This book's merit is that it brings military defeats under attention while most books deal with the successes.

Society of Ancient Military Historians

A chronological list of Roman military mishaps, starting the Roman Republic and culminating in the fall of the Roman Empire.

A civilisation’s military failures are often overlooked in favour of preserving their grandeur, and I mean would you expect anything else? History is written by the victor after all, and crushing defeats often find themselves conveniently brushed under the carpet.

The author has done well to illuminate and provide a detailed account of some of Rome’s less fortunate military dealings, from Teutoburg Forest to other lesser known failings.

Ideal for providing the reader with a general timeline of Roman military campaigns, both successful and not so successful. This book is recommended for all those interested in the military history of the greatest civilisation of the ancient world.

Know the Romans

The Roman military existed from Rome’s founding in 753BCE to the fall of Constantinople in1453CE. This book covers the military disasters, losses and sieges from the sacking of Rome in 390BCE to its fall in 410CE.

In the process of forming the world’s largest empire, victory was more common than defeat for the Roman military, but as this very readable book makes clear, there were many defeats and disasters along the way.

All of the well known disasters are described in considerable and gruesome detail…. Cannae, Carrhae, Teutoberg forest, Adrianople. But the sheer number and horrific consequences of the other actions, including the “victories”, is mind boggling. Boudica, the Jewish wars, the Punic wars, and many others.

Chrystal argues that the Roman reaction to the defeats was crucial to Rome’s overall empire building. The adoption of new tactics and technologies, the “never surrender, never give in” attitude, as well as seemingly inexhaustible supplies of manpower and wealth, willingness to fight, to win, with whatever degree of violence, terror, cruelty and ruthlessness was required.

Slightly tangential, considering the book’s title, is a most interesting 18 page essay on Cleopatra, who took part in Rome’s civil wars. In comparison, the 8 pages about Rome’s disastrous loss to Hannibal at Cannae seemed a bit brief.

Overall, an engrossing read.

Dr John Viggers, Freelance

As well as simple historical interest, I think many wargamers will find something in here to help them with their gaming as well.

Read the complete review here.

Military Modelling, Robin Buckland

At its best this book is very good, coming up with convincing reasons for the major defeats and examining the changes in tactics, strategy and military equipment that often followed, as the Romans showed an unusual level of willingness to learn from their enemies...

What this book makes clear is that Rome's success was largely due to her impressive resilience, which lasted almost to the end in the West.

Read the full review here.

History of War

One normally thinks of the Roman Army as a
well-oiled, invincible machine, conquering everything before it and in its way. And so it was, for the most part. Paul Chrystal reminds us that the Romans became all-powerful because they learned from their mistakes, of which there were a significant number.

Books Monthly, May 2016 - Paul Norman