What attracts you to Late Rome?

[ValentinianVictrix]

I became interested in the 4th/5th Century AD period of Roman history by default really. I took up wargaming in the 1960's and was always more interested in the Macedonian period. I then met Phil Barker of Wargames Research Group fame during the 1970's & 80's and we talked about why he was so interested in the Late Roman period and its armies and enemies. I decided to read up on some suggested works, Gibbon and Ammianus being the ones he advised consulting first. I became hooked! This lead me to undertake research into the Late Roman army and in my namesake battle. For me its all about how quickly the transition from Empire to fallen state can happen and trying to identify the causes of this and its impact on modern history.