This volume takes as its primary focus the importance and meaning of the Roman fortifications within the erstwhile province of Maxima Sequanorum, not only in terms of their strategic function under the Romans, but also their continuing importance thereafter (pp. 12–13). In addressing this topic, the authors make use of a variety of sources, in particular the writings of late Roman historians like Ammianus Marcellinus, extracts from which are frequently included in the text. For the sake of readability, however, the authors deliberately avoid in-depth philological discussions of such texts or what they consider to be excessive or overly lengthy footnotes (pp. 13–17).

One of the important points made in the introduction is that the interpretation of past monuments, such as the Roman limes on the upper Rhine, is often coloured, at least in part, by far more contemporary concerns and attitudes. Given the fact, for example, that the Swiss have historically identified much more with the Celtic Helvetii and the Romans than with Germanic peoples like the Alemanni, the building of this series of fortifications has often been interpreted as a positive necessity, either as a rigid line of defence or as a buffer zone between such groups (pp. 44–5).

Before turning to a discussion of the frontier policies and military strategies pursued on the upper Rhine in the later Empire, the authors first discuss some necessary preliminary considerations, most importantly the nature of Roman strategy. As they rightly note, the role played by borders and their fortifications was not static, but could vary from region to region according to the local circumstances at any given time as well as the strategic intention(s) of a given leader. More particularly, the building of fortifications on frontiers such as the upper Rhine in no way necessitated the adoption of a purely defensive strategy on the part of Roman military leaders (pp. 66–7).

Detailed discussion of the upper Rhine limes starts with the Tetrarchy, although the authors nonetheless provide a brief discussion of the frontier's evolution, beginning with Augustus. As they discuss in some detail, it was under the rule of Diocletian and his fellow tetrarchs that significant developments occurred along the Rhine frontier as well as elsewhere in the Empire. Both Maximian and Constantius campaigned against such opponents as the Alemanni in this theatre, for example, and the former is credited by contemporary panegyric with restoring the limes, a claim at least partly borne out by the evidence of fortifications built at this time along the upper Rhine frontier (pp. 119–22). The creation of the province of Maxima Sequanorum also dates to the Tetrarchy in all likelihood, although explicit evidence is lacking (pp. 123–4).

As noted by the authors, the reign of Constantine, although heavily criticised by some later writers, nonetheless saw important developments. The important changes made to the Roman army and state under Constantine went far beyond the adoption of a new Christian ethos for the Empire. The creation of a more flexible army, for example, divided into limitanei and comitatenses, as well as a new military elite, which came to incorporate more and more Germanic troops gained over time, had a profound effect upon the subsequent history of the Roman state (pp. 141–5).

Before continuing their discussion of the upper Rhine frontier under the successors of Constantine, the authors devote a chapter to the Roman administration and organisation of Gaul, in particular the territory of Maxima Sequanorum, from the campaigns of Julius Caesar to late antiquity (pp. 150–78). Presumably, such an overview is inserted at this juncture in the book because the reign of the tetrarchs and Constantine not only saw the establishment of the province, but, as already mentioned, set a precedent for subsequent military developments in the region. While the information offered by the Notitia Dignitatum is used to reconstruct the military organisation of Maxima Sequanorum, the archaeological evidence provided by the remains of Roman fortifications in the area form the basis of a relatively detailed discussion of the construction techniques used in the building of such installations as well as of changes to their design in late antiquity (pp. 170–4).

The reigns of Constantius II, Julian and Valentinian I are discussed in some detail, both because events on the Rhine frontier loomed large in their respective reigns and because the responses of these emperors to such challenges provide useful case studies of the differing strategies they employed. While Constantius evidently preferred a more diplomatic approach to groups like the Alemanni, in part because he was preoccupied with the Sassanid threat to the east, both Julian and Valentinian actively campaigned and built new fortifications on the Rhine frontier (pp. 236–7). The latter's ambitious fortification programme, in particular, is discussed in some detail (pp. 244–64).

The concluding chapters chart the gradual decline of the western Empire in the century following the death of Valentinian, focusing upon the territory of Maxima Sequanorum, as well as its later history under the Germanic kingdoms that succeeded the Roman state. One of the important themes of this period stressed by the authors is the ever-growing importance of Christianity as an element of imperial strategy, particularly as a means of unifying the Roman state with its Germanic foederati. It is certainly no accident, for example, that the martyr cult of the so-called Theban legion at Solothurn, symbolising as it did the close connection between Christianity and the Roman military, first emerges at the end of the fourth century (pp. 277–80). This connection was preserved even after the territory passed from Roman to Burgundian rule: the cult of the Theban martyrs, for example, was closely associated with the Burgundian monarchy long after the collapse of Roman rule (pp. 300–11).

As indicated by the above synopsis, this volume does not simply discuss the military history of the Roman limes on the upper Rhine, but a number of broader related topics as well, such as the continuing cultural relevance of Roman fortifications long after the Empire's fall. One of its strengths is the variety of sources employed in the discussion, from ancient literary testimony and inscriptions to physical evidence like the treasure of Kaiseraugst. In addition, the book is abundantly illustrated with photographs, reproductions, maps and plans, many of which are in colour. A final benefit to the reader is the gazetteer of sites and relevant bibliography at the end of the book.

The principal criticisms I have are both relatively minor. First of all, the discussion of certain topics is sometimes somewhat cursory: for example, given the importance of Julian's victory over the Alemanni at Strasbourg to his subsequent career, the treatment of this event is surprisingly brief (pp. 216–17). Secondly, although the authors make use of a variety of sources and evidence, one seeming omission in this regard is coinage. Although mention is made of the problems inherent in using late Roman coin hoards as evidence for historical events, individual coins are conspicuous by their absence, despite the fact that the legends and images found on them provide some of the best evidence we have for imperial policy and propaganda.

Such criticisms do not significantly detract from the overall quality of the book. The many sources in translation, conveniently assembled therein, will no doubt appeal to more casual readers, while the gazetteer of sites and bibliography will be of benefit for those wishing to conduct more detailed research on a given topic or site. The work should not only be of interest to those studying the history and archaeology of Roman Switzerland and the limes of the upper Rhine, but also those exploring broader aspects of Roman history, such as imperial strategy and the interplay of Christianity and the Roman military.