Full Description
In Procopius on Soldiers and Military Institutions in the Sixth-Century Roman Empire, Conor Whately examines Procopius' coverage of rank-and-file soldiers in his three works, the Wars, Buildings, and Secret History. By evaluating his accounts alongside other comparative evidence, such as the edicts of Anastasius, legislation from the Codex Justinianus, and various papyri, Whately reveals the limitations to Procopius' work, especially when it comes to frontier soldiers. However, this study also shows the impact of Procopius' experiences with institutional matters such as unit structures on his writing, and the particular value he brings to our understanding of recruitment in the sixth century CE.
Contents
Preface IX
List of Tables XII
Introduction: Writing about War in the Sixth Century
1 Procopius and War in the Sixth Century
2 From Generals to Soldiers
3 The Classicizing Straitjacket
4 Methodology
5 Book Organization
1 Generals and Soldiers
1 Introduction
2 Generals vs. Soldiers
3 Conclusion
4 Tables
2 Tracking Sixth-Century Soldiers
1 Introduction
2 Procopius' Authority
3 Procopius' Sources
4 Case Study: Looking for Documents at Dara
5 Conclusion
3 Catalogues and Legions
1 Introduction
2 Terminology
3 Procopius' Regiments
4 Why Catalogues? The Wars of Generals
5 Conclusion
6 Tables
4 Soldiers in the Field
1 Introduction
2 Comitatenses
3 Foederati, Symmachoi, and Bucellarii
4 Horse Archers
5 Conclusion
6 Tables
5 Limitanei in the Age of Justinian
1 Introduction
2 Procopius on the End of the Limitanei in the Secret History
3 Rome's Frontier Soldiers across the Empire in the Sixth Century
4 Case Study: The Limitanei in the Southeast
5 Conclusion
6 Recruitment
1 Introduction
2 Procopius on Recruitment
3 Demographics
4 Conclusion
Conclusion 225
Appendix: Soldiers in Procopius' Wars, Buildings, and Secret History
Bibliography
Index
