Adrian Goldsworthy

It's a distinct thing that can become very good, can become very efficient, but it doesn't naturally extend to the next generation and the next generation. You've got to keep on rebuilding it from scratch. Whereas the older way was having this bigger system within the empire that supported that and made it happen. So it's not that the soldiers are any less brave.

It's not that sometimes they're not as efficient. It's just that it's much harder for them to be efficient, much harder for them to stay there and then to keep doing this year after year, decade after decade.

It's not that sometimes they're not as efficient. It's just that it's much harder for them to be efficient, much harder for them to stay there and then to keep doing this year after year, decade after decade.

It's not that sometimes they're not as efficient. It's just that it's much harder for them to be efficient, much harder for them to stay there and then to keep doing this year after year, decade after decade.

They do in some respects, but the warlords that follow are less strong than the warlords you'd had before, than a Stilicho, than a Rissoma, than an Aetius, partly because what they're drawing on is less. You've lost Africa. That's gone. The Vandals are there now established. They can plunder Rome on a larger scale than the Goths had done. You've lost most of Spain.

They do in some respects, but the warlords that follow are less strong than the warlords you'd had before, than a Stilicho, than a Rissoma, than an Aetius, partly because what they're drawing on is less. You've lost Africa. That's gone. The Vandals are there now established. They can plunder Rome on a larger scale than the Goths had done. You've lost most of Spain.

They do in some respects, but the warlords that follow are less strong than the warlords you'd had before, than a Stilicho, than a Rissoma, than an Aetius, partly because what they're drawing on is less. You've lost Africa. That's gone. The Vandals are there now established. They can plunder Rome on a larger scale than the Goths had done. You've lost most of Spain.

You've lost control of large parts of Gaul. It's being run by kings who are in theory, part of the empire and like to feel they are, but also are not supplying you with all the money, all the resources you might want. So you're scratching together from a smaller and smaller pile the manpower, the money to pay them, to feed them, to do all of these things.

You've lost control of large parts of Gaul. It's being run by kings who are in theory, part of the empire and like to feel they are, but also are not supplying you with all the money, all the resources you might want. So you're scratching together from a smaller and smaller pile the manpower, the money to pay them, to feed them, to do all of these things.

You've lost control of large parts of Gaul. It's being run by kings who are in theory, part of the empire and like to feel they are, but also are not supplying you with all the money, all the resources you might want. So you're scratching together from a smaller and smaller pile the manpower, the money to pay them, to feed them, to do all of these things.

But it's this problem that you have an emperor who is dependent upon a figure like Aetius, but also that figure is a threat. And It again becomes, from the emperor's perspective, the empire is quite narrow and it is simply the court they see around them. They hear reports of what's going on elsewhere, but it's about that day-to-day, how am I perceived? How am I obeyed? How safe am I?

But it's this problem that you have an emperor who is dependent upon a figure like Aetius, but also that figure is a threat. And It again becomes, from the emperor's perspective, the empire is quite narrow and it is simply the court they see around them. They hear reports of what's going on elsewhere, but it's about that day-to-day, how am I perceived? How am I obeyed? How safe am I?

But it's this problem that you have an emperor who is dependent upon a figure like Aetius, but also that figure is a threat. And It again becomes, from the emperor's perspective, the empire is quite narrow and it is simply the court they see around them. They hear reports of what's going on elsewhere, but it's about that day-to-day, how am I perceived? How am I obeyed? How safe am I?

Is this person now going to decide?

Is this person now going to decide?

Is this person now going to decide?

And you've got to remember as well, one thing, it's hard to do because the sources are so poor, but logic tells us you have all the personality clashes you'd get in an office today, the university department, whatever it might be, let alone in government within the cabinet, where some people just don't like each other and see someone else's success as almost a failure for them, or certainly as diminishing their own status and reputation.

And you've got to remember as well, one thing, it's hard to do because the sources are so poor, but logic tells us you have all the personality clashes you'd get in an office today, the university department, whatever it might be, let alone in government within the cabinet, where some people just don't like each other and see someone else's success as almost a failure for them, or certainly as diminishing their own status and reputation.

And you've got to remember as well, one thing, it's hard to do because the sources are so poor, but logic tells us you have all the personality clashes you'd get in an office today, the university department, whatever it might be, let alone in government within the cabinet, where some people just don't like each other and see someone else's success as almost a failure for them, or certainly as diminishing their own status and reputation.

So in every respect, things are getting weaker. The emperor is in many ways more distant, but the commanders that the emperor requires and relies upon but also fears, because they're effectively the kingmakers. They're the ones that can get rid of you. If they are confident enough they can replace you, they might.