FORTRESS No 83 ROMAN AUXILIARY FORTS 27 BC-AD 378

With the vast expansion of the Roman Empire came a need for more and more fortifications to defend it. The borders of the Empire stretched through wildly different terrains which demanded a huge variety of different fortifications, depending on the local conditions and the threats faced by the different areas. The adoption of local troops (auxiliaries) and local building techniques at key strategic points on the outskirts of the empire led to an intriguing mix of strong Roman structure with unique culturally diverse elements. Describing the development of these hugely varied defensive systems, Duncan Campbell delves into the operation and social history behind the fortifications. With detailed colour artwork and maps, he traces their history through the Batavian Revolt of the 1st Century AD, which saw auxiliary units scattered far from their native regions, until the decline of the late-3rd and 4th centuries placed their fortifications in an increasingly pressurised and eventually untenable position. Contents Introduction * Chronology * Chronology of Roman auxiliary forts * The design and development of auxiliary forts * The elements of an auxiliary fort * Living in a Roman fort * Aftermath: auxiliary forts in the later period * The sites today