Description

Birth of the Byzantine Army breaks with the historiographical habit of examining the Romano-Byzantine Army solely during Justinian's reign (527-565 CE), while neglecting the Eastern Emperors who preceded him after the fall of the Western Empire in 476. This comprehensive study extends to the end of Heraclius' reign in 641 --the last soldier-emperor of the Late Roman tradition. By that time, the Slavs had seized the Latin-speaking lands of the Balkans, and the Muslims had conquered Syria and Egypt. These two rising powers ushered in a new geopolitical era, depriving the Imperial Army of vast resources. Constantinople had, by then, become fully Byzantium, and the Late Roman military tradition could no longer be sustained.

Over the course of these 165 years the Romano-Byzantine Army underwent significant transformation. In addition to traditional enemies such as the Persians and Steppe horsemen, it faced new challenges: campaigns in North Africa and wars against the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. Drawn into these conquests, the Imperial Army found itself defending new territories against the Moors in Africa and the Lombards in Italy. Along the Danube frontier, it had to contain the Slavs and Avars, whose siege warfare posed a direct threat to Byzantium itself. New forms of organisation and tactics became essential.

Was this still a Late Roman Army--or had a distinctly Byzantine one been born? That is the question.