Is this the most outrageous statement in a book?

[Robert Vermaat]

I would assume ValVict. is talking of the assumption that the De Rebus was 1. actually read by valens; 2. dated so securely.

Or 3. that Valens had a "rather deficient strategic knowledge" which he apparently could supplement "with the new manual 'De rebus bellicis'". hock:
A) Valens was too ambitious, but his strategic abilities (at least our views on them) are heavily influenced by the unfortunate outcome of his last battle, not those before that.
B) There is hardly any strategic knowlegde to be had from this manuscript. It's a nice booklet, but written by someone whose knowledge was on the financial side. Perhaps a banker with a hobby. :twisted: