Papers by François Porte
coord. por Sabino Perea Yébenes, El soldado romano y la familia, Madrid, 2024
Anticiper et gérer de l'Antiquité au Moyen Âge Journée des doctorants en mondes anciens et médiévaux de l’université de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté DOKIMA, 2024
During the 1 st century BC, civil wars in the Roman world show a different scaling of the logisti... more During the 1 st century BC, civil wars in the Roman world show a different scaling of the logistical models, with armies mobilizing resources from a same empire. The African War (47-46 BC) allows us to observe the anticipation of needs and the logistics management in the Roman armies, but also the difficulties threatening this organization. First, Republican troops controlling the African province since 49 BC rationally mobilize its resources to meet their needs, anticipating a Caesarian offensive, setting up fortified storage places spread across the province. Then, Caesar carefully plans his logistics, using Sicily as his main base of operation, spreading supply lines to Africa through the sea. However, difficult conditions of winter navigation reduce the effectiveness of these supply lines and Caesar has to set up a new logistical organization. These difficulties threaten his troops and influence his strategic decisions as he needs to change his plans. To anticipate the needs of Roman armies is the key element of logistical preparations of military campaigns, but many hazards can threaten this organization. An effective crisis management is a decisive factor of success in military operations and the adaptability of generals can make a difference.
Jean El Gammal et Laurent Jalabert (dir.), Vainqueurs et vaincus, de l'Antiquité à nos jours, Annales de l'Est (numéro spécial), pp. 23-39, 2022
Dialogues d'Histoire Ancienne supplément 26, 2023
From the 2nd century BC, Greek cities and people are faced with the imperium Romanum as it extend... more From the 2nd century BC, Greek cities and people are faced with the imperium Romanum as it extends through the East. They suffer requisitions and abuses from Roman troops, but negotiate privileges and immunities in order to maintain their autonomy. From 49 to 48 BC, Greeks find themselves caught in the middle of a civil war tearing the Roman republic apart, between Caesar and Pompey. The latter’s decision to establish his strategic base in Epirus and Macedon, followed by the landing of Caesar’s legions, expose Greek cities to their requirements: supplies, troops, money. Therefore, Greeks deal with two factions who both claim the legitimacy to represent the imperium Romanum and to benefit from the due support.
Cahiers Mondes Anciens, 17, 2023
In the political struggle against his opponents, Caesar tries to mitigate his responsibility for ... more In the political struggle against his opponents, Caesar tries to mitigate his responsibility for starting an unpopular civil war. There is no doubt that his actions are illegal, therefore his propaganda aims at rewriting history to justify them, in particular through the Bellum Ciuile, to transform his own transgression into a legitimate response to those of his opponents. Then, Caesar changes the perspective and presents himself as the only legitimate representative of the res publica: he emphasizes his respect of institutional norms, hides his own transgressions, and highlights those of his opponents. Finally, although Caesar may fail to cover up his own transgressions, it is worth considering their nature in the context of the ideological confrontation about republican norms, and assessing how they contribute to the development of a new form of power by Caesar.
Nuova Antologia Militare 3/10, 2022
The death of Caesar’s legates, Sabinus and Cotta, with their fifteen cohorts in 54 BC is the most... more The death of Caesar’s legates, Sabinus and Cotta, with their fifteen cohorts in 54 BC is the most significant defeat of Roman armies in Gaul. In his Commentarii, Caesar presents this setback as the result of one man’s fault : his legate Q. Titurius Sabinus. Behind Caesar’s propaganda, the tale of the clades Tituriana provides a rich source of information for an analysis of Roman legionaries combat experience. As it tells the story of an inevitable defeat, Caesar’s text provides details shaping the contours of this experience. The use of modern military psychiatry combined with an anthropological approach allows the reader to better identify the efficiency of the Roman legions and also their weaknesses and vulnerability.
Olivier Devillers et Breno Battistin Sebastiani (éd.), Sources et modèles des historiens anciens,... more Olivier Devillers et Breno Battistin Sebastiani (éd.), Sources et modèles des historiens anciens, 2, Ausonius Editions, Bordeaux, 2021, p. 307-326.
OpenEdition : https://books.openedition.org/ausonius/18703
Michel Roux (dir.), La présence militaire dans les campagnes aux époques hellénistique et romaine : Chance ou fatalité pour les communautés rurales ?, Presses Universitaires de Perpignan, 2020
HiMA, 2018
Abstract – Logistics and the autonomy of the Roman legions during the Ist century BC
The aim of ... more Abstract – Logistics and the autonomy of the Roman legions during the Ist century BC
The aim of this article is analyzing the logistical autonomy of the legions of the Ist century BC to precisely define its means and limits. Several elements allow the Roman armies to lead operations without depending on their rear bases. First, the legions carry their own supplies through the army train or individual loads (impedimenta and sarcinae). Then, the commanders can live directly off the land through foraging (frumentatio and pabulatio). Each element has its own limits, depending on its very own structure or on the situation. These limits do not allow the Roman armies to fully free themselves from logistical rear support.
Key words: logistics; legions; supply; autonomy; impedimenta; sarcinae; frumentatio; pabulatio; plunder.
Revue des Etudes Anciennes, 2017
When Caesar writes about frumentum commeatusque, he clearly distinguishes wheat from other suppli... more When Caesar writes about frumentum commeatusque, he clearly distinguishes wheat from other supplies gathered as commeatus. This expression reveals a reality beyond the Caesarian exercitus and questions about the variety of Republican legionaries' diet during the campaigns of the First century BC. This article reviews the characteristics of the different foodstuffs used as complements to the wheat rations. This allows us to understand the limits of their consumption, namely availability, storage or transport. Wheat remains preponderant because it is available in large quantities across Mediterranean regions, easy to transport, to store and to cook. Roman logistics assure a regular supply of wheat through the supply lines from the rear, but commanding officers also need to provide valued complements cherished by the soldiers.
Aquila Legionis, 2017
This article presents a new reading of the main Caesarian campaigns of the civil wars. Despite po... more This article presents a new reading of the main Caesarian campaigns of the civil wars. Despite positive tactical achievements, the logistical consequences of Caesar’s strategic decisions have often been criticized. Nevertheless, a more careful study of his campaigns shows how he cares about the needs of his armies and the classic yet efficient organization of his logistics. However, recurring difficulties are undeniable, particularly in Epirus in 48 or in Africa in 46. The idea of “strategic surprise” allows us to have a new analyze of Caesar’s decisions and their consequences in order to bring a new light on his military skills.
Book reviews by François Porte
Conference Presentations by François Porte
Le logement militaire en Occident (Antiquité – temps présents)
Colloque international du Groupe d... more Le logement militaire en Occident (Antiquité – temps présents)
Colloque international du Groupe de Recherche en Histoire de la Guerre (GRHG)
à l’Université du Québec à Montréal
salle D-R200 (entrée libre, pas d’inscription requise)
et par visioconférence (lien à venir)
du 21 au 22 octobre 2024
Colloque international - Étudier la guerre : Perspectives historiographiques et épistémologiques ... more Colloque international - Étudier la guerre : Perspectives historiographiques et épistémologiques de l'histoire de la guerre des années 1950 à nos jours
23-25 oct. 2023 Montréal (Canada)
Salle des boiseries (J-2805)
Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, UQAM
405, rue Ste-Catherine Est
III Encuentro UNED sobre Ejército Romano: EL SOLDADO ROMANO (Y FAMILIA)
Cartagena Jueves, 20 de a... more III Encuentro UNED sobre Ejército Romano: EL SOLDADO ROMANO (Y FAMILIA)
Cartagena Jueves, 20 de abril de 2023
Centro Asociado de la Uiversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
C/ Ingeniero de la Cierva, 28, Cartagena
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Papers by François Porte
OpenEdition : https://books.openedition.org/ausonius/18703
The aim of this article is analyzing the logistical autonomy of the legions of the Ist century BC to precisely define its means and limits. Several elements allow the Roman armies to lead operations without depending on their rear bases. First, the legions carry their own supplies through the army train or individual loads (impedimenta and sarcinae). Then, the commanders can live directly off the land through foraging (frumentatio and pabulatio). Each element has its own limits, depending on its very own structure or on the situation. These limits do not allow the Roman armies to fully free themselves from logistical rear support.
Key words: logistics; legions; supply; autonomy; impedimenta; sarcinae; frumentatio; pabulatio; plunder.
Book reviews by François Porte
Conference Presentations by François Porte
Colloque international du Groupe de Recherche en Histoire de la Guerre (GRHG)
à l’Université du Québec à Montréal
salle D-R200 (entrée libre, pas d’inscription requise)
et par visioconférence (lien à venir)
du 21 au 22 octobre 2024
23-25 oct. 2023 Montréal (Canada)
Salle des boiseries (J-2805)
Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, UQAM
405, rue Ste-Catherine Est
Cartagena Jueves, 20 de abril de 2023
Centro Asociado de la Uiversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
C/ Ingeniero de la Cierva, 28, Cartagena
OpenEdition : https://books.openedition.org/ausonius/18703
The aim of this article is analyzing the logistical autonomy of the legions of the Ist century BC to precisely define its means and limits. Several elements allow the Roman armies to lead operations without depending on their rear bases. First, the legions carry their own supplies through the army train or individual loads (impedimenta and sarcinae). Then, the commanders can live directly off the land through foraging (frumentatio and pabulatio). Each element has its own limits, depending on its very own structure or on the situation. These limits do not allow the Roman armies to fully free themselves from logistical rear support.
Key words: logistics; legions; supply; autonomy; impedimenta; sarcinae; frumentatio; pabulatio; plunder.
Colloque international du Groupe de Recherche en Histoire de la Guerre (GRHG)
à l’Université du Québec à Montréal
salle D-R200 (entrée libre, pas d’inscription requise)
et par visioconférence (lien à venir)
du 21 au 22 octobre 2024
23-25 oct. 2023 Montréal (Canada)
Salle des boiseries (J-2805)
Pavillon Judith-Jasmin, UQAM
405, rue Ste-Catherine Est
Cartagena Jueves, 20 de abril de 2023
Centro Asociado de la Uiversidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
C/ Ingeniero de la Cierva, 28, Cartagena
8 juin 2022 à l’Université de Bordeaux – Montaigne
Table ronde proposée en partenariat par le groupe Guerres, Espaces et Représentations (GER – Bordeaux Montaigne), le Groupe de Recherche en Histoire de la Guerre (GRHG – UQAM) et la Revue des Études Anciennes
Depuis le milieu du xxe siècle, l’histoire de la guerre a connu de profonds renouvellements. L’historiographie de l’Antiquité n’a pas été laissée de côté par ce mouvement caractérisé par un retour de l’événement et de l’acteur, ainsi que par une ouverture, sans cesse accrue, de l’histoire de la guerre aux méthodes et aux notions d’autres historiographies et disciplines. Les conflits, leurs acteurs, tout comme les façons dont les sociétés antiques s’organisent pour la guerre et les manières de combattre ont fait l’objet de nouveaux examens renouvelant parfois considérablement notre compréhension de la guerre dans les contextes antiques. Et on assiste aujourd’hui à une multiplication sans précédent des études et des travaux qui s’inscrivent dans ce champ de recherche. Cette table ronde propose de revenir tant sur les expériences déjà menées et les débats en cours, que sur les méthodes, les concepts et leurs circulations au sein du champ de l’histoire et entre disciplines pour comprendre comment ils ont permis de faire évoluer notre regard sur la guerre antique et d’ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives dans l’étude du fait guerrier.
Universités d’Hiver de Saint-Mihiel
18 au 20 novembre 2021
Abbaye de Saint-Mihiel (salle Mangeot).
XIe Congrès International de la SIEN
Liège, 13-16 octobre 2021
27-28 novembre 2020
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, en visioconférence
Pour recevoir le lien et participer au colloque en visioconférence, merci de vous inscrire ici :
https://evento.renater.fr/survey/colloque-tantale-transgresser-pour-mieux-regner-ombres-et-lumieres-du-pouvoir-dans-lantiquite-cy7kc1h9
Boston University, 11 to 12 July 2020
https://pacrim34.wordpress.com/schedule-of-speakers/
Comité d'Histoire Régionale, service de la Région Grand Est
29 et 30 novembre 2019
Château de Sedan
http://patrimoinesethistoire.grandest.fr/chr/programmation/les-colloques-du-chr/civils-et-combattants.html
DOKIMA - Séminaire des doctorants Mondes anciens et médiévaux
Mardi 18 juin 2019
Maison des Sciences de l'Homme, Dijon
Colloque international des jeunes chercheurs, 6 et 7 juin 2019
Université Paris Nanterre
Rutgers University Conference 2019
https://rufooddrink2019.wordpress.com/
À partir des effectifs comptabilisés et des besoins ensuite estimés, il apparaît que le ravitaillement sur le terrain ne constitue qu’un complément occasionnel et conjoncturel à un approvisionnement depuis l’arrière.
À l’échelle stratégique, la mobilisation des ressources de l’Empire romain connaît alors une ampleur sans précédent. Aucune province n’est épargnée. Le partage du monde romain entre l’Occident et l’Orient, modifie les schémas habituels de mobilisation des ressources et sollicite des régions récemment intégrées au monde romain dans de nouveaux réseaux logistiques. L’ampleur et la nature des besoins des effectifs engagés vont nécessiter des bases stratégiques étendues et faire du transport maritime un axe essentiel des systèmes logistiques.
À l’échelle opérationnelle, les infrastructures indispensables pour supporter le réseau logistique réduisent les choix possibles pour l’établissement des bases arrières. Les armées romaines ne bénéficient visiblement pas de structures déjà constituées à cet effet.
Enfin, l’acquisition des fournitures et le financement de la logistique nécessitent des bouleversements fiscaux, parfois accompagnés d’exactions et du pillage des ressources provinciales, en raison de l’absence d’une fiscalité efficace. Ces conflits mettent en lumière la perte de pouvoir du Sénat au profit d’imperatores autonomes et indépendants, jusqu’à la confiscation définitive du pouvoir par l’un d’entre eux.
Mots-clés : République, guerres civiles, armée romaine, légions, logistique, ravitaillement, César, Pompée, Octave, Marc Antoine, Triumvirat
Abstracts : The civil wars that took place during the last decades of the Roman Republic (49-30 B.C.) reveal the expertise of Roman elites in the art of war, along with its limits, and accelerate the transformations of the military tool and Roman warfare.
After the manpower and needs of the Roman armies estimation, living off the land doesn’t seem to have been more than an occasional mean of supply, supplemented by a more effective logistical support from the rear.
The resources of the Roman Empire are mobilized at an unprecedented scale, sparing no province, as the split of the Roman world between western and eastern sides transforms the usual patterns of logistical mobilization. Recently conquered provinces are therefore added to newly raised logistical systems in the Eastern Mediterranean. The maritime transportation plays a central role, as the amount of the supplies needed requires large strategic bases across the Mediterranean sea.
The infrastructures needed to support the logistical network at an operational scale are rare among the Mediterranean cities and restrain the choice of operational bases. The Roman armies can obviously not rely on previous established military structures.
Finally, the Roman tax system has to go through deep changes to face the financial needs of the logistical system, along with plunder and spoil. The Senate loses its power during the civil wars to the benefit of independent imperatores, until Octavian’s final rise to supreme power.
Keywords : Republic, civil wars, Roman army, legions, logistics, supply, Caesar, Pompey, Octavian, Antony, Triumvirate