Exercitus Moesiae: The Roman Army in Moesia from Augustus to Severus Alexander

This book is a military organisational history of the Roman Empire on the lower Danube from the emperor Augustus (r. 27 BC-AD 14) to the emperor Severus Alexander (r. AD 222-235). Using a diverse body of evidence, from Roman military diplomas to funerary inscriptions and literary sources, the book looks at changes in troop disposition involving the legions, auxiliary units, the vexillations and the naval units based in Moesia Superior and Inferior, and around the northern and western coasts of the Black Sea. The book also examines the emplacement of the region's units, and contextualises both the disposition of troops and their emplacement in terms of regional strategy and the strategy of the empire as a whole. Besides the discussion and analysis, the book also includes detailed maps of the region and useful tables that summarise the results.5pt;font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana'>

Table of Contents:
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION The Topic The Physical Geography of the Moesias Methodology and Evidence Methodology Evidence Literary Evidence Material Evidence Epigraphic Evidence Unit Names Modern Scholarship on the Roman Military The Organisation of the Roman Military The Roman Military and the Lower Danube Chapter Organisation PART I: THE DATA CHAPTER 1: The Lower Danube from 27 BC to AD 81 Introduction Background: Military History Augustus Nero The Year of the Four Emperors and Vespasian Troop Movements from Augustus to Titus Legions Julio-Claudian Dynasty Auxiliae The Evidence from the Diplomata Poorly Attested Flavian Dynasty Auxilia Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 2: The Lower Danube from AD 81 to AD 161 Introduction Background: Military History Domitian Trajan Hadrian and Antoninus Pius Legions from Domitian through Antoninus Pius Auxiliae: Moesia Superior Domitian Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Auxiliae: Moesia Inferior Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 3: The Lower Danube from AD 161 to AD 235 Introduction Background: Military History Marcus Aurelius Commodus Exercitus Moesiae Septimius Severus to Severus Alexander Troop Movements from Marcus Aurelius to Severus Alexander Legions Auxiliae: Moesia Superior Auxiliae: Moesia Inferior Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 4: Vexillations and the Black Sea Introduction Vexillations General The Lower Danube The Black Sea Moesian Land-Based Soldiers on the Black Sea The First Century Tyras and Olbia Chersonesus and the Crimea The Moesian Navy Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 5: Troop Emplacement in the Moesias Introduction Legions The Legions from Augustus to Titus The Legions from Domitian to Antoninus Pius The Legions from Marcus Aurelius to Severus Alexander Auxiliaries Introduction Moesia Moesia Superior Moesia Inferior Vexillations Troop Emplacement and Logistics Concluding Thoughts PART II: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CHAPTER 6: Rome's Strategy on the Lower Danube Roman Strategy The Size and Strength of the Moesian Army The Moesian Strategy Moesian Military Units and the Wider Roman Empire Concluding Thoughts CONCLUSION: The Value of Traditional Roman Military History APPENDIX 1: Summary Tables of Legions and Auxiliary Units APPENDIX 2: List of all the Military Units Based in Moesia APPENDIX 3: List of Moesian Diplomas APPENDIX 4: List of Ancient Sources Used APPENDIX 5: The Numeri APPENDIX 6: Maps BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

About the Author :
Conor Whately is an associate professor of Classics at the University of Winnipeg. He has published book reviews, encyclopaedia entries, journal articles and book chapters on various aspects of Rome at war from Augustus to Heraclius. His first book examines battle narrative in Procopius5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana'>.

Review :
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION The Topic The Physical Geography of the Moesias Methodology and Evidence Methodology Evidence Literary Evidence Material Evidence Epigraphic Evidence Unit Names Modern Scholarship on the Roman Military The Organisation of the Roman Military The Roman Military and the Lower Danube Chapter Organisation PART I: THE DATA CHAPTER 1: The Lower Danube from 27 BC to AD 81 Introduction Background: Military History Augustus Nero The Year of the Four Emperors and Vespasian Troop Movements from Augustus to Titus Legions Julio-Claudian Dynasty Auxiliae The Evidence from the Diplomata Poorly Attested Flavian Dynasty Auxilia Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 2: The Lower Danube from AD 81 to AD 161 Introduction Background: Military History Domitian Trajan Hadrian and Antoninus Pius Legions from Domitian through Antoninus Pius Auxiliae: Moesia Superior Domitian Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Auxiliae: Moesia Inferior Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 3: The Lower Danube from AD 161 to AD 235 Introduction Background: Military History Marcus Aurelius Commodus Exercitus Moesiae Septimius Severus to Severus Alexander Troop Movements from Marcus Aurelius to Severus Alexander Legions Auxiliae: Moesia Superior Auxiliae: Moesia Inferior Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 4: Vexillations and the Black Sea Introduction Vexillations General The Lower Danube The Black Sea Moesian Land-Based Soldiers on the Black Sea The First Century Tyras and Olbia Chersonesus and the Crimea The Moesian Navy Concluding Thoughts CHAPTER 5: Troop Emplacement in the Moesias Introduction Legions The Legions from Augustus to Titus The Legions from Domitian to Antoninus Pius The Legions from Marcus Aurelius to Severus Alexander Auxiliaries Introduction Moesia Moesia Superior Moesia Inferior Vexillations Troop Emplacement and Logistics Concluding Thoughts PART II: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CHAPTER 6: Rome's Strategy on the Lower Danube Roman Strategy The Size and Strength of the Moesian Army The Moesian Strategy Moesian Military Units and the Wider Roman Empire Concluding Thoughts CONCLUSION: The Value of Traditional Roman Military History APPENDIX 1: Summary Tables of Legions and Auxiliary Units APPENDIX 2: List of all the Military Units Based in Moesia APPENDIX 3: List of Moesian Diplomas APPENDIX 4: List of Ancient Sources Used APPENDIX 5: The Numeri APPENDIX 6: Maps BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX