Strategem: The Roman Strategy of War - Softcover

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Frontius had a diverse career that includes experience as a soldier and engineer.  Of his works that have survived down to us, De aquaeductu, consists of two books reporting on the history and description of the aqueducts of Rome to the Emperor Nerva.  He served in the army in Germany under Domitian as well as in Britain. Stratagems consist of four books, three of which are accepted to belong to Frontius while the fourth has been in doubt. There are indications that Stratagems was written in conjunction with a now lost book on military theory.  Frontius wrote his book while Rome was at the height of its military prowess, but wanted to remind his readers of the worthies of history and the constant need to learn from their examples in order to keep the military strong.

On Military Matters (De Re Militari) originally consisted of five books, only three of which are presented here while the fourth and fifth dealt with the Roman Navy and Sieges.   Vegetius wrote his books when Rome was in decline as a military power, as a way to regain the might of the first century, but ignores the central problems of Rome’s civil wars and lack of martial spirit.