Fortissimi and Validissimi: The Batavian auxiliaries of the Roman army

Fortissimi and Validissimi, the strongest and bravest, was how Roman writers described the Batavians. Natives of the Lower Rhine, they were a community of soldiers who supplied the Roman army with men. Led by their native aristocracy, loyal and fierce, they became elite soldiers, personal bodyguards to the emperors and the empire’s most valued European auxiliaries.

The book draws on many sources, Roman historical writings, Latin inscriptions and archaeological finds. The author is a coordina...