Inside the Roman Legions: The Soldier’s Experience 264–107 BCE

by Kathryn Milne

Inside the Roman Legions aims to tell the story of the Roman soldier through a holistic, empathetic examination of what the experience of military service in the Middle Republic was really like. It traces real examples of soldiers described in the ancient sources to reveal how they traveled, how they were organized and what campaign objectives they faced. Specifically, the author follows the ordinary soldier Spurius Ligustinus, whose life is related by the historian Livy, as an example, detailing the experiences of his career. The book begins by discussing the young future soldier’s background and what military values were conveyed to him through the prevailing culture of the time. It then follows him through a range of potential experiences, examining camp conditions and training with various types of weapons and armor, and proceeds to take the reader through the experience of fighting in a pitched battle step by step. It also addresses experiences that only some soldiers would have had, such as escaping a total defeat, deserting, or being subject to unusual punishments. Throughout, the focus of the book is on how the individual might be shaped by the experiences as they are described.

Genres: History

224 pages, Hardcover

Published June 16, 2024

Reviews

[Joe Postingg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really gets into the nitty gritty of life in the Polybian legions. Great read. I would like to chuck spears at dudes.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really very solid. Milne takes the (probably fictional) career of Spurius Ligustinus described in Livy, and uses it quite well to illustrate the life of a Roman citizen-soldier. Her attention to the areas in which we cannot be certain, or have conflicting evidence, is particularly appreciated. She is similarly careful in areas where we have strong evidence that makes little sense, as is the case with the Roman levy arrangement. Overall, the book is very readable and informative.