Customer Reviews

BARBARIANS AGAINST ROME Rome's Celtic, Germanic, Spanish and Gallic Enemies

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This volume is a synthesis of earlier Osprey Men-at-Arms titles on Rome's barbarian enemies. It is composed of three chapters: one on the Germans and Dacians, one on the Gallic and British Celts and one on Spanish armies. The time period covered varies from chapter to chapter; the first covers the largest period, from about 400 BC to 476 AD, the second focuses on 115 BC to 84 AD and the last deals with 218 to 133 BC.

The first chapter, on the Germans and Dacians, is probably the least informative. Although there are plenty of illustrations of weapons, helmets and shields, there is precious little information on either actual campaigns or the real nature of these enemies. The Teutoberg disaster in AD 9 and Germanicus' subsequent retribution campaigns are glossed over in a single paragraph. Although information on these operations is not overly-abundant, the Roman historian Tacitus certainly provides enough material to add greater depth here. The Dacian campaigns of the 2nd Century AD also remain murky. A high quality color map, showing terrain and possible routes would have helped greatly.

The second chapter, on the Celts and the Gauls, provides better detail on the structure of their societies, as well as plenty of information on weapons and equipment. The Cimbrian Wars of 115-102 BC are fairly well covered but Caesar's well-recorded campaigns in Gaul are regurgitated in sterile fashion, with no supporting maps or diagrams. The final dramatic siege of Alesia certainly deserves a map and artwork. Nor is there much detail on Queen Boudicca's revolt, including a lack of any artist plates.

The third chapter, on Spanish armies, was clearly the best written. The author not only provides the standard information on weapons and equipment, but examines the impact of the Hispanic Wars on Rome. The author provides excellent analysis that these under-examined wars in Spain placed Rome in a painful dilemma. On the one hand, Spain had plentiful resources for Rome to loot or tax; in 200 BC alone, the Romans removed over 2,400 pounds of gold and 44,000 pounds of silver. On the other hand, the fanatical guerrilla-style resistance of the Spanish tribes to Roman rule were extremely costly and embarassing to the Roman army. The author estimates that the Roman population in Spain actually declined by about 65,000 between 153-133 BC. The author provides two well-written campaign summaries to illustrate the nature of the war in Spain: the campaigns of Viriatus (147-139 BC) and the Numantine Wars (153-133 BC). Unlike the earlier chapters, the author here provides useful sketches and diagrams on the siege of Numantia. There are also useful sections on Hispanic cavalry and Balaeric slingers. The only flaw in this chapter is the over-use of photographs of broken pottery fragments to illustrate some aspects of equipment. To me, all I see is pieces of broken pottery with scratch marks on them, not proper illustrations.

Taken as a whole, this volume is a useful synopsis of the most important western barbarian tribes that opposed Roman hegemony. Unfortunately, Osprey has merely glued three separate volumes together but failed to provide proper editing or any value-added products, such as high quality maps or new artwork. Thus, if you already own the original Men-at-Arms titles, there is no reason to purchase this volume. However if you do not, then this volume is a useful addition for anyone interested in Roman warfare.