Conquerors of the Roman Empire

Description

In the late 4th century, pressure from the Huns forced the Goths to cross the Danube into the Roman Empire. The resultant Battle of Adrianople in 378 was one of Rome's greatest defeats. Both western (Visigoth) and eastern (Ostrogoth) branches of the Goths had a complex relationship with the Romans, sometimes fighting as their allies against other 'barbarian' interlopers but carving out their own kingdoms in the process. Under Alaric the Visigoths sacked Rome itself in 410 and went on to establish a kingdom in Gaul (France). They helped the Romans defeat the Hunnic invasion of Gaul at the Catalaunian Fields in 451 but continued to expand at Roman expense. Defeated by the Franks they then took Spain from the Vandals. The Ostrogoths had a similar relationship with the Eastern Roman Empire before eventually conquering Italy. Adrianople, the events of 410 and the Ostrogoths' long war with Balisarius, including the Siege of Rome, are among the campaigns and battles Simon MacDowall narrates in detail. He analyses the arms and contrasting fighting styles of the Ostro- and Visi- Goths and evaluates their effectiveness against the Romans. -- Inside jacket flap.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Conquerors of the Roman Empire: The VandalsHardcoverPen and Sword Military2016-06-15
• Conquerors of the Roman EmpirePen & Sword Books Limited2017-01-01
• Conquerors of the Roman EmpireHardcoverPen and Sword Military2018-09-20
• Conquerors of the Roman EmpirePen & Sword Books Limited2022-01-01