Strategemata, orStratagems, is aLatin work by the Roman authorFrontinus (c. 40 – 103 AD). It is a collection of examples of military stratagems from Greek and Roman history, ostensibly for the use of generals. Frontinus is assumed to have writtenStrategemata towards the end of the first century AD, possibly in connection with a lost work on military theory.
Frontinus is best known as a writer on water engineering, but he had a distinguished military career. InStratagems he draws partly on his own experience as a general in Germany underDomitian. However, most of the (more than five hundred) examples which he gives are less recent, for example he mentions theSiege of Uxellodunum in 51 BC. Similarities to versions in other Roman authors likeValerius Maximus andLivy suggest that he drew mainly on literary sources.
The work consists of four books, of which three are undoubtedly by Frontinus. The authenticity of the fourth book has been challenged.[1]
Jean de Rovroy translated theStrategemata into French for KingCharles VII of France (r. 1422–1461).[2] Another French translation byNicolas Volcyr de Serrouville appeared in print at Paris in 1535.[3] In 1664,Nicolas Perrot d'Ablancourt published a new French translation.[4]
A Spanish translation byDiego Guillén de Ávila [es] appeared in print in 1516.[4][5]
In the 20th century,Charles E. Bennett translated theStrategemata into English. His version was published withDe aquaeductu (translated asAqueducts of Rome) in the Loeb Classical Library.[6]
The Stratagems and The Aqueducts of Rome public domain audiobook atLibriVox