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Ammianus Marcellinus From Soldier to Author
Series: - Historiography of Rome and Its Empire, Volume: 16
Ammianus Marcellinus composed a history of the Roman empire from 96 AD to 378 AD, focusing on the mid-fourth century during which he served in the army. His experience as a soldier during this period provides crucial realia of warfare, while his knowledge of literature, especially the genre of historiography, enabled him to imbue his narrative with literary flair. This book explores the tension between Ammianus’ roles as soldier and author, examining how his military experience affected his history, and conversely how his knowledge of literature affected his descriptions of the Roman army.
Michael P. Hanaghan, Ph.D. (2015), the University of Sydney, is Research Fellow in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at Australian Catholic University. He is author of Reading Sidonius’ Epistles (Cambridge, 2019) and numerous articles, including several on Ammianus.
David Woods, Ph.D. (1991), the Queen’s University of Belfast, is the Head of the Department of Classics at University College Cork, Ireland. He is the author of numerous articles on the military and political history of the Roman Empire.
Contributors are: Agnese Bargagna, Maxime Emion, Michael Hanaghan, Gavin Kelly, J.E. Lendon, Moysés Marcos, Sigrid Mratschek, Philip Rance, Álvaro Sánchez-Ostiz, Conor Whately, Jeroen Wijnendaele, Guy Williams, David Woods, Michael Wuk
David Woods, Ph.D. (1991), the Queen’s University of Belfast, is the Head of the Department of Classics at University College Cork, Ireland. He is the author of numerous articles on the military and political history of the Roman Empire.
Contributors are: Agnese Bargagna, Maxime Emion, Michael Hanaghan, Gavin Kelly, J.E. Lendon, Moysés Marcos, Sigrid Mratschek, Philip Rance, Álvaro Sánchez-Ostiz, Conor Whately, Jeroen Wijnendaele, Guy Williams, David Woods, Michael Wuk
"This volume represents a significant change in approaches to military history and military texts since then. Here the study of the social and psychological aspects of warfare takes precedence over analysis of commanders, equipment, or set-piece conflicts. Above all, the effects of the literary turn are felt throughout, even in Part II all the chapters are aware of Ammianus’ abilities to shape his representation of re-ality. The editors have assembled an impressive set of essays that showcase the complexity of Ammianus’ military material, and the multiple influences that shape his presentation of military life, campaigns, and culture." - Alan J. Ross, in: Plekos 25 (2023)
"Un volume miscellaneo presenta ovviamente contributi in cui si adottano differenti punti di vista e approcci. Ma è proprio questo aspetto che bene si adatta all’opera di Ammiano, la quale fornisce spunti di riflessione dal punto di vista storiografico, ma anche letterario e filologico. Al riguardo il volume soddisfa il lettore che voglia avere una visione più complessiva e anche bibliograficamente aggiornata sullo storico antiocheno, nella sua doppia veste di militare e di uomo di lettere." - Fabrizio Feraco, in: Bollettino di Studi Latini, LIII:II (Luglio-Dicembre 2023)
"Un volume miscellaneo presenta ovviamente contributi in cui si adottano differenti punti di vista e approcci. Ma è proprio questo aspetto che bene si adatta all’opera di Ammiano, la quale fornisce spunti di riflessione dal punto di vista storiografico, ma anche letterario e filologico. Al riguardo il volume soddisfa il lettore che voglia avere una visione più complessiva e anche bibliograficamente aggiornata sullo storico antiocheno, nella sua doppia veste di militare e di uomo di lettere." - Fabrizio Feraco, in: Bollettino di Studi Latini, LIII:II (Luglio-Dicembre 2023)
Contents
Historiography of Rome and Its Empire Series
Preface
Notes on Contributors
Introduction
Michael Hanaghan and David Woods
1 Why We Need a New Edition of Ammianus Marcellinus
Gavin Kelly
2 Ammianus and the Dignitas Protectoris
Maxime Emion
3 Simplicitas Militaris: Ammianus Marcellinus and Sermo Castrensis
Philip Rance
4 Ammianus’ Identification of Named Legions and Its Literary Significance
Conor Whately
5 Religionibus Firmis Iuramenta Constricta? Ammianus and the Sacramentum Militiae
Michael Wuk
6 Ammianus on Mallobaudes and Magnus Maximus: A Response to Theodosian Discourse?
Jeroen Wijnendaele
7 The Face of Convention: Battle and Siege Description in Ammianus Marcellinus
J. E. Lendon
8 The Literary Function of Ammianus’ Criticisms of Military Luxuria
Álvaro Sánchez-Ostiz
9 Coturni Terribilis Fabula (Amm. Marc. 28.6.29): The Goddess of Justice and the Death of Theodosius the Elder
Sigrid Mratschek
10 Ille ut Fax uel Incensus Malleolus: Ammianus and His Swift Narration of Julian’s Balkan Itinerary in 361 CE
Moysés Marcos
11 The Depiction of the Common Soldier (Miles) in Ammianus and Tacitus and the Intertextual Background of the Res Gestae
Agnese Bargagna
12 Xenophon and Ammianus: Two Soldier-Historians and Their Persian Expeditions
Guy Williams
Index
Historiography of Rome and Its Empire Series
Preface
Notes on Contributors
Introduction
Michael Hanaghan and David Woods
Part 1: Ammianus’ Text
1 Why We Need a New Edition of Ammianus Marcellinus
Gavin Kelly
Part 2: Ammianus’ Military Experience
2 Ammianus and the Dignitas Protectoris
Maxime Emion
3 Simplicitas Militaris: Ammianus Marcellinus and Sermo Castrensis
Philip Rance
4 Ammianus’ Identification of Named Legions and Its Literary Significance
Conor Whately
5 Religionibus Firmis Iuramenta Constricta? Ammianus and the Sacramentum Militiae
Michael Wuk
6 Ammianus on Mallobaudes and Magnus Maximus: A Response to Theodosian Discourse?
Jeroen Wijnendaele
Part 3: Ammianus’ Literary Aims and Models
7 The Face of Convention: Battle and Siege Description in Ammianus Marcellinus
J. E. Lendon
8 The Literary Function of Ammianus’ Criticisms of Military Luxuria
Álvaro Sánchez-Ostiz
9 Coturni Terribilis Fabula (Amm. Marc. 28.6.29): The Goddess of Justice and the Death of Theodosius the Elder
Sigrid Mratschek
10 Ille ut Fax uel Incensus Malleolus: Ammianus and His Swift Narration of Julian’s Balkan Itinerary in 361 CE
Moysés Marcos
11 The Depiction of the Common Soldier (Miles) in Ammianus and Tacitus and the Intertextual Background of the Res Gestae
Agnese Bargagna
12 Xenophon and Ammianus: Two Soldier-Historians and Their Persian Expeditions
Guy Williams
Index
Research institutes focused on Late Antiquity, academic libraries, specialists in Late Antique historiography and Ammianus, postgraduate and undergraduate students. Subject Areas: Historiography, Late Antiquity, Latin Literature, Roman Military History, Ammianus Marcellinus.