Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra

Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra – Vicent Garcia Editores – R/31603 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)

Salamanca (Spain) — February 1st, 1515

The secret of the "invincible" Roman legions: a captivating military manual by the Roman general Sextus Julius Frontinus, translated into Spanish in the 15th century and first printed in 1515

  1. Sextus Julius Frontinus (ca. 40–103) was a Roman general, civil engineer, author, and politician

  2. He served in Germania during the reign of Emperor Domitian (51–96) and offers various stratagems from Greek and Roman history

  3. Roman military manuals were prized by Renaissance scholars seeking the secret to the legions’ reputation for near invincibility

Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra

Facsimile Copy Available!
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  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra

Uncovering and translating works from antiquity was one of the most important labors of the Renaissance. While the great works of ancient poets and philosophers were highly prized, there were other, far more practical texts that were of interest. The Romans has been great craftsmen, engineers, and soldiers, creating the world’s first professional army with standardized training, tactics, units, and equipment. The 1st century Roman military manual by Sextus Julius Frontinus was translated into Spanish in the 15th century and printed in the early 16th century – a work that spans history.

Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra

Rediscovered works from antiquity were popular during the Renaissance and were being translated into vernacular languages at a tremendous rate. Roman military manuals were particularly popular as authors sought to discover the secret to the legions’ reputation for near invincibility. One such work was the Strategemata or Stratagems by the 1st century Roman general, civil engineer, author, and politician Sextus Julius Frontinus (ca. 40–103). In the text, presumably written as a handbook for generals, Frontinus provides examples of various stratagems from Greek and Roman history. Although best known for his treatise on water engineering, aqueducts specifically, he was an experienced military leader, having served as a general in Germania during the reign of Emperor Domitian (51–96). Nonetheless, like most classical works, his treatise appears to be based mostly on literary sources, building on respected traditions rather than his personal experience. Diego Guillén de Ávila, who translated the text into Spanish in the 15th century, wrote that Frontinus “puts many remedies and tricks into action for all the events of war”, indicating that the author had ample and well-chosen anecdotes for his text. This Spanish edition was printed on February 1st, 1515 by Lorenzo di Liondedei in Salamanca and its instructive text was adorned with engraved initials and preceded by a full-page woodcut of the royal crest.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Stratagemata
Size / Format
124 pages / 21.5 × 14.5 cm
Origin
Spain
Date
February 1st, 1515
Language
Content
Translation of the Roman military manual of Sextus Iulius Frontinus
Artist / School

Available facsimile editions:
Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra – Vicent Garcia Editores – R/31603 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 2002
Limited Edition: 3160 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra

Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 2002
Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra – Vicent Garcia Editores – R/31603 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Los Quatro Libros… de los Enxemplos, Consejos y Avisos de la Guerra – Vicent Garcia Editores – R/31603 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain) Photos with courtesy of the publisher

Publisher: Vicent Garcia Editores – Valencia, 2002
Limited Edition: 3160 copies
Binding: Binding of parchment on wooden cover Cloth-lined presentation case with gold engraved leather spine
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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