Elliott, Alex M. Fleets and Naval Forces of the Late Roman Mediterranean (3rd-6th Centuries)

The fleets and naval forces of the Roman Empire were traditionally understood as the Roman Navy, which guarded the waterways of the Mediterranean and the northern border. No longer facing any significant competition at sea, this navy is said to have gradually declined during the 1st and 2nd centuries, until it finally disappeared during the barbarian invasions of the 3rd century. This book directly challenges the concept of a Roman navy and the associated narratives of institutional decline, re-evaluating the role and development of the fleets and naval forces of the late Roman Mediterranean (3rd6th centuries). It does so through a systematic examination of the fate of the early imperial classes and the emergence and development of new classes in the later empire. Beyond these obvious naval forces, this book also examines the use of ships by other non-maritime military units and the creation of ad hoc fleets for major campaigns. Finally, it analyses the development of the design and use of military galleys during the same period, thus providing a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of the role and transformation of the fleets and ships used by the late Roman military.