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
The main thrust of this Warrior Osprey’s title from Ross Cowan is to show that the legionaries from the time of Marius to Caesar were not necessarily the superbly disciplined soldiers of modern popular imagination. It also shows that virtually all of the Roman generals of the time, including Marius, Sulla and Pompey, had to handle them with care and know when to be lenient and when to exact strict discipline. Some of them failed at doing so and consequently suffered mutinies or even loss of life. They could, however, be superb fighters and soldiers, through their rigorous training.

The author also explains the reasons for this apparent paradox, suggesting that they were essentially fighting for plunder rather than anything else and that a large proportion of them came from the poorer classes with little else to expect. As a consequence and as well shown in the book, one of the biggest challenges for Roman generals was to keep control of their troops once victory was theirs and, more precisely, to prevent them from pillaging and looting enemies defeated in the field or cities that were stormed. This was all the more difficult to achieve because general themselves made huge fortunes through war spoils and attempting to restrain their soldiers could make these suspect their general of waiting to keep most of the loot for themselves.

The related point he makes, by reviewing lengths of service in particular, is that at least some were becoming increasingly professionalised during what was essentially a period of transition between the citizen armies that had conquered most countries around the Mediterranean and what would become the full-time professionals of the early Empire under Augustus.

A related and very interesting point is the author’s explanations showing how some generals managed their legionaries better than others. This seems to boil down to their respective characters. Some generals were clearly more charismatic than others. In addition, some were ready to cajole them and were not above a bit of melodramatic theatre to rally them and require yet another “last effort”. Others, however, did not understand the need for this or, in the case of Lucullus in particular, were too proud to do so, believed that such theatrics were beneath them and were consequently unloved by their troops and had to face mutinies which they were unable to control.

These well-made points can be found spread across the book and as part of the various sections describing the main features associated with the roman legionary. These include pieces on recruitment and terms of service, which were in practice quite variable, the military oath and the soldier’s beliefs and belonging alongside interesting parts on training, equipment, organisation and campaign and battle. The illustrations are good and support the main text rather well. Five stars
2 people found this helpful
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jose luis
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno,como todos los titulos sobre las Legiones Romanas de esta editorial.
Reviewed in Spain on March 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
me a gustado sus ilustraciones y como explica la vida del Legionario de esa epoca.Las fotos tambien son buenas y aclaran algunas cosas sobre la epoca
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Yi Wen
4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good Read
Reviewed in Canada on December 29, 2018
Verified Purchase
Overall a pretty good read. There isn't as much excitement as similar books about other Roman eras
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