The information presented was written by Chris Buckham; however, it was published in Ancient Warfare Magazine. Therefore, the material is reproduced here by the author with the permission of the magazine. If you would like to republish this information or refer to excerpts please contact: Dirk van Gorp (editor@medieval-warfare.com). Website for the Magazine is: www.karwansaraypublishers.com/
ISBN: 978-1-848841-192
Hardcover
Pages: 188
Illustrations: 15 B/W, 3 maps
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publishing
There
are a number of historical figures that are readily recognizable to the modern
day reader; Julius Caesar, Cleopatra and Alexander the Great all fall into this
category. Petellius Cerialis is not one of them; however, he lived during one
of the most unstable and exciting times of the Roman Empire and was in the
right place at the right time to play a crucial, albeit understated, role in
its eventual successful outcome. Records found from the Roman period in
question provide historians with a plethora of information relating to the life
and work of Cerialis. It is very unique to have this degree of detail relating
to a historical figure and the author, Matyszak, has done an admirable job of
bringing the character to life.
In
order to place the narrative in context Matyszak has structured his book in
such a way that the reader is able to appreciate the political, societal,
historical and economic factors that led up to the events within which Cerialis
played such a central role. His ability to highlight and explain key aspects of
Roman history and society (for example the emphasis/high regard placed upon the
successful military/politician) is central to the accessibility of this book to
the population at large. His writing is both clear and direct which makes for
an entertaining and engaging read. Matyszak style is also hallmarked by his
ability to weave seamlessly between the strategic (ie Roman empire at large)
picture with the tactical level. This is particularly beneficial due to the
degree of complexity involved with the year 69 AD “The Year of the Four
Emperors”.
He also personalizes the
narrative with a dry somewhat cynical wit. An outstanding example of this was
his reference to a conversation between the senator Seneca and the Emperor Nero
as the latter was descending into isolation and paranoia. In a classic example
of understatement Seneca advises Nero: “no matter how many you kill, you can’t
kill your successor”. The author salts his book with numerous examples of this
style of commentary.
Another worthy achievement of
Matyszak’s work is the manner in which he provides ancillary information to the
reader that adds depth to the storyline. Thus, when he discusses the
engagements between Roman and ‘Barbarians’ he outlines how the Romans ensured local/tactical
superiority through their fighting style versus that of the adversary. Due to
the German/Celtic style of fighting (primarily utilizing a five foot slashing
sword) they required greater individual room for maneuver than the Romans with
their stabbing swords (the gladius). Therefore, the Romans were able to
maintain a frontage superiority of 5 soldiers to 3. Also, the title Imperial
General refers to the change in dynamic between the Roman Generals of the
Republic who would strive for personal advancement to Consul of the Senate
through military success, and the Generals of the Empire who’s success was
focused on gaining Imperial favour.
The complexity of the
relationship between the Army and the political arm of the Roman administration
and the degree of which the Army had come to see itself as the final arbiter of
who would become (and remain) the Emperor is a major theme throughout Matyszak’s
book. Cerialis’ challenge and response, as an Imperial General, when faced with
disgruntled Rhine Legions in Gaul and the demoralized Legions in Britain is a
fascinating study of leadership under adverse conditions. Once Matyszak has
painted the ‘big hand/small map’ picture, he is able to focus his attention on
the career of Cerialis. His deep involvement in the initial response to the
rebellion of Boudica in Britain and in the re-establishment of central command to
the Rhine legions were both highlights of Cerialis’ career. Through his focus
on Cerialis, the author provides a riveting, in-depth analysis of the tangled relationships
that existed between Rome and her Generals.
This book is an extremely
readable analysis of Rome during a period of instability and internal strife.
Matyszak has done a commendable job at unraveling the complexities of this period
and highlighting the role of Cerialis in the success and re-establishment of
stability within the Empire. Anyone, professional historian, those with a
casual interest in Roman Imperial intrigue or those looking for an interesting
read will all be satisfied with this book. I certainly was.
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