11-21-2008, 08:59 AM
I agree with Theo.
The 'popular view' of Trajan is biased. Severus is often associated with the 'third century crisis' which is of course nonsense, he lived before that. But it is tainting his legacy nonetheless. Schoolbooks etc. have always favoured 'the second century' as the heyday of the Roman Empire.
Isn’t that view confirmed by Hollywood and other aspects of popular culture, which show ‘the Roman soldier’ in fact as the legionary in the days of Trajan or Hadrian?
(I’ve always battled against that view, I even feel sorry for 22nd-c. auxiliaries – they also get to be left out).
The equipment of the Several legionary is already regarded as ‘alien’, even though in my view his armed forces were probably (arguably) the most efficient of the Roman period.
The 'popular view' of Trajan is biased. Severus is often associated with the 'third century crisis' which is of course nonsense, he lived before that. But it is tainting his legacy nonetheless. Schoolbooks etc. have always favoured 'the second century' as the heyday of the Roman Empire.
Isn’t that view confirmed by Hollywood and other aspects of popular culture, which show ‘the Roman soldier’ in fact as the legionary in the days of Trajan or Hadrian?
(I’ve always battled against that view, I even feel sorry for 22nd-c. auxiliaries – they also get to be left out).
The equipment of the Several legionary is already regarded as ‘alien’, even though in my view his armed forces were probably (arguably) the most efficient of the Roman period.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
