The only Latin art of war to survive, Vegetius' Epitome was for long a part of the medieval prince's military education. The core of his proposals, the maintenance of a professional standing army, was revolutionary for medieval Europe, while his theory of deterrence through strength remains the foundation of modern Western defence policy.
The only Latin Art of War to survive, Vegetius's Epitome was long an essential part of the medieval prince's military doctrine. The core of his revolutionary proposals was the maintenance of a highly trained professional army and navy, while his theory of deterrence through strength remains the foundation of modern Western defense policy. This annotated translation highlights the significance of Vegetius's advice, written just before the fall of the Roman Empire in the West, at a time when economic weakness and political disintegration threatened to undermine the strategic defensive structure that had underpinned the Roman State for so long.
