The Fascinating Truth About the Undervalued Late Roman Army

Contrary to popular belief, the late Roman army was actually a superior fighting force

The late Roman army in action (illustration by Igor Dzis)

In the late Roman Empire (from the 3rd to 5th century), the economy was in shambles. Additionally, the empire suffered from countless civil wars. The enemies of Rome had changed. The barbarians in the north and the Persians in the east became well organized and could field large armies comprising numerous cavalry.

The biggest strength of the Roman army was the ability to adapt to new situations.

If the approach didn’t work, the Romans adopted a new one. Everything with one goal in their minds — to dominate the world.

The Roman army transformed itself to successfully face new enemies.

A series of competent emperors saved Rome from imminent ruin

The Roman Emperor Diocletian successfully reformed the late Roman army (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

When everything seemed lost, when the mighty Roman Empire was about to fall, a series of Roman emperors rose to the occasion and lifted the Roman Empire from the ashes.

Starting with Gallienus and Diocletian and continuing with Constantine I, the Roman emperors transformed the late imperial Roman army (284-476 AD) into a fighting force, which was superior to the early imperial Roman army (30 BCE-284 AD).

Against all odds, the late Roman army kept the Western Roman Empire alive for 200 years.

Although the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, the Eastern Roman Empire, known also as the Byzantine Empire, survived until 1453.

The weapons and armor of the late Roman army

Reenactor of the late Roman legionary (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Compared to the early imperial Roman army, the late Roman army underwent drastic changes in armor and weapons.