Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Legions in Crisis

Paul Elliott's tome is the latest attempt to understand the third century. Legions in Crisis does a fair job, combining good insights with foolish old tales.
Elliott is an expert reconstructor of ancient armor. He is at his best explaining the transformation of Roman arms and equipment.
By the beginning of the third century, Roman soldiers had abandoned the traditional short sword, the gladius, and opted for the longer bladed spatha. At the same time, they began using spears. Noting the new weapons conferred a longer reach, Elliott attributes their adoption to the increased numbers of mounted enemies faced by the Romans. Longer swords and spears better enabled the legionaries to hit barbarian or Eastern horsemen.
The wars of Marcus Aurelius (c 161-80) indicated a need for change. At least one group of northern barbarians, the Iazyges, were mounted. So were the Parthians, who were troublesome at the time. Longer weapons enabled the Romans to deal with these threats.
Elliott is far better at discussing equipment than history. He uncritically repeats old lies about the fates of Gordian III and Valerian. In 244 CE, Roman soldiers allegedly murdered the emperor Gordian III. Strangely enough, they then built a cenotaph or monument for him. Elliott also appears to take the nonsense of Lactantius seriously. Lactantius was the christian author of De Mortibus Persecutorum (death of the persecutors). He had an obvious agenda--make it appear that Valerian, like other persecutors, suffered an awful fate. According to Lactantius, following his capture by Persia, Valerian was humiliated--made to get down on all fours so the Persian king could step on him as he mounted his horse. Later the emperor was supposedly skinned alive and stuffed like a trophy.
Even Gibbon knew better than to believe such stories. There is absolutely no corroboration for them in Persian sources. The latter were in the best position to know the truth, and they indicate Valerian was treated with respect.
For those primarily concerned with the development of Roman military paraphenalia, Legions in Crisis is a worthwhile read. But those seeking historical accuracy should turn elsewhere.