Children of Mars

This book invokes a fresh and new approach to Roman warfare. Armstrong lays out a different picture of Rome’s military expansion, showing how the origins of its empire began with the individual activities of independent war bands that only gradually began to work together to take on larger conquests. Rather than viewing the construction of Rome’s empire through the political lens of the Senate House, Armstrong centers his discussion on the development of warfare outside the city. It is a thoroughly engaging and well-written book that gives new insight into the early armies that laid the groundwork for Rome’s empire. * Fred Drogula, Author of Cato the Younger *Children of Mars presents an engaging, challenging, yet accessible account of Rome’s wars from the era of the kings through its conquest of Italy. It highlights the contingent nature of ‘the Republic’ as an ongoing conversation among a fluid network of families and clans that gradually came together to pursue their individual advantage though collaborative warfare. The story it tells differs profoundly from the usual narrative, yet intriguingly foreshadows the rise of the warlords at the Republic’s demise. * Nathan Rosenstein, Author of Imperatores Victi and Rome at War *… an updated and counterintuitive history of the Roman conquest of the Italian peninsula and the evolution of Rome’s culture and society … well worth reading. * David Harsanyi, The Federalist, Best Books of the Year 2025 *This scholarly work … is highly recommended for its modern interpretation that does not lose any of the colour of earlier accounts. * Nevil Gibson, New Zealand Listener *

Jeremy Armstrong is Professor of Ancient History at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and the author of Early Roman Warfare: From the Regal Period to the First Punic War and War and Society in Early Rome: From Warlords to Generals.