Roman Military Discipline in Biondo Flavio’s 'Roma Triumphans': Punishments and Rewards

Among the numerous aspects of Roman society discussed by Biondo Flavio in the Roma Triumphans, the art of making war which is analysed in depth in Books VI-VII is worth mentioning. Within this context, in addition to which we should also remark Book X, centred on the triumphal ceremony, special attention is given to military discipline. In this respect, through passages taken from various classical sources, Biondo highlights, among others, the attention accorded by ancient Romans to the granting of privileges, honours and rewards appropriate to gratify the soldiers and encourage others to take up the military life as well as the use of strict methods of control and punishment. From this perspective, the paper focuses the author’s knowledge of specific episodes and aspects attested by historiographical and juridical sources and his competence in selecting quotations illustrating the meaning of certain words belonging to the military sphere, in order to note his attitude in combining an antiquarian approach and a pragmatic interpretation of Roman military institutions and his interest in evaluating them from various points of view.