Carrhae 53 BC

Dr Nic Fields started his career as a biochemist before joining the Royal Marines. Returning to university, he completed a BA and PhD in Ancient History at the University of Newcastle. He was Assistant Director at the British School at Athens, Greece, and then a lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Edinburgh. Nic is now a freelance author and researcher.Seán Ó'Brógáin lives and works in Donegal, Ireland. He has a BA (Hons) in Scientific and Natural History illustration from Lancaster University and has provided illustrations for a wide range of clients, including the University of Manchester, An Post, the National Museum of Ireland, the Irish Office of Public Works, and a variety media companies, museums, councils, and private individuals.

• ORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGNOPPOSING COMMANDERSMarcus Licinius CrassusSurenaOPPOSING FORCESCrassus’ armySurena’s armyTHE BACKGROUND TO WARDeparting RomeThe settingTHE BATTLE OF CARRHAEInto ParthiaThe day of battleThe Roman retreatThe death of CrassusThe reasons whyAFTERMATHCicero in CiliciaBloodshed at homeRoman renegadeMarcus Antonius’ adventureAugustus the avengerABBREVIATIONSBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX

The author has produced a thoroughly researched profile of this humiliating defeat of one of the Triumvirate and the loss of most of a Roman army. He combines a knowledge of the classical sources (as usual, few in number and reliability) with a grasp of the military issues at both strategic and tactical level.