PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY
Ross Cowan went to the University of Glasgow with the intention of studying Medieval history but was waylaid by Classics, and eventually emerged with a Ph.D. for research on the Praetorian Guard and Second Parthian Legion. Now a freelance writer and historian, Dr Cowan has published five books and numerous articles on all aspects of warfare in the Roman World. Sean O'Brogain lives and works in Donegal, Ireland. He has a BA (Hons) in scientific and natural history illustration from Blackpool and Fylde College (Lancaster University).
Excellent artwork by Sean o Brogain enlivens author Ross Cowan's informative narrative in Roman Guardsman 62 BC-AD 324 . Cowan chronicles how the fighting abilities of praetorians, speculatores, singulares and protectores serving as shock troops or bodyguards influenced the course of Roman history. The author outlines the nature of these troops and how they changed. Also examined are their organization, varied appearance, weapons and equipment. In addition, Cowan concisely covers guardsmen's operational successes and failures, from their beginnings in the Late Republic to their climactic losing battle against Constantine the Great. --Toy Soldier and Model Figure magazine
