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Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual (Unofficial Manuals)

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Philip Matyszak seems to be applying for the lifetime achievement award in the category of "How To Write For a General Audience." His latest entry, Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual, is a successful attempt to translate the minutiae of Roman military studies for those who may not have any prior exposure to the subject. This informative yet exceedingly entertaining read will endear itself greatly to the student looking for a friendly introduction to the mystique of the legions.

The work is structured in organization and tone much like two of Matyszak's previous books, Ancient Rome on 5 Denarii a Day and Ancient Athens on 5 Drachma a Day. The conceit of the book is that it is written as if the reader actually were living in ancient times. In this case, the timeframe is during the reign of Trajan, at the height of the empire and its military glory, and just before the emperor's famous Dacian campaigns. The reader is presumed to be a Roman subject about to enter martial service; hence the title of the work, which really does come across as a handy how-to manual. The narrator is presented for the most part as a grizzled old veteran relaying his key experience to new recruits. However, the narrator is also somehow blessed by the gods with knowledge of both Rome's earliest past as well as the distant future, affording a broader historical perspective when necessary.

Chapter one concerns itself with actual recruitment, giving the criterion needed to serve in Rome's legions and what the recruit can expect the first few days. Chapter two outlines a historical overview of the Roman military from the days of the citizen-soldier to its "modern" professional incarnation, and gives a run down on the status of each of the empire's existing legions under Trajan. Chapter three provides a look at alternative forms of military service: cavalry for dandies, the auxilia for non-citizens, the praetorian guard for the fortunate Italian, and the Navy for those who prefer oaring to soldiering.

The next chapter discusses the various items, weapons and pieces of armor the legionary will come to know in his two decades of service. Chapter five looks at training, discipline and rank structure. A low down on the empire's various enemies, and their respective strengths and weaknesses, concerns chapter six.

The next two chapters discuss in turn the typical routine of camp life, and the lay of a campaign. The next three chapters delve into the fascinating nitty-gritty of laying siege to a city, hacking one's way through a battle, and the aftermath of a battle, including possibly a triumph and eventual discharge.

It should be noted that while everything presented is factual, this is by no means a dry study. The author will give you some very condign and practical advice in every item under discussion. For instance, in discussing the empire's Judean opponents, who could disprove of such wisdom as: "If you must kill a Jewish rioter, do so with full respect for his religious sensibilities." And also: "Try to fight Jewish religious fanatics on the Sabbath. They still haven't completely figured out what to do about this."

The prose, as hinted above, is as witty as it is erudite, lending itself to an easy read by someone of any background. Legionary has a broad visual appeal as well. There are 92 illustrations, 31 of them in color. You will find drawings of weapons, illustrations of camp life, and photos of legionary reenactments. There is also a map of the Roman Empire, a glossary of terms, a recommendation for further reading, and an index.

I've always been interested in ancient Rome ever since I was young, and watched the splendid BBC series I, Claudius. That love affair has been carried on through the decades with plenty of books, films on both the big screen and television, and whatever I could find about the topic. So it was only natural that this rather humourous look at the life of the typical Roman legionary would wander into my eager hands.

Philip Matyszak, a long-time author on topics based around Rome and her armies, now has come out with a little book that takes a close look at the day-to-day life of the common soldier. Titled Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual, this is a lode of information, crammed full of drawings, maps, photographs of ancient finds and art, and a wry sense of humour.

Basing the narrative around the year 100 CE, Matyszak begins with what is the Roman army, and who and where the typical recruit came from. What I found very interesting was that there were very specific requirements for those entering military service -- they had to be citizens, of a certain height, in possession of all their body parts in good working order and come with a letter of recommendation. Slaves, eunuchs, and women were barred from military service, for obvious reasons. And once he took an oath of service, the recruit was part of a vast organization that stretched over most of modern Europe, the British Isles and Northern Africa and the Mideast.

Successive chapters look at the various ranks within the army -- while officers had the privilege of command, it was the centurions that the legionary feared, much as a modern soldier tends to be wary of sergeants. And namely, how those recruits trained -- with a lot of marching and digging -- under the watchful eyes of a centurion or two. There are brief descriptions of the various legions and lore about where they were stationed, along with other branches of the Roman army such as the cavalry, auxiliaries -- mostly local troops, and open to noncitizens -- and the navy.

Next up is looking at the kit and gear that a legionary would be living with, along with the training in how to use those weapons. For the legionary life could be pretty boring in the barracks, and so the clever centurions came up with the ideas of endless marching, drilling and cleaning to occupy a bored soldier's time. Of course, every now and then there would be excursions into the countryside to put down the odd rebellion or two, or to let the local population know that there was a well-trained military nearby to quell any thoughts of leaving the loving protection of Rome.

Then there are the campaigns and battles that a typical legionary might face. One chapter alone is dedicated to the art of siege, with Julius Caesar's siege of Alesia being one shining example. And if a legion was fortunate enough, there could even be a triumph in Rome itself, the pinnacle of both a general and legions success.

What made this book really work for me was the sheer detail that is crammed in here. The writing style is crisp, with a generous slathering of humour and a very sardonic look at Roman officers -- the section on the various barbarians ready to pounce outside of Rome's borders is a treat to read about. Besides all of the black and white illustrations in the text, there are also two colour inserts of photographs and drawings. The first one has drawings in colour of showing legionaries at various activities and the like, while the second one is of a modern re-enactment group that is based around a Roman Legion. This one was a real help, as seeing actual people in actual armor and gear and battle formations does help to give a sense of what the real thing might have been like. The book has at the end, a map of the Roman Empire, suggestions for further reading (all contemporary chronicles about the army from Roman authors), sources for the illustrations, and an index.

Summing up, if your interest is ancient Roman, this is a great little guide about life in the army. If you've enjoyed the HBO miniseries about Rome, or if you have read Colleen McCullough's excellent series about the end of the Roman Republic, then you're going to want this book for your collection. It helped me fill in a few gaps, gave me quite a few laughs, and has spurred me on to read more about Rome's armies.

All in all, a great read and worth seeking out. Four stars overall. Recommended.

This informative, entertaining, and often laugh-out-loud book is the Roman legionary of 100 AD's equivalent of the Boy Scout Fieldbook - but with a lot more gore and rough edges and a lot less couth. The author, tongue planted firmly in cheek (Tacitus meets Lindsey Davis), tells the prospective recruit everything he needs to know about Roman military life - qualifications for enlistment, various military careers, equipment, training and military organization. Just so the recruit doesn't get bored with endless training, polishing armor, digging ditches, latrine duty, road-building, construction projects, and discipline, he has something to look forward to - battles! He will learn about all the people who will want to kill him in various unpleasant ways, camp and campaign life, and besieging cities. If he is very lucky and lives long enough, he may take part in a great victory and get to go back to Rome and participate in a triumph and receive honors and a share of the loot. If he lives through the term of his enlistment he can retire on a pension and maybe even a grant of some land to farm.

The author begins each chapter with a short bit of military wisdom such as: "We were against the cream of the Gallic army. The odds were a thousand to one. But he was a very tough Gaul." He goes on to give useful advice. A good fit for your helmet is vital because "Convex internal protrusions become concave indentations in the skull." "To the average legionary, all centurions are dolori posteriori...." "No combat-ready soldiers will pass an inspection. No inspection-ready soldiers will pass combat."

Do not underestimate this book as lightweight or superficial. It is incredibly well researched and organized, clearly written, and includes many short excerpts from original source writings on Roman warfare by Tacitus, Julius Caesar, Josephus, Frontinus and many others. It is lavishly illustrated with drawings and photographs, many of which are color plates of authentically dressed and equipped re-enactors doing all of the typical legionary activities. Convenient aids included for the reader are an excellent glossary, a bibliography, index and a map of the Roman Empire showing where the legions were stationed in 100 AD. Finally, you will amaze your friends with your skill at Roman numerals if you study the page numbers.

This book may be one of the few places the reader who doesn't know much about military history can get a clear and simple explanation of the history, structure and organization of the Roman legions - a great help for anyone studying the history of the period or who enjoys reading historical novels. I wish I had had it when I took Greek and Roman history in college. In addition, adult scouters may find the Roman methods of managing hordes of barbarian warriors useful in running Camporees or Summer Camps.

This book is a great introduction to the Roman Army. It's written with great verve and humor. When you begin to read the book, it's impossible to put down. You get an excellent idea of what life would be like in the Roman army.
The writer shows you the entry requirments for the army. You can't help thinking to yourself whether you'd be allowed to join. He describes what life on campaign would be like, and how Roman military camps would be set up. You also get a brief description in the best way to fight Rome's enemies.
The author also gives a basic introduction to Roman military tactics. This done in an accessable way. By the time you have finished this book, you come away with a greater knowledge of not just military history but Roman history in general.
This book is also great value for money. Ultimately, this is a must read book if you want to know more about the Roman army.

I am certain that reading this entertaining and informative book offers a lot more fun than the life of a legionary offered to the original cast. However, I suspect that those in the ranks of Rome's legions who could read and write would have greatly appreciated this "Soldier's Handbook" intended for anyone interested in Rome and its soldiers. Author Philip Matyszak masterfully blends history and humor as he describes how to be a Roman legionary in less than 200 pages, supported by some 90 illustrations including 30 in color.

In the first three chapters he tells the reader how to become a Roman legionary and describes his "career" options in Roman military service. Over the next several chapters he discusses life in the legions - the soldier's equipment and what was expected of him, as well as what he could expect if he failed meet the expectations of his commanders! The final chapters describe what a legionary might experience in combat on the battlefield or during a siege, having already listed the enemies of Rome that he would face on that field and each one's unique set of skills and capabilities in combat against Rome.

This is a history book and a geography text, and draws upon the latest archaeological work to present a comprehensive view of life in the Roman legions. The main text is accompanied by a glossary and a list of recommended original Roman authors and their writings on the Roman military and their wars. The author also draws on these listed works for the quotes and excerpts with which he presents the various chapters. Legionary is a great introductory text for anyone interested in Rome and not just its armies as well as a handy reference guide for even the expert.

This book starts with the premise that Rome of 100 AD is alive and well and that you, the reader, are interested in joining the Legions that Defend Our Empire. This "manual" promises to give the prospective recruit the information he needs to make an informed choice and proceeds to do just that. It takes you from "how to enlist", through the training process, getting your uniforms and kit, helpful hints on how to get along in the legion, how the legion is organized and fed and supplied, who you will probably be fighting (those darned Dacians are the most likely right now) and ends with your retirement and its attendant benefits.

Overall, a lot of fun and very informative. I would consider signing up if I weren't already much too old and not a Roman Citizen.

Steve Thickstun

a really nice read. I'd suggest this to provide a framework for the period supplemented with some more specialized books such as
1) Travel in the ancient world, lionel casson
2) Ancient Siege Warfare, paul kern
3) The roman soldier, g.r. watson
4) Gladiator, fik meijer
5) Greek Roman and GByzantine Studies, [...]

How can you not like a book that introduces each chapter with an aphorism in Latin. One of my favorites:

si duo imperata se repugnantia simul tibi faciuntur ambo sequere

(when you receive two contradictory orders, obey them both)

This is a fun read on its own but it's also helps give context to more erudite books on the subject.

This book is a great reference book on the life of a soldier in the Roman Army. It is easily written and describes various duties and aspects of different vocations within the Roman Army. Descriptions of Roman Navy, Infantry, Cavalry, Garrison, Praetorian, and Auxilliaries. Daily life, living conditions, wages, terms of service, tactics, construction, seige weapons, enlistment, armor and weapons care, Duty stations throughout the empire and the soldiers life all explained in great detail. The illustrations in this book are excellent, black and white ink drawings with great detail. I'm an artist myself and the art is fantastic. No boring black and white photos of ancient roman architecture, or sculptures of Roman soldiers! That gets really old! Also ,some excellent color pictures of reinactors. This book is packed full of useful, interesting information about the Roman Armed Forces. It will make a great reference to have on your shelf. I would say it's the best book on the Roman Army I've read and I have read many.

Nothing too new, if you've read other works. I wonder about certain claims, the Roman Army arising at "0.Dark-30" to begin its day, is this a substantiated claim or simply transferring modern practice into the past?

All-in-all, a fun and informative read.

This is a surprisingly solid and accurate overview of the Roman army c. AD 100 for a book written in such a breezy, tongue-in-cheek style (which I loved). The illustrations--both line drawings and reenactment photographs--are very nice and generally accurate and provide a wonderful complement to the text, which packs in a surprising amount of detail for its brevity. Are there more encyclopedic books out there? Yes. Is this a good book for an overview of the Roman Republican (or later Imperial) army? No, and it's not meant to be. But it does what it sets out to do quite well.

I have a few small criticisms:

1) The assertion that it's "unusual" that Roman stabbing swords didn't have a fuller ("blood runnel" in the text, and I would like that phrase stricken from the English language). It is a thoroughly debunked myth that lack of a fuller will create a vacuum seal upon stabbing. What fullers actually do is create a lighter, possibly more flexible, stiffer-feeling blade without sacrificing too much strength--they're simply a technological innovation in bladesmithing, and as such, not universal.

2) Since the book focuses on the Roman army c. AD 100, the section on the "Picts" is misleading. The term "Picti" does not appear until late in the 4th century. Prior to that, the Romans referred to many (but not necessarily all) British tribes north of Hadrian's Wall as "Caledonii" (Caledonians).

3) I would personally have liked a little more information on command structure, especially in the auxiliaries, and perhaps a little mention of numeri and foederati, but I suppose there was only so much space, and we know even less about those than about the auxiliaries.

Overall, though, a really fine introduction to the Imperial Roman army, an entertaining read, and worthwhile for the illustrations alone to those who like the visualizing aids.