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Stephen Dando-Collins
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Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion Hardcover – July 3, 2012

by Stephen Dando-Collins (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 720 ratings
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The complete history of every Imperial Roman legion and what it achieved as a fighting force, by an award-winning historian

In this landmark publication, Stephen Dando-Collins does what no other author has ever attempted to do: provide a complete history of every Imperial Roman legion. Based on thirty years of meticulous research, he covers every legion of Rome in rich detail. In the first part of the book, the author provides a detailed account of what the legionaries wore and ate, what camp life was like, what they were paid, and how they were motivated and punished. Part two examines the histories of all the legions that served Rome for three hundred years starting in 30 BC. The book's final section is a sweeping chronological survey of the campaigns in which the armies were involved, told from the point of view of the legions. Featuring more than 150 maps, photographs, diagrams and battle plans, Legions of Rome is an essential read for ancient history enthusiasts, military history experts and general readers alike.

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  1. Print length
    608 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thomas Dunne Books
  4. Publication date
    July 3, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    7.67 x 1.52 x 9.39 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1250004713
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1250004710
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Dando-Collins is an award-winning military historian with numerous highly praised books on ancient history ranging from Imperial Rome to the American west to Australia, some of which include Legions of Rome and Caesar's Legion. Today, Stephen’s books appear in many languages and he has an army of loyal readers wherever his books are published around the world, in countries including Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Poland, Albania and Korea.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas Dunne Books; 6.3.2012 edition (July 3, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250004713
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250004710
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.83 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.67 x 1.52 x 9.39 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 720 ratings

About the author

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Stephen Dando-Collins

Stephen Dando-Collins

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Stephen Dando-Collins is the multi-award-winning author of 48 books, including biographies, works on ancient and modern history, and children's novels. Noted British playwright Robin Hawdon describes him as "the modern age's foremost dramatizer of Greek and Roman history," while bestselling American military author Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman has said he is "a literary giant." The majority of Dando-Collins's works deal with military history ranging from Greek, Persian and Roman times to American, British and Australian 19th century history and World War I and World War II. Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Albanian and Korean.. Considered an authority on the legions of ancient Rome, his 2010 book LEGIONS OF ROME has been called the definitive work on Rome's imperial legions, and was the culmination of decades of research into the individual legions. With all his books, Dando-Collins aims to travel roads that others have not, unearthing new facts and opening new perspectives on often forgotten or overlooked people and aspects of history. In 2024 he has two new releases, CAESAR VERSUS POMPEY, (Turner Publishing, US), and THE BUNA SHOTS: The Amazing Story Behind Two Photographs that Changed the Course of World War Two, (Australian Scholarly Publishing).

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
720 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very full of information and detailed on the history of the Roman military machine. They describe it as an enjoyable, interesting read with vivid and lively writing. Readers also mention the writing is well-written and easy to read and comprehend.

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Information qualityReadabilityWriting qualityValue for money
82 customers mention "Information quality"79 positive3 negative

Customers find the book very full of information. They say it provides a good overview of significant events and is an outstanding reference. Readers also appreciate the incredible amount of detail about all the legions and their place. Overall, they describe the book as comprehensive.

"Wonderfully researched with an engaging style. Numerous leadership and organizational gems throughout. So Glad(ius) I read this book...." Read more

"Best account of the history of individual Roman legions I have seen...." Read more

"Solid research that credibly debunks some of the myths and conclusions reached by other historians, and great penmanship that makes this large opus..." Read more

"...study of the battles that the Legions took part in, it is an excellent military history of the Roman Legions...." Read more

63 customers mention "Readability"63 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, interesting, and addictive. They say the material is high-level and comfortable to read.

"...A picture is worth... !All in all... a very good read.. many enemies" Read more

"...penmanship that makes this large opus on the legions of Rome very enjoyable to read despite its length...." Read more

"...The book is excellent, and will surely spark a new look at the Roman Legions by historians." Read more

"...But these details do not detract from what is a researched and enjoyable read...." Read more

42 customers mention "Writing quality"38 positive4 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, detailed, and easy to read and comprehend. They also appreciate the vivid and lively style. Readers mention the book is superbly presented and wonderfully informative.

"Wonderfully researched with an engaging style. Numerous leadership and organizational gems throughout. So Glad(ius) I read this book...." Read more

"...of the main units that formed the Roman military machine is described reasonably well considering the large number of such formations and the 2,000..." Read more

"...This is one of his favorite books. He loves the detail and the reading style . Well worth to add to any collection!" Read more

"...of the myths and conclusions reached by other historians, and great penmanship that makes this large opus on the legions of Rome very enjoyable to..." Read more

8 customers mention "Value for money"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth the money and say it's a good addition to any collection.

"...He loves the detail and the reading style . Well worth to add to any collection!" Read more

"...This is good accounting. The only disappointment is that this only includes the story of imperial legions only...." Read more

"...Well worth the money." Read more

"...Well worth the money." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

J Rob
5.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive and epic
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
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Wonderfully researched with an engaging style. Numerous leadership and organizational gems throughout. So Glad(ius) I read this book. Highly recommend.
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s3ops
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly detailed account of Roman legion structure with a synopsis of every numbered legion
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
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Best account of the history of individual Roman legions I have seen. I was specifically looking for more detailed information on the Julius Caesar original VIII Gemina legion and its role at the end of the empire in Egypt. This legion outlasted the Western Empire. Unfortunately, the book did not contain additional information.
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Lee Selkirk
4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Work About A Solid Institution
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2014
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A great read for someone wishing to understand why the Roman Republic rose to power and why the Empire endured so long. The review of the makeup of a typical legion, covering the men, equipment, and tactics, and the provides one with a good basis from which to evaluate its ongoing effectiveness. The author also briefly covers the matching characteristics of the host of enemies Rome faced over the centuries. Together, this information provides the basis for understanding both the rise and subsequent decline of the legion.

Each of the main units that formed the Roman military machine is described reasonably well considering the large number of such formations and the 2,000 year gap between their existence and today. It is clear to a person somewhat versed in Roman history that the author has scoured all available contemporary and valid historical resources when compiling this history. Enough illustrations are provided to give a visual record of the evolution of the appearance of a legionnaire but a specific chapter, with more pics, devoted to this topic would have been a nice addition to the text and greatly improved the book's overall impact.

The battle record of the legions main actions is covered, sometimes in great detail for specific events. Again, Mr. Collins gives us everything extant from appropriate sources. Perhaps the main weakness of this work is the vague manner in which the changes in equipment and tactics of both Rome and its enemies led to the decline of the effectiveness of the legion as a fighting unit. Being a systems-oriented consultant, i would have liked to see a chronological, tabular presentation of these various factors. A picture is worth... !

All in all... a very good read..

many enemies
29 people found this helpful
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Laura Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
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Let me preface this by saying my husband is an avid reader, ( a Library 100s of books )especially Roman history,viking history, weaponry etc...really any history . Well, in the vast sea of books online, I purchased this one, unbeknownst to me he has it, what are the odds really! That is a compliment, so I ended up returning, only for that reason. This is one of his favorite books. He loves the detail and the reading style . Well worth to add to any collection!
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Tiberius
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for every fan of the history of Rome and its mighty legions. Great scholarship and penmanship.
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2015
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Solid research that credibly debunks some of the myths and conclusions reached by other historians, and great penmanship that makes this large opus on the legions of Rome very enjoyable to read despite its length. The author first describes the creation, structure and evolution of the legions, then provides insightful summaries of the history of some of the better known legions, from their creation to their destruction. In the last section of the book, his description of specific campaigns and battles turns into an overview of the decline and fall of Rome through the eyes of its generals and their constant clashes for power, showing the progressive erosion of legion power through civil war attrition and the repeated tidal onslaughts of Eurasian barbarians and Middle Eastern foes.
3 people found this helpful
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John in Indy
5.0 out of 5 stars A very good history of the Roman Legions
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2023
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A detailed look at each of the known Roman Legions, their history, their battle honors, their commandrrs and Emperors, and their place in the history of the Roman Empire. Recommended
One person found this helpful
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ZVON
5.0 out of 5 stars Some Interesting New Ideas
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2011
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This is a massive study of the Roman Legions. The author covers all aspects, enlistment,pay, training, officers, organization, training, camp life etc. He then goes on to describe the history of each legion, and also the Praetorian Guard, the Equites Singularies etc.. The author is not afraid to take on theories long held by many historians on Legionary origins, such as Mommsen's opinion that Legion 10 Fretensis is not Caesar's famous 10th Legion, the author believes Mommsen is wrong and that it is indeed Caesar's 10th. He also has what is sure to be controversial ideas on Legionary shield emblems, that certainly don't match ideas long held by other historians. Ditto Trajan's Column, the author belives that historians have been mislead by what is on the column as to shield emblems and other aspects of Legion equipment. The last part of the book is an in depth study of the battles that the Legions took part in, it is an excellent military history of the Roman Legions. The book is excellent, and will surely spark a new look at the Roman Legions by historians.
93 people found this helpful
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Gar
5.0 out of 5 stars Strength and honor!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2013
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If you have always wanted a history of each of the Roman legions, this is it. This book takes you down to the individual Legionary and tells you how he was dressed, what he ate and the equipment he used in battle. It goes on to describe the details of their battles as you would expect, but it also addresses their mutinies, failures, treacherous allies and their sometimes inept, politically appointed, leaders. I had to brush the rust off my pronunciation of Latin names but I needed to do that anyway. All the places named are given their Roman names, but the author is kind enough to give the modern name where possible. All in all, this is an excellent history of the army and soldiers upon which most of the world's armies have been based to some degree or other.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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MJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr interessant
Reviewed in Germany on February 16, 2024
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Besonders für Personen die sich mit dem römischen Reich bereits gut auskennen interessant, da man neue Fakten über die verschiedenen Legionen erfahren kann. Eignet sich für Neulinge und Profis im Bereich "Rom".
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Leonardo Malquori
5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo libro
Reviewed in Italy on October 12, 2019
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Il libro è eccezionale, ben rilegato, descrive accuratamente tutti gli aspetti della legione romana. Successivamente fornisce, legione per legione, la formazione, la storia e le campagne di ogni unità. Belle illustrazioni e, cosa rarissima, tutti i disegni e colori degli scudi delle legioni.
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Fred
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in Australia on May 10, 2024
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As shown
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patrick joubert
5.0 out of 5 stars Legion of Rome
Reviewed in France on September 19, 2015
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Livre en anglais. Traite principalement des légions du début de l'empire romain. Le livre est divisé en trois parties : organisation, histoire rapide de chaque légion, campagne militaire durant l'empire ( notamment la disparition de la 9 hispania ). Un excellent livre, une référence pour l'histoire de Rome et de ses légions.
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Pato Sentado
4.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustivo pero para eruditos
Reviewed in Spain on October 31, 2014
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Detallada guia, tanto legion por legion, con su origne, estandartes y anecdotas, como con el desarrollo militar campaña a campaña, pero no es una novela, es para gente que quiera profundizar en el tema, con estilo muy docente y poco ameno.
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