Ammianus Marcellinus - Soldier-Historian of the Late Roman Empire - Henry T. Rowell

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by jayni

A scholarly foreword and lecture introduction frame Ammianus Marcellinus as a distinctive late Roman historian whose literary reception developed through editions and running commentaries from the seventeenth century onward. The text highlights early editorial commentary arguing for Ammianus’ historical value, broad knowledge, careful observation, and judgment, while also addressing his limited popularity and the perceived harshness and obscurity of his style. Later authorities are cited to support Ammianus’ reliability as a guide to his own times, especially in accounts of war, and his qualities as an interpreter of human character and events.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages60

Reading Time1 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

The Background

Early Editions and Running Commentaries

Lindenbrog’s Observations on Ammianus

Later Assessments by Historians

Ammianus Marcellinus,Soldier-Historian ofthe Late Roman Empire BY HENRY T.ROWELL THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI 1964 Ammianus Marcellinus,Soldier-Historian ofthe Late Roman Empire BY HENRY T.ROWELL THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI I964 ## FOREWORD Near the beginning of my teaching career,I had the great privi-lege of becoming acquainted personally with Professor and Mrs.William Tunstall Semple.Although circumstances did not permitme ever to know them as well as I should have liked to,I wasalways moved,wherever we met,by the warmth of their friendli-ness and their unfeigned interest in a young scholar who was thenonly entering into a field which they had already long cultivatedwith generosity and wisdom.All students of Greco-Roman an-tiquity are deeply indebted to the Semples and their countless bene-factions are too well known to need enumeration here.But I shouldfeel myself ungrateful if I did not make clear that to the greathonor of being invited to deliver these lectures,which I deeplyappreciate,there is joined a happy and admiring memory of LouiseTaft Semple,in whose honor they were established.I hope thatthe pages which follow may not be entirely unworthy of her. I wish to thank all members of the Classics Department of theUniversity of Cincinnati and their wives for their truly Salian hos-pitality.No reception could have been more cordial or more en-joyed.I also wish to express my gratitude to the Editorial Com-mittee for allowing me to rewrite and expand these lectures so thatwhat was originally designed for oral delivery within fixed periodsof time might,where the need occurred,be recast in a form moresuitable for reading. HENRY T.RoWELL Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2022 with funding fromKahle/Austin Foundation AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS,SOLDIER-HISTORIANOF THE LATE ROMAN EMPIRE BY HENRY T.ROWELL DELIVERED FEBRUARY 17 AND 18,1964 I:THE BACKGROUND HE Roman Historian Ammianus Marcellinus has had arather unusual literary afterlife.Although the editioprinceps of his History was published in Rome as earlyas I474,it was not until the first half of the seventeenth centurythat the text began to be equipped with running commentaries.Thefirst of these was produced by the Hamburg scholar FriedrichLindenbrog(Lindenbrogius)in 1609.²In the Preface to the text ofhis edition,he makes three observations,the gist of which has beenrepeated time and again until today.3 They concern Ammianus'value as a historian,his lack of popularity and his style. After some generalities on the pleasure and usefulness of history,Lindenbrog urges the reader to choose writers who can form themind with precepts of wisdom and lessons drawn from importantevents,in preference to those who delight the ear,but are emptyof substance.He places Ammianus among the former,as a serious 5 AMMIANUS MARCELLINUS author of discriminating talent(ingenii elegantis)and is thereforesurprised and indignant that he is not more widely read.AmongAmmianus'virtues as a historian,Lindenbrog praises his breadth,immediate and intimate knowledge of his own times,careful ob-servation,good judgment and many-sided learning—the last,notwithout criticism of its often untimely use.As to Ammianus'style,Lindenbrog considers it hard and rough(durus et asper),if com-pared with the Augustan Age,and accounts for its military flavorby Ammianus'Greek origin and career in the Roman army;yet,as roses and lilies sometimes grow in a briar patch,so in Ammianusdo certain blossoms of urbane elegance shine forth,which couldvie with the Latinity of Livy;where Ammianus is obscure,weshould attribute the obscurity to our own ignorance;and were heto come to life again,he would not recognize himself,so woefullyhas he been interpolated in the course of time.So Lindenbrog onAmmianus,some three hundred and fifty years ago. Praise for Ammianus'qualities as a historian is now a common-place.It has been bestowed upon him most lavishly by those whohave been most familiar with his ent

FAQs

Why does the author discuss early commentaries on Ammianus Marcellinus?

The text explains that although Ammianus’ History was edited early, running commentaries and critical framing began later, shaping how his historical value, popularity, and style were understood.

What qualities of Ammianus as a historian are emphasized in the commentary tradition?

Ammianus is praised for breadth of learning, firsthand and intimate knowledge of his era, careful observation, sound judgment, and reliability—especially in accounts of battles and sieges.

How is Ammianus’ style described, and what explanations are offered?

His style is characterized as hard and rough and sometimes obscure; explanations include his military background and Greek origin, while other critics argue obscurity may reflect the reader’s ignorance or later interpolation.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by jayni