Raffaele D’Amato, Roman Army Units in the Eastern Provinces (3), (Osprey, 2026)
There is little doubt that the massive Roman Empire came under severe external military pressure in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. That had forced a split, with Constantinople becoming the capital of the Eastern Empire, requiring two different Roman armies and strategies. In this Osprey Men-at-Arms series book, Raffaele D’Amato surveys the Roman army in the East during this period.
D’Amato begins with Constantine I’s reorganisation of the Roman Army to perform border protection and provincial control backed by field armies located in strategic positions. D’Amato outlines the composition of the army in the East, including a detailed listing of unit distribution. The multiplicity of peoples incorporated into the Eastern Roman army was reflected in their weaponry, equipment, and uniforms. D’Amato takes us on a tour of the provinces, examining those variations. He covers Dacia, Macedonia, Thracia, Pontus, Asia, Oriens, and Aegyptus. The accompanying artwork adds the garrison of Constantinople to the list.
This is a brief but useful survey of the Roman army in the Eastern provinces, with a bibliography added for those who want to delve further. D’Amato’s informative text is neatly arranged and ably supported by artistic renditions of the soldiers and many photographs of archaeological artefacts. Readers with more than a passing interest in the period will enjoy this book, though general readers might need a wee bit of background knowledge to get the benefits of D’Amato’s work.
