While overshadowed by the Legions of Rome, it was equally important for any empire to keep the lanes of commerce open. This meant having an effective navy to reduce piracy and keep the goods flowing to the various parts of the ever-expanding empire. Under Augustus in 31 BC, the Roman Navy was probably at its height with over 800 ships in three major fleets plus smaller ones for outlying areas like Gaul and Great Britain as well as ships plying some of the major rivers of Europe.

Of course, there needed to be men qualified to operate these ships and also soldiers who would be carried to various parts of the empire to help defend it against raiders; both on the land and sea-borne. In this book by Raffaele D'Amato, we look at what these men were like as well as the way they lived and fought.

Typical of the series the book starts out with a look at the various fleets then moves on to how these fleets and crews were organized (which includes their terms of service and what they did ashore). It then goes on to the way the crews were outfitted in terms of dress and the various armor and weaponry they used. This is followed up by a look at the ships themselves and how they were outfitted. The final selection is on what war at sea during this time was really like.

It is the first time that Osprey has delved into Roman Naval Forces and the super artwork of Graham Sumner takes advantage of the various artifacts of the time to give us a look at how these men appeared. It is a fascinating peek into a time and subject that often escapes the notice of the history buff. A book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I know you will as well.

February 2010

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