Books by Evan Schultheis
This is a complex analysis of the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. It utilizes the latest in res... more This is a complex analysis of the Battle of the Catalaunian Fields. It utilizes the latest in research on the Late Roman Period, as well as research in Roman, Germanic, and Steppe tactics, to reconstruct the campaign and battle as accurately as possible, while proposing new theories and acknowledging alternative proposals. One of the most important issues it addresses is the complex historiography of the sources who write on the battle (particularly Jordanes and Priscus), how they relate to each other, and what reliable details they actually preserve. lt will also propose a location for the battle based on topography and the primary sources. Included will be an analysis of the Notitia Dignitatum used for Roman force estimates.
Papers by Evan Schultheis
Ancient Warfare Magazine, 2022
In his description of the ancient legion, Vegetius makes a brief mention of the "partly forgotte... more In his description of the ancient legion, Vegetius makes a brief mention of the "partly forgotten" art of armatura, or the Roman method of hand-to-hand combat. Looking at the very limited evidence, some fundamentals of Roman combat can be determined by looking at soldiers' steles, body mechanics, the weapons themselves, and can be brought together to reconstruct how Roman soldiers were trained.
Ancient Warfare Magazine, 2019
The Catalaunian Fields is a battle well known for the role of terrain in the battle, with Jordane... more The Catalaunian Fields is a battle well known for the role of terrain in the battle, with Jordanes' description of the engagement focusing almost in its entirety on the hill. With the location of the battlefield now known and new research having recently come to light, the role of terrain on the battle can now be accurately assessed and used as an example to show the importance of terrain in battles as a whole. Ancient Warfare 13.2, October 2019.
![Research paper thumbnail of [Undergrad] From Hospitalitas to Themata: Late Antique Precedents for the Theme System](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/57998335/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The theme system was the military-administrative complex characteristic of the Roman empire durin... more The theme system was the military-administrative complex characteristic of the Roman empire during the first half of the Middle Ages. Its proper establishment is now typically attributed to the reign of Emperor Nikephoros I in the ninth century, yet the "settlement" of the Roman field armies in Anatolia can be traced back to the middle of the seventh century CE, as declining territory and revenue forced the region to become the primary producer for the empire. However, this "settlement" was not a proper landing of the military, by which a system of "farmer-soldiers" was created, but rather bore similarities to earlier fourth and fifth century practices of supporting the army and the "settlement" of the barbarian foederati in the western Roman empire. This paper seeks explore how the system of hospitalitas outlined by Walter Goffart, who showed that the system of "settling" foederati was a granting of allotments of the tax value of the land, could serve as a precedent to the system implemented by the Roman Empire in the mid-seventh through eighth centuries to support the field armies in Anatolia, as outlined by John Haldon. Embedded in these two unique historiographies, culminating with Goffart and Haldon, lie a connection between the fifth century technique of accommodation and the fiscal accommodation of the seventh through ninth century field armies. Further, the context of hospitalitas requires a complete reassessment of the understanding of the granting of hereditary military lands (stratiotika ktemata) under Emperor Constantine VII in the tenth century.
This article provides a look at the logistics of arms manufacture and supply in the 4th and 5th c... more This article provides a look at the logistics of arms manufacture and supply in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. It briefly covers materials acquisition, financing a soldier's arms and clothing, the clothing and armor manufactouries, and the administration of the process. Ancient Warfare Magazine 12.3, September 2018.
Supplementary Figures for "Archaeology and the Interpretation of Arms in Roman Art: A Study on th... more Supplementary Figures for "Archaeology and the Interpretation of Arms in Roman Art: A Study on the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore"
![Research paper thumbnail of [Undergrad] Archaeology and the Interpretation of Arms in Roman Art: A Study on the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/56514986/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Undergraduate Research Paper, Medieval Studies 510, Winthrop University
In the past few decades ... more Undergraduate Research Paper, Medieval Studies 510, Winthrop University
In the past few decades the modern understanding of late Roman military equipment, particularly for the lesser-studied 5th century, has vastly improved. The archaeological catalogue of finds for this era has expanded, and more accurate chronologies for late Roman arms established. However, reconstructing the soldier and his panoply relies heavily on another area: Roman art. Although early Christian art is extensively studied, very little of it focuses on the military aspects of late Roman art. Meanwhile, some of the research which has been done can be described as unreliable, with certain interpretations non-corresponding with the archaeological record. The problem lies in matching such armors to the sources, which is the focus of this case study. Styles of depicting armor vary from artist to artist: some are more precise, others more general; some heavily classicized, others contemporary to the time. This paper looks to resolve this issue by both matching the archaeology to the art and discussing the flaws in this process. The gap in the archaeological record regarding the Roman army of the 5th century, and how other authors have attempted to fill that gap using visual representations, will also be discussed. In this paper, the militaristic aspect of the Santa Maria Maggiore’s nave mosaics will be analyzed, and its depiction of soldiers compared to both archaeological finds and other contemporary art.
Supplementary Figures for "Imperial Themes in the Santa Maria Maggiore"
![Research paper thumbnail of [Undergrad] Imperial Themes in the Santa Maria Maggiore: A Comparison of Mosaic Representations and Political Events in the 420's](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/56509988/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Fourth Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavours (SOURCE), Winthrop Unive... more Fourth Annual Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavours (SOURCE), Winthrop University, April 27th, 2018
The Santa Maria Maggiore mosaics are a well-studied example of early Christian and late Roman art, considered the earliest surviving church-sponsored mosaic and highly regarded for its depictions of the virgin Mary.1 Indeed, the mosaics were commissioned in time to coincide with the ecumenical council of Ephesus in 431, which condemned Nestorianism and confirmed the virgin’s title of Khristotokos and Theotokos.2 However, the commissioning and construction of the church was shadowed by the tumultuous political circumstances between the eastern and western administrations in the 420’s and 430’s C.E. The decade saw a civil war to ensure the continuation of the Theodosian dynasty, the rise of Aetius, and the Vandal invasion of Africa, all of which impacted the sociopolitical climate of Roman Italy. It is possible that in support of the new emperor Valentinian III and his mother Galla Placidia, elements of the Santa Maria Maggiore may have reflected the political developments surrounding the transition of power in the middle of the decade by displaying legitimizing and authoritative imagery of the Imperial dynasty.
A brief summary of the development of cavalry warfare during the scope of Ancient Warfare Magazin... more A brief summary of the development of cavalry warfare during the scope of Ancient Warfare Magazine: from the 2nd millenium BC to the 6th century AD. Touches briefly on Chariots, Horses, Camels, and Elephants and how new inventions like saddles advanced cavalry warfare.
Ancient Warfare Magazine 11.5, November 2017.
Conference Presentations by Evan Schultheis
Byzantine Animals Between Materiality and Fantasy, 2023
Beginning in the 9th century, exported silk samites from Constantinople began to depict spotted c... more Beginning in the 9th century, exported silk samites from Constantinople began to depict spotted cats in contexts outside of venatio motifs. Instead of portraying animals being hunted or killed for entertainment on the patterned silk cloth, these cats were associated with imperial authority. By the fifteenth century, cheetahs are prominent throughout medieval European art, usually associated with powerful magnates and other figures of real authority. This paper seeks to explore the development and spread of the practice of keeping hunting cheetahs in the Middle Ages from its origins in late Roman Arabia through its spread to the Abbasid and Constantinopolitan courts, and from there to medieval Italy. This paper intends to show that the cheetah initially became a symbol of the authority and influence of the Roman Emperor, but via imitatio imperii, evolved into a symbol of power for late medieval European rulers who sought to obtain cheetahs after becoming acquainted with their existence through silk exports and imperial court ceremony.
![Research paper thumbnail of [Conference] "Claws up, asses down, that's the way we breakdown..." the reception and presentation of classical themes in metalcore.](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/81511494/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Heavy Metal and Global Premodernity Conference, 2022
Metalcore is a fusion genre borne out of the hardcore and crust punk peak of the mid-1990s, incor... more Metalcore is a fusion genre borne out of the hardcore and crust punk peak of the mid-1990s, incorporating the common themes of anti-establishment sociopolitical commentary and a rejection of the mainstream inherent to the punk philosophy with the transgressive visual and auditory elements of extreme metal. Many songs within the metalcore genre borrow directly from Greek mythology; in particular the work of bands like “Trivium” or “Alesana” who rearranged these stories into direct or interpretive retellings, or that of bands like “ERRA,” whose lyrics examine the fundamental themes buried within some classical myths rather than retell the tales themselves. This presentation aims to look at the incorporation of classical themes, topics, and mythology and their presentation through the lens of the genre as it evolved out of the hyper-masculine roots of mid-90s heavy hardcore and early metalcore into “the scene” subculture (which originated as a reactionary movement against the widespread misogyny of the hardcore subculture) and into the modern day. This presentation will both search for the utilization of classical themes as a rejection of mainstream culture and authority in metalcore’s rendition of the punk philosophy, as well as discuss the complicated issue of the use of classical mythology as both a rejection of and a presentation of misogyny in the metalcore genre; particularly third wave metalcore, sometimes derogatorily referred to as “cringecore” for this reason. Finally, this presentation will also discuss the issues of the “christcore” subgenre and its use of both classical themes and Christian mythology by bands such as “The Devil Wears Prada” and “As I Lay Dying” as a presentation of “moral decay” during the peak of American evangelism in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
![Research paper thumbnail of [Conference] Bishops as Envoys and the Maintenance of Roman Identity in the Theodosian Period](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/57643131/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The roles of saints and bishops in the later Roman empire have been extensively studied, most obv... more The roles of saints and bishops in the later Roman empire have been extensively studied, most obviously in their role as religious figures. More recently, extensive research has been performed on the non-religious motivations of bishops in late antique Gaul, particularly on their role as envoys and in maintaining continuity between outlying populations of the empire and the imperial center. The purpose of this paper is to look at how bishops maintained Roman unity and Roman identity among the populace as they travelled the empire combating heresy in the Theodosian period. This will be explored through the vitae of men like Germanus of Auxerre, the chronography of Hydatius of Lemica, and the letters of Sidonius Apollinaris. In these historical accounts, and others as well, it can be shown how these diplomatic and administrative actions are emblematic of a role which connected the populace with a regional network, which in turn was connected to the imperial center, helping maintain Roman identity through both adherence to orthodoxy and aristocratic affiliation. This also shows how the role of the church in these affairs reflected the failings of the imperial bureaucracy to maintain the empire in the beginnings of the final years of the west, and a shift of loyalty from the Roman state to the Roman church.
Thesis Chapters by Evan Schultheis
The study of the Roman military is one of the oldest and most invested research areas in the fiel... more The study of the Roman military is one of the oldest and most invested research areas in the fields of classics and ancient archaeology. However, almost a millennium of Roman history and archaeology is neglected in the form of “Byzantine” military studies. While there have been several seminal works in this field, they suffer from a lack of knowledge of medieval archaeology and misinterpretation of stylized artwork. This thesis intends form a picture of the Byzantine soldier and its evolution from the early to late Middle Ages by reinterpreting, redating, re-typologizing, and reconstructing Byzantine military equipment.
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Books by Evan Schultheis
Papers by Evan Schultheis
In the past few decades the modern understanding of late Roman military equipment, particularly for the lesser-studied 5th century, has vastly improved. The archaeological catalogue of finds for this era has expanded, and more accurate chronologies for late Roman arms established. However, reconstructing the soldier and his panoply relies heavily on another area: Roman art. Although early Christian art is extensively studied, very little of it focuses on the military aspects of late Roman art. Meanwhile, some of the research which has been done can be described as unreliable, with certain interpretations non-corresponding with the archaeological record. The problem lies in matching such armors to the sources, which is the focus of this case study. Styles of depicting armor vary from artist to artist: some are more precise, others more general; some heavily classicized, others contemporary to the time. This paper looks to resolve this issue by both matching the archaeology to the art and discussing the flaws in this process. The gap in the archaeological record regarding the Roman army of the 5th century, and how other authors have attempted to fill that gap using visual representations, will also be discussed. In this paper, the militaristic aspect of the Santa Maria Maggiore’s nave mosaics will be analyzed, and its depiction of soldiers compared to both archaeological finds and other contemporary art.
The Santa Maria Maggiore mosaics are a well-studied example of early Christian and late Roman art, considered the earliest surviving church-sponsored mosaic and highly regarded for its depictions of the virgin Mary.1 Indeed, the mosaics were commissioned in time to coincide with the ecumenical council of Ephesus in 431, which condemned Nestorianism and confirmed the virgin’s title of Khristotokos and Theotokos.2 However, the commissioning and construction of the church was shadowed by the tumultuous political circumstances between the eastern and western administrations in the 420’s and 430’s C.E. The decade saw a civil war to ensure the continuation of the Theodosian dynasty, the rise of Aetius, and the Vandal invasion of Africa, all of which impacted the sociopolitical climate of Roman Italy. It is possible that in support of the new emperor Valentinian III and his mother Galla Placidia, elements of the Santa Maria Maggiore may have reflected the political developments surrounding the transition of power in the middle of the decade by displaying legitimizing and authoritative imagery of the Imperial dynasty.
Ancient Warfare Magazine 11.5, November 2017.
Conference Presentations by Evan Schultheis
Thesis Chapters by Evan Schultheis
In the past few decades the modern understanding of late Roman military equipment, particularly for the lesser-studied 5th century, has vastly improved. The archaeological catalogue of finds for this era has expanded, and more accurate chronologies for late Roman arms established. However, reconstructing the soldier and his panoply relies heavily on another area: Roman art. Although early Christian art is extensively studied, very little of it focuses on the military aspects of late Roman art. Meanwhile, some of the research which has been done can be described as unreliable, with certain interpretations non-corresponding with the archaeological record. The problem lies in matching such armors to the sources, which is the focus of this case study. Styles of depicting armor vary from artist to artist: some are more precise, others more general; some heavily classicized, others contemporary to the time. This paper looks to resolve this issue by both matching the archaeology to the art and discussing the flaws in this process. The gap in the archaeological record regarding the Roman army of the 5th century, and how other authors have attempted to fill that gap using visual representations, will also be discussed. In this paper, the militaristic aspect of the Santa Maria Maggiore’s nave mosaics will be analyzed, and its depiction of soldiers compared to both archaeological finds and other contemporary art.
The Santa Maria Maggiore mosaics are a well-studied example of early Christian and late Roman art, considered the earliest surviving church-sponsored mosaic and highly regarded for its depictions of the virgin Mary.1 Indeed, the mosaics were commissioned in time to coincide with the ecumenical council of Ephesus in 431, which condemned Nestorianism and confirmed the virgin’s title of Khristotokos and Theotokos.2 However, the commissioning and construction of the church was shadowed by the tumultuous political circumstances between the eastern and western administrations in the 420’s and 430’s C.E. The decade saw a civil war to ensure the continuation of the Theodosian dynasty, the rise of Aetius, and the Vandal invasion of Africa, all of which impacted the sociopolitical climate of Roman Italy. It is possible that in support of the new emperor Valentinian III and his mother Galla Placidia, elements of the Santa Maria Maggiore may have reflected the political developments surrounding the transition of power in the middle of the decade by displaying legitimizing and authoritative imagery of the Imperial dynasty.
Ancient Warfare Magazine 11.5, November 2017.