Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081

Warren Treadgold

Published by Stanford University Press 1995

Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081

Warren Treadgold

https://doi.org/10.1515/9780804779302

Overview
Contents

About this book

The Byzantine Empire was almost always ready to fight, and often fought for its life. During much of its history its provinces were military districts called themes, and acclamation by the army, not coronation or inheritance, was what made a man emperor. The army overthrew twenty-odd rulers, and tried to oust many more. It was large and expansive but on the whole it served its purpose well. Over eight centuries, despite losing a surprising number of battles, the army succeeded in preserving both itself and Byzantium. In view of its importance in Byzantine history, it is surprising that this volume is the first general book on the Byzantine army in any language.

The author traces the army’s impact on the Byzantine state and society from the army’s reorganization under Diocletian (284-305) until its disintegration in the aftermath of the battle of Manzikert (1071). He suggests solutions to some major unresolved questions of Byzantine military history: how big was the army, how was it organized, how much of it was cavalry, how much was it paid, how was it supplied, when and why did it receive land grants in the themes, and why, after surviving so many disasters, did it fail to survive the not particularly disastrous eleventh century?

Author / Editor information

Warren Treadgold is Professor of History at Florida International University.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Tables and Maps Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
CHAPTER ONE The Roman Army's Second Millennium Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	8
CHAPTER TWO Numbers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	43
CHAPTER THREE Structures Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
CHAPTER FOUR Pay Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	118
CHAPTER FIVE The Army and Society Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	158
CHAPTER SIX The Army and the State Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	187
Appendix: List of Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperors (284-III8) Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	223
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	235

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 284
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 11
- Other: 1 illus, 10 maps
Keywords: History -- World

eBook

Published: June 1, 1998
ISBN: 9780804779302