Legionary: The Roman Soldier's [Unofficial] Manual

Един древен еврейски цар е казал за тогавашните най-големи врагове на държавата му: "Римската битка е като строева подготовка, само с добавена кръв.".

Наистина, римската армия разчита не толкова на по-доброто оръжие, броня, численост или иновативна стратегия, за да побеждава всевъзможни противници по всички краища на света - точно обратното, римляните са скучни, предвидими, често са значително по-малко на show more брой... но е невъзможно да спреш военнта им машина, разполагаща легион след легион отлично тренирани, добре екипирани войници с нечувана за времето си прецизност и организация.

Римската армия (след реформите на Марий и особено след Октавиан Август) въвежда за пръв път много основополагащи и за днешните армии практики: многобройна професионална армия, близка до днешната командна и организационна структура, определен брой години за прослужване, пенсия след успешно уволнение, издигане на строевата подготовка в култ, издигане на логистиката на придвижване, на изграждане на временни фортификации и на снабдяване до важна (дори по-важна от боя) част от военното изкуство, стандартизирана екипировка и т.н.

В типичния си стил, проф. Матишак използва общодостъпен език, за да опише различните аспекти на римската военна машина и да ни помогне да си представим какво би било да си легионер в различните краища на империята преди две хиляди години.

Това, което може би ще ви направи впечатление е неочакваният (но логичен) факт, че през по-голямата част от времето си легионерите не участват в бойни действия - дори могат да минат десетилетия преди някой легион да види битка или да тръгне на кампания. През повечето време легионите изпълняват различни цивилни задачи, като "опазване на мира", изграждане на пътища, конвоиране на търговци, лов на бандити и т.н. show less

This is an outstanding book.

Phillip Matyzak holds a doctorate in Ancient Roman history. This has not prevented him from producing an enjoyable one-volume overview of the Roman Imperial Army.

As in his earlier books, 'Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day' and 'Ancient Greece on Five Drachmas a Day', Matyszak has taken a solidly researched guidebook and made it highly readable with a healthy dose of humor. Written in the style of a manual intended for the potential enlistee or long-on-training, short-on-practical-exprience new soldier ca 100 CE, 'Legionary' is an excellent summary of Rome's land and sea forces, allies, enemies, tactics, weapons, and personalities. What elevates the book over similar volumes is the author's somewhat show more conversational style of writing, suggesting one's veteran uncle or older brother answering a younger relative's pointed questions.

The facts are solid, the text is fun, and the illustrations fantastic (a healthy helping of period imagery, Osprey Men-at Arms-style illustrations, and superb color photographs of the UK's legendary Ermine Street Guard reenactors).

All-in-all, 'Legionary' is a must have reference work for the library of the serious student, reenactor, modeler or lay reader alike. show less

This is an excellent book.

It is written like a handbook, or users guide, for a potential recruit who would be interested in joining a Roman Legion. It's slightly reminiscent of the "Dummies" or "Complete Idiots Guide" type of books, and it really works well here.

The layout of the book was nicely thought out. It has many excellent illustrations of the activities being described, statues, battle formations, etc.
It is also written in a well encapsulated way. There is a fine touch of humor to the proceedings.

I found the subject matter endlessly fascinating. Here are a few quotes taken from the book:

"Join the legions, see the world, travel to foreign parts, meet interesting and exotic people, and disembowel them."

Paraphrased:
"A set of show more male genitalia required:
Some will be pleased to know that Trajan recently decreed that those who have lost but a single testicle can still serve. "

Description of a statue:
"Centurion proudly displaying the distinctive transverse crest on his helmet.....and in one hand he carries the vitis, his vine-stick for whacking legionaries"

One chapter is titled "People who will want to kill you".

Highly recommended for a fun romp through some ancient history. show less

A breezy manual dedicated to the new recruit, to help him into his twenty year enlistment with minimal fuss. A lot of information derived from archaeology and literary research, and well worth the effort, if you wish to sympathize with the other ranks of the fearsome military assemblage.

Matyszak hits the nail on the head again. I haven't read one of his books that I didn't like. This one is, like the others, well-researched, packed with facts, funny and fun to read -- a good book for trying to get people to like history. I do believe he has become one of my favorite nonfiction writers.

A very readable look at the life of the Roman soldier, from enlistment to retirement, training to battle, and all the little details in between. My knowledge of Roman history is spotty, but the author provides enough context that I'm not lost. (And many of the quotations suggest that soldiers are the same, whatever the era....)

A very fun book with vivid descriptions of the everyday life in the Roman legions. For anyone interested in Roman warfare.