Justinian's men - David Alan Parnell

This
book explores the professional and
social lives of the soldiers who served in the army of the Byzantine Empire in
the sixth century. More than just a fighting force, this army was the setting
in which hundreds of thousands of men forged relationships and manoeuvred for
promotion. The officers of this force, from famous generals like Belisarius
and Narses to lesser-known men like Buzes and Artabanes, not only fought
battles but also crafted social networks and cultivated their relationships
with their emperor, fellow officers, families, and subordinate soldiers.
Looming in the background were differences in identity, particularly between
Romans and those they identified as barbarians. Drawing on numerical evidence
and stories from sixth-century authors who understood the military, Justinian's Men highlights a
sixth-century Byzantine army that was vibrant, lively, and full of individuals
working with and against each other.