A Military Life of Constantine the Great
by Ian Hughes
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Description
A new analysis of the strengths, organization, weapons, and tactics of the Roman army Constantine inherited and his military reforms. Much of Constantine I's claim to lasting fame rests upon his sponsorship of Christianity, and many works have been published assessing whether his apparent conversion was a real religious experience or a cynical political maneuver. However, his path to sole rule of the Roman Empire depended more upon the ruthless application of military might than upon his show more espousal of Christianity. He fought numerous campaigns, many against Roman rivals for Imperial power, most famously defeating Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. In this new study, Ian Hughes assesses whether Constantine would have deserved the title "the Great" for his military achievements alone, or whether the epithet depends upon the gratitude of Christian historians. All of Constantine's campaigns are narrated and his strategic and tactical decisions analyzed. The organization, strengths, and weaknesses of the Roman army he inherited are described and the effect of both his and his predecessors' reforms discussed. The result is a fresh analysis of this pivotal figure in European history from a military perspective. show lessTags
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164 works; 1 member
Author Information
10+ Works 404 Members
Ian Hughes specializes in Late Roman history and is the author of Belisarius: The Last Roman General (2009), Stilicho: the Vandal Who Saved Rome (2010), Aetius: Atilla's Nemesis (2012) and Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople (2013). A former teacher whose hobbies include football, wargaming and restoring electric show more guitars, he lives near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. show less
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Constantine the Great
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 937.080924 — History & geography History of ancient world (to ca. 499) Italian Peninsula to 476 and adjacent territories to 476 Absolute 284-476 A.D.
- LCC
- DG315 .H844 — History of Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania City History of Italy Ancient Italy. Rome to 476 History By period Empire, 27 B.C. - 476 A.D. 284-476. Decline and fall
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 19
- Popularity
- 1,333,226
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
