L’armée romaine tardive dans quelques travaux récents. 2e partie : Stratégies et techniques militaires

Abstract

This is the second part of the survey article initiated in the previous number considering several publications – both books and articles – which have appeared in the last five or six years, on the subject of the late Roman and early Byzantine army, this time dealing with strategies and military technics. A third part, to be published in the next issue, will be concerned by ethnic, economical and sociopolitical aspects. The defence of the late Roman Empire is still a matter of controversy. The theories of Edward Luttwak’s Grand strategy actually prevail among many scholars (Martin Nicasie, James Howard- Johnston) despite the criticisms levelled by Benjamin Isaac. How “barbarization” occurs is the subject of a more widespread reassessment : while Martin Nicasie and Hugh Elton minimize its effects, Bernard Barchrach and Iaroslav Lebedynsky rather extend its consequences in the Early medieval West.