THE GRAND STRATEGY, OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE EDWARD N. LUTTWAKTHE GRAND STRATEGY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE From the First Century A.D. to the Third ‘THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS BALTIMORE AND LONDONTO MY WIFE, DALYA Copyright © 1976 by The Johns Hopkins University Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96, 11098 ‘The Johns Hopkins University Press 2715 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4319 The jlns Hopkins Press Ltd, London Johns Hopkins Paperbacks edition, 1979 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Luttwak, Edward. ‘The grand strategy of the Roman Empire from the first century A.D. to the third, Bibliography: p.233, Includes index 1, Rome—Army. 2 Strategy. 3. Miltary history, Ancient Title U35.L8 355093037 76.1723 ISBN 0-8018-2158-4 (paperback) ‘A catalog record for this book is available from the British Library. CONTENTS FOREWORD by J. F. Gilliam ir PREFACE xi INTRODUCTION 1 One THE JULIO-CLAUDIAN SYSTEM. Client States and Mobile Armies from Augustus to Nero 7 The System in Outline, 13 The Client States, 20 The Management of the Clients, 30 The Tactical Organization of the Army, 40 ‘The Strategic Deployment of Forces, 46 Conclusion, 49 Two FROM THE FLAVIANS TO THE SEVERI. “Scientific” Frontiers and Preclusive Defense from Vespasian fo Marcus Aurelius 51 The System in Outline, $5 Border Defense: The Tactical Dimension, 61 Border Defense: The Strategic Dimension, 80 The Decline ofthe Client System, 111 The Army, 117 Conclusion, 126