Armen Ayvazyan, Doctor of History and Political Science, is the author of numerous articles and books on Armenian history.
Armen Ayvazyan’s book consists of two studies, dealing with aspects of the Roman and Armenian military history often overlooked, which are distinct but whose themes overlap. These studies are devoted to the Armenian revolt in 538-539 against the government of Emperor Justinian and the reasons for his failure in the Strategikon the Emperor Maurice, one of the most famous Byzantine treaties of the art of war. The author also puts into perspective the crucial aspects of military culture of Rome and Armenia from the fourth to the sixth century.
This, very little studied, is considered in a multidisciplinary way by the author on the basis of Armenian and Western sources. This book teaches us especially popular tactics used by Armenians between the V and VI centuries to fight against enemy forces superior in number. The formidable fighting efficiency of Armenian military forces was rarely challenged. From antiquity until the eleventh century AD, Armenia possessed one of the most experienced armies, most effective and most organized of the entire Middle East. The author also emphasizes the continuity between the Roman and Byzantine policies opposing the independence of Armenia and perpetuating mainly for geopolitical reasons some ethnic prejudices against Armenians living in the Roman and Byzantine societies.
This book also provides a concise but thorough study of military relations between Byzantium, Armenia and Iran.
The Armenian military forces in the Byzantine Empire, Armen Ayvazyan, Sigest Publishing, 152 pages, 14.95 euros
To order online from the publisher’s site
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