From Legionaries to Knights: Roman Military Manuals in Medieval Europe

Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on the history of middle ages and medieval period continues with a video on the Roman military manuals and how they influenced the warfare in Europe in the centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. We will discover how the military wisdom of ancient Rome shaped the strategies of medieval Europe in From Legionaries to Knights: Influence of Roman Military Manuals. This video uncovers the enduring legacy of works like Vegetius' De Re Militari and Frontinus' Strategemata, which served as a bridge between the disciplined Roman legions and the feudal armies of the Middle Ages. Starting with the origins of these influential texts, we explore their role in preserving Roman military theory. Learn how the Carolingians and Ottonians incorporated these strategies into their campaigns, with examples like the Battle of the River Raxa highlighting their practical application. Through these texts, medieval commanders learned to organize armies, build fortifications, and execute battle plans with Roman precision.

Artwork: Vadym Berkutenko
Script: Erik Wascheck

Music courtesy of EpidemicSound

#Documentary #Roman #Medieval

00:00 - Introduction: Did Medieval Armies Use Roman Manuals?
01:16 - Vegetius and the De Re Militari
05:14 - Frontinus and the Strategemata
08:52 - Monastic Preservation of Roman Military Knowledge
11:22 - The Battle of the River Raxa: Applying Roman Tactics
13:10 - Roman Military Manuals’ Influence on Medieval Warfare
14:24 - Conclusion: Legacy of Roman Military Strategy

[Liquidsback]

As a Medieval Warrior, I thought we trained to form up in various formations and drills, but then when the battle commenced we break formation and fight each other individually. Meanwhile arrows penetrate our scale, mail, brigandine, gambeson and plate armor. Also, everything is dark and grim with a blue tint, and I'm wearing a helmet from the year 1066, with a curiass from 1450.

[PYRESATVARANASI]

The Byzantine training manuals are such a classic example of the Roman ability to preserve generations of knowledge. Such a beautiful thing to study such a long lasting tradition of historical preservation.

[Satria-lvqk]

Kings and Generals will never ever dissappoint. It's a miracle we have such great content for free here, I never skip Kings and Generals ads because even though im broke, it's the least I can do. I know we can only hear the narrator in all these videos, but I applaude to the entire team for their hardwork and contribution!

[SaguntoYT]

High quality content as always. By far the best channel dedicated to military history on YouTube. Huge thanks from Brazil 🇧🇷

[quibblequois]

I think it is really interesting how this channel is not just talking about battles and other historical event, but also giving us food for thoughts.

I would have never assume that centuries of knowelge would just disapear beacause an entity disappear, but I never really thought about it. Thank you for this video, a really good job!

[Findinavia]

The real Roman legacy for me is restoring the Empire in every game the “Byzantine Empire” is a playable faction in or downloading mods that make the empire exist in space

[AlphariusJingYuan]

Kinda interesting how medieval tactics and strategies were based off not only circumstances, but also (mostly) improved templates from earlier times. They gradually improved and adapted accordingly, just like the Romans in 753 BC up to 1453 AD.

[antoniobautista]

People forget that in the West, the Holy Roman Empire was seen not as a new empire, but a legitimate successor of the Western Roman Empire in the eyes of their contemporaries, and the emperors during its height of power (9th - 13th century, arguably 14th century as well) in the West were very aware of their promoted imperial legacy and connections. You could clearly see this in effect with the Ottonians and later developed and improved by the Salians and Hohenstaufen with the system of burgs and the Heerbann.

The Ottonians helped establish a systematic implementation of defense-in-depth composed of various burgs (fortifications) in vulnerable areas of the Empire, and employed the Heerbann, which was a mixed mobile army with a elite cavalry retinue. The Salians and Hohenstaufen would continue and develop this doctrine, and would increasingly supplement the Heerbann with imperial household troops and mercenaries as time went on. Although clearly not at the level of logistics and mobilization of the former Western Empire, you can clearly see the inspiration and the source for this doctrine from the Dominate era Western Empire with its limes fortifications with their limitanei defenders, and mobile armies of the comitatenses and infantry Palatini alongside the elite Scholae Palatinae cavalry forces assisting them.

[jonbaxter]

K&G with my daily reminder to think about the Roman Empire...

[ahmedshaharyarejaz]

Warfare knowledge is one of the things that always survives. It's too valuable to forget.

[TorvusVae]

@8:30 Devin says "Ottoman", but what I think you meant was "Ottonian"

[rennor]

Imagine being asked to whom do you owe the military education and instruction that resulted in the organization of such a successful military front and you reply with "Frontinus''.

[Earthnevevo]

I love exploring how the world of Antiquity still influenced the way people conducted society and warfare in ways like this. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. o7

[gbendicion]

K&G pumping out Roman videos is amazing!

[Unammedacc]

Just the cavalry charges performed by knights were really complex tactics, requirring high training and cohesion ^^ !

[samuelmargueret]

Everything is here ... the quality the naration everything is perfect .... plus bringing a topic like this, i would Never though that romans military books inspired techniques for early armies of middel age !!! Content is insane on this channel !!

[ItzJustHistory]

Even as a non-YouTube Member/Patreon patron (I can’t afford it), I kind of like having the “sponsored by our kind patrons” section towards the front of the video after the introduction, rather than at the end. I think it’s good to acknowledge the sponsors at the beginning of the video, and not leave it as an afterthought

[MrSteveK]

Both books arrived last night which I ordered because of this video. Thank you for the inspiration, KG!

[anthonyfrench]

I always love that you give deeper knowledge to this. This was my first time to hear about this. Thank you.

[szabolcsmate]

Passed my Roman law exem. I can enjoy roman history again.