Justinian's Men

£109.50

Justinian's Men

Careers and Relationships of Byzantine Army Officers, 518-610

Political science and theory European history: medieval period, middle ages Asian history History: specific events and topics

Author: David Alan Parnell

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Collection: New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture

Language: English

Published by: Palgrave Macmillan

Published on: 2nd November 2016

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 1 Mb

ISBN: 9781137562043


This book explores the professional and social lives of the soldiers who served in the army of the Byzantine Empire in the sixth century. More than just a fighting force, this army was the setting in which hundreds of thousands of men forged relationships and manoeuvred for promotion. The officers of this force, from famous generals like Belisarius and Narses to lesser-known men like Buzes and Artabanes, not only fought battles but also crafted social networks and cultivated their relationships with their emperor, fellow officers, families, and subordinate soldiers. Looming in the background were differences in identity, particularly between Romans and those they identified as barbarians. Drawing on numerical evidence and stories from sixth-century authors who understood the military, Justinian’s Men highlights a sixth-century Byzantine army that was vibrant, lively, and full of individuals working with and against each other.

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