Dr. David Gwynn

Battle of Strasbourg in the early 350s is actually a good demonstration of what the Then the Romans send in the reserves and the Germans hadn't thought of that. And it's basically, this is how the Romans have been managing the frontier. But when you get towards the late fourth century, where you get much larger groups moving, and crucially, the addition of the Huns,

Battle of Strasbourg in the early 350s is actually a good demonstration of what the Then the Romans send in the reserves and the Germans hadn't thought of that. And it's basically, this is how the Romans have been managing the frontier. But when you get towards the late fourth century, where you get much larger groups moving, and crucially, the addition of the Huns,

Battle of Strasbourg in the early 350s is actually a good demonstration of what the Then the Romans send in the reserves and the Germans hadn't thought of that. And it's basically, this is how the Romans have been managing the frontier. But when you get towards the late fourth century, where you get much larger groups moving, and crucially, the addition of the Huns,

who clearly do not fight according to the same pattern that the Romans are used to. And the Romans do not have an answer to the nomadic horse archers with their much better bow, their much more fluid tactics. The Roman army is going to be at a serious disadvantage.

who clearly do not fight according to the same pattern that the Romans are used to. And the Romans do not have an answer to the nomadic horse archers with their much better bow, their much more fluid tactics. The Roman army is going to be at a serious disadvantage.

who clearly do not fight according to the same pattern that the Romans are used to. And the Romans do not have an answer to the nomadic horse archers with their much better bow, their much more fluid tactics. The Roman army is going to be at a serious disadvantage.

The tetrarchy focused on stabilizing the frontiers. The Sasanian Persian Empire rose in the early third century and spent the next 50 years hammering the Romans to the east. Diocletian and his tetrarchs finally beat the Persians. The Romans had been trying for 60 years. Finally, they won a battle, stabilized the frontier. Constantine fights on that Persian frontier.

The tetrarchy focused on stabilizing the frontiers. The Sasanian Persian Empire rose in the early third century and spent the next 50 years hammering the Romans to the east. Diocletian and his tetrarchs finally beat the Persians. The Romans had been trying for 60 years. Finally, they won a battle, stabilized the frontier. Constantine fights on that Persian frontier.

The tetrarchy focused on stabilizing the frontiers. The Sasanian Persian Empire rose in the early third century and spent the next 50 years hammering the Romans to the east. Diocletian and his tetrarchs finally beat the Persians. The Romans had been trying for 60 years. Finally, they won a battle, stabilized the frontier. Constantine fights on that Persian frontier.

He's also fighting with the Gothic tribes who are beyond the Danube. But there's no intention to push significantly beyond the frontiers. This is basically proactive frontier defense. After all, the best way to protect a frontier isn't to wait for people to come to you. It's to try and keep some control beyond your limits.

He's also fighting with the Gothic tribes who are beyond the Danube. But there's no intention to push significantly beyond the frontiers. This is basically proactive frontier defense. After all, the best way to protect a frontier isn't to wait for people to come to you. It's to try and keep some control beyond your limits.

He's also fighting with the Gothic tribes who are beyond the Danube. But there's no intention to push significantly beyond the frontiers. This is basically proactive frontier defense. After all, the best way to protect a frontier isn't to wait for people to come to you. It's to try and keep some control beyond your limits.

That's what Constantine was doing, whereas what Julian is doing, launching a full-scale invasion of the Persian Empire, which is the same scale as the Roman Empire. Sasanian Persia ends in Afghanistan, Pakistan. It's a huge empire. This is a risk that Constantine would not have taken. Constantius was a stable frontier manager, never considered a risk like this.

That's what Constantine was doing, whereas what Julian is doing, launching a full-scale invasion of the Persian Empire, which is the same scale as the Roman Empire. Sasanian Persia ends in Afghanistan, Pakistan. It's a huge empire. This is a risk that Constantine would not have taken. Constantius was a stable frontier manager, never considered a risk like this.

That's what Constantine was doing, whereas what Julian is doing, launching a full-scale invasion of the Persian Empire, which is the same scale as the Roman Empire. Sasanian Persia ends in Afghanistan, Pakistan. It's a huge empire. This is a risk that Constantine would not have taken. Constantius was a stable frontier manager, never considered a risk like this.

And after the disaster, none of the subsequent emperors could even consider it.

And after the disaster, none of the subsequent emperors could even consider it.

And after the disaster, none of the subsequent emperors could even consider it.

It's very difficult. It's often called the barbarization of the late Roman army, that they're recruiting more peoples who are not actually Roman and therefore can't be trained to Roman standards. Now, of course, the Roman Empire by the fourth century, everybody in it from Britain to Africa to Syria is a Roman citizen. So the Romans have always recruited people who weren't Romans from Italy.

It's very difficult. It's often called the barbarization of the late Roman army, that they're recruiting more peoples who are not actually Roman and therefore can't be trained to Roman standards. Now, of course, the Roman Empire by the fourth century, everybody in it from Britain to Africa to Syria is a Roman citizen. So the Romans have always recruited people who weren't Romans from Italy.