Milvian Bridge AD 312: Constantine's battle for Empire and Faith (Campaign, 296)

There's a secret about the Osprey books about antiquity- lately they have been really stepping up the authors, the writing and the text-y bits. Author Ross Cowan is a very current and very with-it author who has been writing many of the Osprey books concerned with Rome's Crisis of the Third Century and Late Rome, two of the hotter areas of study over the past decade and half century respectively. He should know, because this area is also his academic specialty.The Battle of Milvian Bridge determined the cultural influence of the Late Roman Empire and marked the final breakdown of Diocletian's rather successful Tetrachic system which had "re-booted" the Roman Empire out of its sad, vicious cycle of civil wars, invasions and economic catastrophe. However, this battle which proved so pivotal to the future of Europe if not the entire Mediterranean basin is documented by a paucity of first-hand accounts, many of them less concerned with preserving facts than praising the winner. Ross Cowan has worked hard with these lamentable sources of this momentous event to try to piece together something that could fit in an Osprey Campaign book. He really has put a lot of work into reconstructing the actual site of the battle as well as attempt to make the murky and ever-shifting political scene comprehensible for the lay reader.Did Constantine enlist the Christian community simply to fill the ranks of his followers? Was his conversion a very cynical method of attracting support? Did Constantine even have any legitimacy under Diocletian's new system of succession? As important as these questions might be, the outcome of this battle meant the Roman Empire would go Christian in a process that would take up the better part of the Fourth Century, culminating with Theodosius.Cowan has been been paired with veteran Osprey illustrator Sean O'Brogain. O'Brogain too had a difficult task ahead of him as well: a decades-long trend of innovation in Roman equipment was coupled with another aesthetic trend toward "Classicization" in Roman society- the troops on both sides had a look combining an early medieval or barbaric style with a near caricature of the Classic Roman military look. O'Brogan does a very good job, although the background of the hill with Torre di Quinto adds a very medieval/early Christian element to the pictures, like they could have been rendered in tempura with gold highlights! O'Brogan is able to execute this assignment with aplomb. He renders packed images of battle that are quite credible. He has a very good understanding of what the Late Roman army looked like.Furthermore, the choice of photos is very valuable for the reader with more discerning ideas about what Roman culture was like in the early Fourth Century and the maps are useful in tracing the progress of the two armies as they came into contact.I only hope Ross Cowan can put out more books on the Severan Dynasty and the Crisis of the Third Century!

Nice book. Loved how Dr. Cowan addressed the issues regarding the conflicting accounts of the battle, then turn around and propose a slightly different account that combines the known facts that made sense. He also locates the battle a bit farther from the actual Milvian Bridge and shows that - initially - it was Constantine's army who had their backs (!) to the Tiber (actually a loop of the Tiber) - which would explain why Maxentius, from a tactical point of view, was lured to give battle (also encouraged by Saxa Rubra "battle") instead of waiting out a siege (which was strategically, the prudent, tried-and-proven thing to do). Very interesting.He also posits that the battle was short - by ancient standards - but hard fought and was decided when Maxentius' vaunted cavalry cut and ran leading to the rout of much of his army except for the (in)famous Praetorian Guards who stood their ground and earned Constantine's mercy (sort of). Recommended.

Nice work on a decisive but little known battle in antiquity. I liked the lead up to the battle, and the strategy that the authors lays out about the possible scenarios and movements the forces took to result in the engagement at the Milvian Bridge Given two competent generals, this was no walk over for Constantine, and gives credit to his abilities in the field. Nice maps and illustrations add depth to the text.

This is the kind of book engineers like myself dig! It has details! Lots and lots of details! The fiction loving reader for pleasure type may not like it, but I certainly love its textbook feel.

Husband was pleased with the book. Received quickly and in great condition. Thank you.

Excellent historical guide to the battle. The photos, art and maps are excellent. The book arrived in perfect condition.

Again, your quality exceeded expectations. I own 55 Osprey military books and will triple that.Kudos.Sincerely,David Christopher

Cover was slightly bent when received

Interessant ist, daß die verschiedenen Quellen zur Schlacht vorgestellt werden. Das Buch ist nach typischen Schema historischer Kontext der Schlacht, Feldherren, beteiligte Armeen, Wirkung aufgebaut, dann folgt die eigentliche Schlacht und der Auswirkungen. Die Schlacht selbst ist hier in ihrer Darstellung relativ kurz (eigentlich nur ein zusammenprall der Truppen bei dem die Truppen von Konstatins Gegner relativ schnell überrannt wurden). Die beteiligten Armeen Legionen sind auch nur vage beschrieben, da die Kenntnisse zur Schlacht doch sehr rudimentär sind.Dafür sind hier die verschiedenen Quellen zur Schlacht kurz aufgeführt mit Bewertung des Autors und Inhalts. Die enthaltenen Zeichnungen sind eher auf unterem Niveau der Reihe. Die historische Bewertung ist auch relativ kurz.

Another Christmas present for brother in law - he's crazy about military history

Very quick, efficient service. A nicely illustrated, exceptionally well-written account of a critical military campaign. Cowan's scholarship is impressive and his judgments are clearly well-founded. His account enables the reader to understand the pressures, constraints and genius which led to Constantine's crucial victory. A superior Osprey Campaign series book.

Veramente un bel libro che racconta in modo detttagliato ma sintetico lo svolgersi degli eventi. Sarebbe stato meglio avere qualche tavola a disegno in più. Really a nice book that in a linear but effective way describe the development of the events up to the clue of the battle. A COUPLE MORE TABLES OF FIGURES WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATE.

Tout le monde connait ou à entendu parler de cette bataille du Pont Milvieux au cours de laquelle les troupes prétoriennes (et autres) de Maxence affrontèrent les troupes de Constantin, l'introducteur de la religion chrétienne dans l'empire romain et y furent vaincues. Cet ouvrage dû à la plume de Ross Cowan est bien fait et ses illustrations - je parle des illustrations en couleur de l'excellent dessinateur Sean O'Brogain - (car les illustrations photos en noir et blanc ont toujours laissé à désirer chez Osprey), sont parfaites. Je suis un peu en retrait sur l'idée de la croix défaisant le paganisme car, comme Clovis plus tard, soit disant sur les conseils de Clotilde, avant une victoire de Tolbiac à la date très contestée, il faut reconnaitre que la politique sociale ou celle que l'on appelle la "Grande Politique" s'y prêtaient bien et, comme on le fera dire plus tard encore à Henri IV; l'homme au panache blanc, "Paris vaut bien une messe"...