Bøker av Ilkka Syvanne

The Military History of Late Rome 425-457 analyses in great detail how the Romans coped with the challenge posed by masses of Huns in a situation in which the Germanic tribes had gained a permanent foothold in the territories of West Rome. This analysis reassesses the strategy and tactics of the period . The book shows how cooperation between the West Roman Master of Soldiers, Aetius, and East Roman Emperor Marcian saved Western civilization from the barbarian nightmare posed by the Huns of Attila. A fresh appraisal of the great clash at the Catalaunian Fields in 451 offers new insights into the mechanics of the fighting and shows that it was a true battle of nations which decided nothing less than the fate of human civilization. Had Aetius and his allies lost the battle and had Marcian not cooperated with Aetius in 451 and 452, we would not have seen the rise of the West and the rise of the scientific thinking.

A detailed biography of Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, exploring his military reforms, campaigns, and influence on Byzantine success.Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas: TheWhite Death of the Saracens is the first ever English-language biography of the man who broke the stranglehold of Islam over Byzantine Rome so that by the year 968 his forces could invade the Muslim lands virtually unopposed. This was the result of his military reforms and remarkable gifts as a military commander. The text provides thorough analysis of how he reformed military equipment, tactics and strategy to achieve this. The ambushes, battles and military campaigns are discussed in unprecedented detail. Special attention is also paid to the influence of the ascetic Christian lifestyle of Nikephoros on the morale of the armed forces.In spite of his religiosity, Nikephoros was a military man through and through, and the civilian population of the Empire were constantly reminded of this. Soldiers were billeted in Constantinople and showered with favours and Nikephoros even pressured the Church to declare soldiers who died in combat as martyrs. Ilkka Syvänne meticulously explores the relationship between the Church and armed forces in the emperor's policies. Of course Nikephoros had his human weaknesses which led to his untimely assassination. Why and how this happened is also analysed in detail. The assassination of Nikephoros deprived the Byzantine Romans of their 'Bearer of Victory', but his military reforms and campaigns had paved the way for Byzantine Rome to reach its apogee under his immediate successors.

Late Roman Combat Tactics by Dr. Ilkka Syvÿnne is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand land combat in the period from the Tetrarchy to the death of Heraclius, a period when the Romans faced serious and growing military threats on many fronts. The authorâEUR(TM)s detailed analysis provides the reader with a complete understanding of the combat equipment worn by the soldiers, types of troops, tactics, different unit orders and formations used by the late Romans and their enemies. Importantly, he lays out the developments and changes in these aspects across this critical period, assessing how the Romans adapted, or failed to adapt to the varied and changing array of enemies, such as Persians, Avars and Arabs. The discussion examines how the Romans fought at every level, so that it covers everything from the individual fighting techniques all the way up to the conduct of large-scale pitched battles. There is an immense amount of technical detail but the human element and the experience of the officers and ordinary soldiers is not forgotten, with such factors as morale and the psychology of battle (the âEUR¿face of battleâEUR(TM)) given due consideration. The thoroughly researched text is well supported by dozens of diagrams and illustrations. A thoroughly illuminating read on its own, Late Roman Combat Tactics is also the perfect companion to Dr SyvÿnneâEUR(TM)s eight-volume Military History of Late Rome.

Reconstructs the military campaigns of the period in unprecedented detail.

Ilkka Syvanne explains in detail how the Septimius Severus achieved his position, how he won his wars and battles and how he used his newly gained power to secure his family's position.

This book provides a fresh analysis of the Roman Empire from the reign of Phocas (602-10) until the death of Heraclius (610-41).

Narrative of Rome's wars during a tumultuous period of civil war and mounting external threats. Discusses development of the Roman army and the armies of her major enemies eg Goths and Sassanid Persians. Includes such pivotal events as the battles of the Milvian Bridge, and Strasbourg.

Gordian III was the youngest sole emperor of Rome; this is the first English biography of him.

This is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268).

This book reassesses the earliest evidence afresh from the perspective of a military historian.