Speidel\'s speech

[Praefectusclassis]

I remember reading a speech by Speidel (Maior) about the Status Quo of the Roman army and fleets (in which he stated that the fleets were very well known). It was clearly part of conference proceedings, maybe one of the Limes ones, but I don't remember which one it was. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

[D B Campbell]

Was it maybe this one, Jasper?

"Work to be done on the organization of the Roman army", Bulletin of the Institute of Archaeology, London 26 (1989), 99-106, reprinted in: Mavors 8 (= RAS II), 13-20.

(I haven't read it since, probably, 1989! So I'm not sure if he mentioned the fleets.)

[Praefectusclassis]

Hi Duncan
That sounds exactly like it. Must have read it in RAS II, which I unfortunately do not own and when I had it from the library, managed to forget to copy that article. But now I know where to find it, many thanks Duncan!

[Praefectusclassis]

Bugger, the Nijmegen library doesn't have Roman Army Studies II. Is there anyone with easy access to it who is willing to scan/copy Speidel's speech?

[D B Campbell]

Is there anyone with easy access to it who is willing to scan/copy Speidel's speech?

I have taken pity on you and retrieved my big box of photocopies, labelled "Authors S-Z", the least accessible and dusty one!

On p. 103, he makes the following throwaway comment: "When it comes to the history of entire branches of service, the least important one, the fleets, are the best known, especially with the new book by M. Reddé. For the legions the giant work of Ritterling ... blah blah blah". I'm afraid the disparaging tone will not please you, Jasper! He is far more concerned with the legions and auxilia. :roll:

He makes absolutely no mention of the fleets elsewhere. If you need to put your mind at ease, I shall attempt to scan my photocopy for you tomorrow.

[Praefectusclassis]

Hi Duncan,
Much obliged, that's exactly what I was thinking of. In my opinion, he didn't read Redde's book very well, or is unaware of problems. But hey, that's what PhD theses are for, isn't it: to disagree vehemently with everything posited before by one's elders.

[D B Campbell]

... to disagree vehemently with everything posited before by one's elders.

Careful -- wait until the PhD's in the bag! :wink: