{"title":"Joanne Ball","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"publius-quinctilius-varus-book-joanne-ball-9781399088329","title":"Publius Quinctilius Varus","description":"Publius Quinctilius Varus is famous as the incompetent commander duped into an ambush that wiped out three legions in one of the most humiliating defeats in Roman history. Yet this is the first full length biography of the man. Dr Joanne Ball revisits the ancient sources alongside the most recent archaeological evidence from the Teutoburg battlefield in Germany, where she has been personally involved in excavations. The result is a fresh, detailed new analysis of this significant battle and a reappraisal of the Roman commander.  Examination of his earlier career reveals that Varus, who had married into the Imperial family, was an experienced and competent, if harsh and ruthless, governor and general. He had served in Africa and put down rebellions in Syria and Judaea before being posted to Germany. Dr Ball sets his German command in the context of wider events, explaining the weakness of the Roman position there and the necessary reliance on auxiliary forces. Although Varus was clearly fooled by Arminius, the former Roman auxiliary who masterminded the Teutoburg battle in AD 9, she questions the extent of Varus' culpability and asks whether he was scapegoated by Roman historians to deflect blame away from the Emperor.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49752133435665,"sku":"NGR9781399088329","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50008402395409,"sku":"GOR013835369","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50823805862161,"sku":"GOR014087388","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1399088327.jpg?v=1751051179"},{"product_id":"tacfarinas-an-african-rebel-against-rome-book-joanne-ball-9781399039857","title":"Tacfarinas: An African Rebel Against Rome","description":"Examines the Tacfarinas, a Roman-trained Numidian who led a fierce guerrilla rebellion against Rome in North Africa from AD 17 to 24. Tacfarinas, was a North African Numidian auxiliary soldier who deserted from the Roman army and led an insurrection against Rome from AD 17 to 24. He built a small band of fellow deserters and local brigands into a force that could match the occupier's military strength in the region, training them in Roman style to exceptionally high standards. Using irregular guerrilla tactics, Tacfarinas won some substantial victories. Combining his insider knowledge of the Roman army and superior understanding of the topography to maximum effect, his activities had a significant impact. Disruption of the African grain supply to Rome caused urban unrest which threatened the city itself. The conflict was a severe test for Tiberius, and one of the most significant military challenges of his reign as emperor. It took seven years and four proconsuls to subdue the rebellion. Several times they defeated Tacfarinas in battle and celebrated victory but each time he renewed the defiant struggle. Only when the new proconsul, Publius Cornelius Dolabella, to adapted Roman strategy to mirror those of their wily enemy, was Tacfarinas finally killed in a surprise attack. First setting the context of what is known of the region at the time and the experience of Rome's Numidian auxiliaries, Joanne Ball details these dramatic events. Thoroughly researched and based on the latest, ongoing archaeology, this is a classic tale of the underdog defying a powerful empire in the name of freedom, which, though ultimately doomed to a tragic ending, deserves to be remembered.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52518719193361,"sku":"NIN9781399039857","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"publius-quinctilius-varus-book-joanne-ball-9781399088367","title":"Publius Quinctilius Varus","description":"Publius Quinctilius Varus is famous as the incompetent commander duped into an ambush that wiped out three legions in one of the most humiliating defeats in Roman history. Yet this is the first full length biography of the man. Dr Joanne Ball revisits the ancient sources alongside the most recent archaeological evidence from the Teutoburg battlefield in Germany, where she has been personally involved in excavations. The result is a fresh, detailed new analysis of this significant battle and a reappraisal of the Roman commander.  Examination of his earlier career reveals that Varus, who had married into the Imperial family, was an experienced and competent, if harsh and ruthless, governor and general. He had served in Africa and put down rebellions in Syria and Judaea before being posted to Germany. Dr Ball sets his German command in the context of wider events, explaining the weakness of the Roman position there and the necessary reliance on auxiliary forces. Although Varus was clearly fooled by Arminius, the former Roman auxiliary who masterminded the Teutoburg battle in AD 9, she questions the extent of Varus’ culpability and asks whether he was scapegoated by Roman historians to deflect blame away from the Emperor.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53478528352529,"sku":"NGR9781399088367","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781399088367.jpg?v=1777501467"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-joanne-ball.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}