Translation an evaluation of the Taktika of Leo VI

The second ruler of the Macedonian Dynasty, Leo VI, called the Sage, dated back to the beginning of the 10th century, wrote Taktika, a manual that blends the military experience of Rome over the centuries with the knowledge of his time. The work aims to educate, advise, guide and benefit from experience in military matters. Although the author did not take part in any battle, with the practical solutions he offered and the vivid descriptions he drew, he presented the structural qualities of the Roman army institutionally in detail, while at the same time providing remarkable information about the practical methods of warfare. In these respects, the Tactica constituted one of the important links of the Roman military tradition in the literary field. In the work, which consists of 20 chapters, including the qualifications of a commander, weapons, equipment, punishments, training, discipline, encampment, methods of combat and battle, attack and defense, naval warfare, information on other nations, and finally a summary of military matters, Leo VI successfully idealized the military and made his work stand out in the field of military historiography. Key Words: Leo VI, Eastern Rome, Taktika.