In the original dust jacket. Orange cloth binding with gilt title on the spine.

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Condition: Antiquarian. Thames & Hudson, London, First Edition 256p. Bound with dust wrps. Nice copy. ‘This is essentially a study of the lower ranks in the army, from Augustus to diocletian. It is well written and eminently readable. For the classicist, and especially the ancient historian, with only a moderate knowledge of military history in detail, the author has a pleasing habit of producing pieces of information of considerable general importance. (.) Throughout the author shows a keen sense of period and avoids the usual misleading composite picture of the Roman army, which ignores the constant changes of detail which in time meant substantial alterations in many aspects of military life and organization. On the whole he also manages to avoid the common temptation to consider one period as classic.’ 

The Roman army (Latin: exercitus Romanus) was the armed forces deployed by the Romans throughout the duration of Ancient Rome, from the Roman Kingdom (753 BC–509 BC) to the Roman Republic (509 BC–27 BC) and the Roman Empire (27 BC–476 AD), and its medieval continuation, the Eastern Roman Empire. It is thus a term that may span approximately 2,206 years (753 BC–1453 AD), during which the Roman armed forces underwent numerous permutations in size, composition, organisation, equipment and tactics, while conserving a core of lasting traditions.