Bücher von Simon MacDowall

The battle of Adrianople spelled the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. This is the story of the crushing Roman defeat by Gothic calvary which proved to the Empire as well as to the Goths themselves, that the migratory barbarians were a force to be reckoned with.

The 3rd to the 6th centuries saw the collapse of the classical Mediterranean civilization and the emergence of new states in western Europe based on the Germanic warrior society. This book focuses particularly on the men who made up the retinues of the Germanic warlords who carved kingdoms out of the carcass of the West Roman Empire. Although sources are scarce, Simon MacDowall constructs a convincing picture, using evidence from Roman historians, German archaeology and Anglo-Saxon poetry. The warriors' society, hierarchy, training, equipment, appearance, tactics and style of fighting are all examined, building a comprehensive portrait of the Germanic warrior in this period.