Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality

Ammianus Marcellinus and the Representation of Historical Reality
Author: Timothy David Barnes
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 1998
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780801435263

This is the first book on Ammianus to place equal emphasis on the literary and historical aspects of his writing. Barnes assesses Ammianus' depiction of historical reality by simultaneously investigating both the historical accuracy and the literary qualities of the Res Gestae. He examines its structure and arrangement, emphasizes its Greek, pagan, and polemical features, and points out the extent to which Ammianus drew on his imagination in shaping the narrative.

Ammianus Marcellinus

Ammianus Marcellinus
Author: Gavin Kelly
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2008-04-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 0521842999

Examines the work of Ammianus Marcellinus, who has often been underestimated as a writer while lauded as an historian. This book portrays him as a subtler writer and more manipulative and partial historian, using allusion to the classical past to insinuate different meanings.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXIX

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXIX
Author: Jan den Boeft
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 323
Release: 2013-11-25
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004267875

Book 29 opens with the judicial terror in Antioch following the discovery of a plot against the emperor in the East, Valens, who played an active role in hunting down and executing the culprits. The account of these internal troubles is balanced by two long chapters at the end of the book dealing with warfare in Africa and Central Europe. The general Theodosius mercilessly crushed the revolt of the Moorish prince Firmus, while the emperor in the West, Valentinian, had to deal with violent invasions of the Quadi and the Sarmatians. The two central chapters are devoted to different aspects of Valentinian’s character, his cruelty on the one hand, his diligence in reinforcing the border defenses on the other.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVI

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVI
Author:
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2008
Genre: Rome
ISBN: 9004162127

Continuing the series of philological and historical commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae this volume deals with Book 26, in which the beginning of the reign of Valentinian and Valens is described and the rise and fall of the usurper Procopius.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII
Author: Jan Willem Drijvers
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2011-11-25
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004215999

Continuing the series of philological and historical commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae this volume deals with Book 28, which is devoted primarily to the deplorable events in Rome during the reign of Valentinian and his defense of the Rhine frontier.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXXI

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXXI
Author: Jan den Boeft
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2018-01-09
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 9004353828

This is the final volume in the series of commentaries on Ammianus' Res Gestae. The last book of Ammianus Marcellinus’ Res Gestae is the most important source for a momentous event in European history: the invasion of the Goths across the Danube border into the Roman Empire and the ensuing battle of Adrianople (378 CE), in which a Roman army was annihilated and the emperor Valens lost his life. Many contemporaries were of the opinion that this defeat heralded the decline of the Empire. Ammianus is sharply critical of the way Valens and his generals handled the military situation, but holds on to his belief in the permanence of Roma Aeterna, reminding his readers of earlier crises from which the Empire had recovered and pointing to the incompetence of the barbarians in siege craft.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVIII
Author: Jan den Boeft
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 400
Release: 2011-11-25
Genre: History
ISBN: 9004224025

In Book 28 Ammianus describes the military activity of Valentinian on the Rhine. The historian speaks with admiration about his efforts to strengthen the northwestern border of the empire. He shows a similar esteem for the general Theodosius, who re-established order in Britain. However, in the greater part of Book 28 there is an air of gloom. Ammianus writes reluctantly about the judicial terror inflicted on the Roman aristocracy by powerful magistrates. In his digression about Roman manners he speaks with contempt about the senatorial elite and the Roman plebs, because they fail to live up to the standards of their ancestors. The final chapter illustrates the disastrous effects of the mismanagement of the province of Tripolis by corrupt officials.

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVII

Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVII
Author: Jan den Boeft
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 384
Release: 2009-11-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 900418838X

Book 27 deals with events between 365 and 370. Military operations in the western and eastern half of the Empire take up a large part of the available space. Apart from military matters Ammianus deals with internal affairs. He discusses the terms of office of four Roman urban prefects and paints a picture of Petronius Probus, the mightiest civil official of the period. The most striking part of the book contains a portrait of the emperor Valentinian. This passage forms the centre of the book, which therefore has the structure of a triptych: of the two outer parts each contains military affairs in the West and the East and reports on some notable non-military events, whilst in the central panel Valentinian takes pride of place.