Ammianus Marcellinus from Soldier to Author (Historiography of Rome and Its Empire, 16)

"Ammianus Marcellinus composed a history of the Roman empire from 96 AD to 378 AD, focusing on the mid-fourth century during which he served in the army. His experience as a soldier during this period provides crucial realia of warfare, while his knowledge of literature, especially the genre of historiography, enabled him to imbue his narrative with literary flair. This book explores the tension between Ammianus' roles as soldier and author, examining how his military experience affected his history, and conversely how his knowledge of literature affected his descriptions of the Roman army"-- Provided by publisher Contents 6 Historiography of Rome and Its Empire Series 8 Preface 9 Notes on Contributors 10 Introduction 14 Part 1 Ammianus’ Text 30 1 Why We Need a New Edition of Ammianus Marcellinus 32 Part 2 Ammianus’ Military Experience 72 2 Ammianus and the dignitas protectoris 74 3 Simplicitas militaris: Ammianus Marcellinus and sermo castrensis 96 4 Ammianus’ Identification of Named Legions and Its Literary Significance 153 5 Religionibus firmis iuramenta constricta? Ammianus and the sacramentum militiae 183 6 Ammianus on Mallobaudes and Magnus Maximus: A Response to Theodosian Discourse? 217 Part 3 Ammianus’ Literary Aims and Models 242 7 The Face of Convention: Battle and Siege Description in Ammianus Marcellinus 244 8 The Literary Function of Ammianus’ Criticisms of Military luxuria 275 9 Coturni terribilis fabula (Amm. Marc. 28.6.29): The Goddess of Justice and the Death of Theodosius the Elder 300 10 Ille ut fax uel incensus malleolus: Ammianus and His Swift Narration of Julian’s Balkan Itinerary in 361 CE 338 11 The Depiction of the Common Soldier (miles) in Ammianus and Tacitus and the Intertextual Background of the Res gestae 370 12 Xenophon and Ammianus: Two Soldier-Historians and Their Persian Expeditions 390 Index of Names 416 Index of Ancient Sources 422