The Roman Army - a Model to Emulate in Fighting the Ottomans?

Patrizi, Francesco. La militia Romana di Polibio, di Tito Livio, e di Dionigi Alicarnaseo. Da Francesco Patricii dichiarata, e con varie figure illustrata [...].

€ 2,500.00

First edition.

A major study on the ancient Roman army, based on the author's reading of Polybius, Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Patrizi posits that the art of warfare is the basis of peace and human happiness. His benchmark are the Romans, whose army he views as superior to all others - in particular that of the Ottomans: if the Christian armies could only emulate the military forces of ancient Rome, he writes, they need not fear the Turks. The only modern army to come close to this ideal, he feels, was that of Duke Alfonso I d'Este gelungen, whose methods of fortification and siegecraft were exemplary. It is therefore perhaps little surprise that Patrizi dedicates his work to Alfonso II d'Este, the ruler of Ferrara and the grandson of Alfonso I. The engravings show military formations and camps, individual legionaries, attack formations, etc.

Binding repaired with modern endpapers. A good copy with very insignificant traces of worming to the title and the final two leaves, as well as a few repaired edge defects.