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The concept of a legionary fortress as a permanent structure dates from the reign of Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). It is only from that time that we find a standing army distributed around the empire, and their permanent fortresses developed from the temporary field fortifications of the legions on campaign. This book describes the development, design and construction of these fortresses throughout the length and breadth of the Empire. It also deals extensively with the experience of life within a typical fortress and covers the operational history of these fortifications, including the famous siege of Vetera in AD 69.
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The Roman army had a long tradition of constructing fortified encampments while on campaign. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The Roman army had a long tradition of constructing fortified encampments while on campaign. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are thinking of buying a great introduction to the Roman fort then this book is your best bet. Duncan Campbell looks the evolution of the Roman fort, from the earliest marching camps of the Legions, to the small but formidable forts of the late empire.
The author also looks at the typical buildings, walls and other features of the Roman fort. These include sections on the defences, the headquarters, granaries, hospitals, workshops and baths. He makes good use of archaeological reconstructions in these sections, showing us how the fort operated.
But what about living in the fort? He also gives us a snapshot view of life in the Roman fort, with looks at the Commander's house, the tribunes' houses and the barrack blocks.
I was glad to see that the Late Roman fort was given a look, as these are usually ignored in other books. Although it was not as detailed as I would have liked, I still enjoyed this short section.
Brian Delf provides some good colour plates, showing us reconstructive paintings of walls, barrack rooms and cutaways of the fort's baths. Photographs and maps are also included.
This book is by no means an in-depth look at the subject, but it is a brilliant introduction. Highly recommended!
The author also looks at the typical buildings, walls and other features of the Roman fort. These include sections on the defences, the headquarters, granaries, hospitals, workshops and baths. He makes good use of archaeological reconstructions in these sections, showing us how the fort operated.
But what about living in the fort? He also gives us a snapshot view of life in the Roman fort, with looks at the Commander's house, the tribunes' houses and the barrack blocks.
I was glad to see that the Late Roman fort was given a look, as these are usually ignored in other books. Although it was not as detailed as I would have liked, I still enjoyed this short section.
Brian Delf provides some good colour plates, showing us reconstructive paintings of walls, barrack rooms and cutaways of the fort's baths. Photographs and maps are also included.
This book is by no means an in-depth look at the subject, but it is a brilliant introduction. Highly recommended!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Roman Fortresses, a worthy addition to your Roman military library
14 May 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Roman Legionary Fortresses 27 BC-AD 378, by Duncan B Campbell, Illustrated by Brian Delf is recently published by the folks at 'Osprey' as a part of their "Fortress" series. ISBN 1-84176-895-2. There are 27 B&W photos, 16 color photos, 14 line drawings and 6 color plates and 2 color maps, not including the covers.
This is a good starter for people wanting to know about the Roman fortresses of the legions. Not only are there many different locations, with some nice photos, but there is a wealth of information about different positions, time periods, and legion deployments contained in this work. I enjoy the idea that it is not Anglo-centric, and covers Roman Fortresses from Scotland to Egypt, with a good deal of mention being given to the forces and forts in the Danube region.
I didn't see anything outstandingly controversial, or even 'jump in your face' new, but the work brings together a lot of different material from various sources in a concise and well written primer on Roman Fortresses. Unlike many of the modern speculative works so popular in recent publications, we have facts and a brief bibliography, and actual references are given in the body of the work.
Even though this is published by 'Osprey' it weighs in as a must add to my collection, and is informative and enjoyable to the serious student of the topic, as well as the dilettante.
This is a good starter for people wanting to know about the Roman fortresses of the legions. Not only are there many different locations, with some nice photos, but there is a wealth of information about different positions, time periods, and legion deployments contained in this work. I enjoy the idea that it is not Anglo-centric, and covers Roman Fortresses from Scotland to Egypt, with a good deal of mention being given to the forces and forts in the Danube region.
I didn't see anything outstandingly controversial, or even 'jump in your face' new, but the work brings together a lot of different material from various sources in a concise and well written primer on Roman Fortresses. Unlike many of the modern speculative works so popular in recent publications, we have facts and a brief bibliography, and actual references are given in the body of the work.
Even though this is published by 'Osprey' it weighs in as a must add to my collection, and is informative and enjoyable to the serious student of the topic, as well as the dilettante.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Excellent Source
6 Dec 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This title in the Osprey fortress series examines the fortified camps of the Roman legionaries, many of which gradually evolved into complete townships. It covers the Roman era from the foundation of the Empire to the Battle of Adrianople (378), but it suffers the typical tendency of overlooking the 3rd and 4th Centuries, focusing largely on the era between Augustus and Domitian.
Like all titles in this series, this book is very powerful visually. In addition to 7 fine color plates by Brian Delf, it also contains several maps and numerous photographs, some of which, unusually for Osprey, are actually in color.
The book is opened with a useful chronology of the Roman Legions from the Augustan era to the beginning of the 3rd Century. The next section is 'The deisgn and development of legionary fortresses', which examines what the forts under individual emperors 27 BC-AD 217 were like in layout. After this is 'The elements of a legionary fortress', which, discussing the various buildings within the fortress, may well be the most useful and interesting section of the book. The last major section, 'living in a legionary fortress' is similar. The book is closed with a brief, 5-page summary of the forts of the last two centuries of this era.
Overall it is a solid resource on the forts of Rome's elite soldiers, and a useful addition to one's Roman military library.
Like all titles in this series, this book is very powerful visually. In addition to 7 fine color plates by Brian Delf, it also contains several maps and numerous photographs, some of which, unusually for Osprey, are actually in color.
The book is opened with a useful chronology of the Roman Legions from the Augustan era to the beginning of the 3rd Century. The next section is 'The deisgn and development of legionary fortresses', which examines what the forts under individual emperors 27 BC-AD 217 were like in layout. After this is 'The elements of a legionary fortress', which, discussing the various buildings within the fortress, may well be the most useful and interesting section of the book. The last major section, 'living in a legionary fortress' is similar. The book is closed with a brief, 5-page summary of the forts of the last two centuries of this era.
Overall it is a solid resource on the forts of Rome's elite soldiers, and a useful addition to one's Roman military library.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
More barracks than fortresses...
3 Jan 2010
Format:Paperback
Great work from Duncan Campbell that provides an huge amount of data in only 64 pages. It focuses mainly on fortifications from the 1st and 2nd centuries, but also gives some information about the location and layout of 4th century fortresses like the one in Bethorus.
The author locates the strategic deployment of Roman Legions and their fortresses from the time of Augustus till the Severan period with some detail. The similarities between the marching camps and the permanent fortresses layout, the question of the double strenght first cohort (arqueology can't answer that question yet) and the several buildings that constitute those fortresses, including the principia (HQ), fabricae (factories/workshops), valetudinarium (Hospital), horrea (granaries), thermae (baths)and the living quarters of officers and legionaries are also described.
Roman fortresses weren't castles; the objective of their existence was quartering one or two legions on a permanent or semi-permanent base. They were huge barracks, almost cities (some cities actually evolved from roman fortresses!). So the physical defences of those fortresses weren't very impressive, but they didn't needed to be; for the romans of the first and second centuries the strongest defence was their legionaries. Most adversaries would be faced outside the fortress not behind walls.
Good maps and photographs, excellent paintings by Brian Delf. Recommended.
The author locates the strategic deployment of Roman Legions and their fortresses from the time of Augustus till the Severan period with some detail. The similarities between the marching camps and the permanent fortresses layout, the question of the double strenght first cohort (arqueology can't answer that question yet) and the several buildings that constitute those fortresses, including the principia (HQ), fabricae (factories/workshops), valetudinarium (Hospital), horrea (granaries), thermae (baths)and the living quarters of officers and legionaries are also described.
Roman fortresses weren't castles; the objective of their existence was quartering one or two legions on a permanent or semi-permanent base. They were huge barracks, almost cities (some cities actually evolved from roman fortresses!). So the physical defences of those fortresses weren't very impressive, but they didn't needed to be; for the romans of the first and second centuries the strongest defence was their legionaries. Most adversaries would be faced outside the fortress not behind walls.
Good maps and photographs, excellent paintings by Brian Delf. Recommended.
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