12-12-2009, 10:38 AM
Quote:To my knowledge the first book published on the Roman army was by Lipsius (spelling) in 1510 AD. So Livy bashing is now close to its 500th year anniversary.
At the risk of being pedantic (when has that ever stopped me?!), not that close ;-) ) Just (or Joost) Lips' (Iustus Lipsius) dates are 1547-1606 with his de Militia Romana being published in 1595/6 (I only got to see a 1610 edition in the National Library of Scotland, which of course made no reference to earlier impressions, but the British Library has one from 1596). Alberico Gentili slipped in with de Armis Romanis in 1599 (one of the dullest books I have ever read - even duller than some recent works on the Roman army - but then it was written by a lawyer!) and the publishing revolution on the Roman army was off...
I thought Livy bashing, along with the judicious use of Vegetius when he conveniently proves a point, was obligatory in Roman military studies :-) )
Mike Bishop