Oscar Pérez de la Fuente
Carlos III University of Madrid
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3708-846X
Abstract
This article examines selected passages from Vegetius’s Compendium of Military Technique to extract strategic lessons that extend beyond the military sphere. It highlights the importance of learning before acting, systematic training, experience, information management, and the capacity to recognise and seize opportunities. The analysis also considers the limits of applying military logic to everyday life, where cooperation and competition often coexist. Through commentary on Vegetius’s rules of warfare, the text argues that preparation, prudence, alliances, and indirect forms of influence can provide decisive advantages in uncertain contexts.
Keywords: learning, strategy, war, technique, alliances
ISSN: 3127-3408
https://doi.org/10.67647/minervastrategy.2026.12
Among the works on military strategy from the classical period, one stands out above all: Vegetius’s Compendium of Military Technique (2006). Written at the behest of the Roman emperor, it compiles the military techniques and tactics of the time. One of the first points it makes is that the Romans achieved dominance over other peoples through their superior use of military technique.
Below, I shall analyse various passages from Vegetius’s work, particularly the rules of warfare he sets out, and offer my comments in the style of Minerva Strategy, with applications across a range of fields.
a) Learning before acting, and technique as a strategic advantage
“Knowledge of military discipline fosters the courage to fight: no one fears putting into practice what they are certain they have learnt well. And, indeed, in the heat of battle, a small number of well-trained soldiers are better equipped for victory, whilst a rough and untrained mob is always at risk of being massacred” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 135; I.7–8).
It is necessary to learn new techniques before putting them into practice. It is important to practise these techniques regularly. The use of techniques and tactics provides a strategic advantage.
b) War is a zero-sum game, but life is not quite so
At one point in the work, Vegetius sets out some rules of war that have an undeniable strategic dimension. The first states that “in every battle, the nature of the campaign is such that what favours you undermines the enemy, and what benefits him always harms you. Therefore, we must never undertake or neglect any action at the enemy’s behest, but only that which is useful to us” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
War is a zero-sum game, whilst life is usually a mix of cooperation and competition. In that sense, there is interdependence, and it is sometimes useful for us to take action to accommodate the other party’s wishes. What matters is that this forms part of a well-designed strategy or an agreement – whether explicit or implicit – involving mutual concessions.
c) The key lies in training and experience
The second rule of war, Vegetius maintains, is that “in war, whoever shows the greatest dedication and has made the greatest effort to train their soldiers will be exposed to fewer risks” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI). The third states that “you must never lead a soldier into battle whose ability you have not first tested” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
Taking action when the outcome is uncertain requires knowledge of the relevant techniques and adequate training. The best information, together with the ability to analyse situations, provides a strategic advantage. Experience is important when assigning responsibilities, and information must be verified impartially.
d) Circumstantial factors may determine the outcome more than the main activity
Vegetius’s fourth rule of war states that “it is better to subdue the enemy through starvation, surprise attacks or fear than in battle, where chance usually plays a greater part than valour” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
As the Spanish king Philip II said, “I did not send my ships to fight the elements”, referring to the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Every situation has a main action and a series of attendant circumstances. Sometimes, the final outcome is determined by those circumstances rather than by the central dynamic itself.
Another way of interpreting Vegetius’s desire to avoid pitched battles is to view it as an appeal to manage conflict by avoiding direct confrontations and seeking to exert influence through other means.
e) Creating good opportunities
The fifth rule of war, according to Vegetius, states: “There is no better plan than one which the enemy is unaware of before you put it into action” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
This means that one must be very careful about the information provided to the enemy, particularly regarding future plans that concern them. However, it is also possible to make strategic use of this principle and deliberately mislead the enemy.
The sixth rule of war states that “seizing opportunities is often more helpful in war than courage” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
It is certainly true that luck plays a part in life. But sooner or later, a significant opportunity arises, and one must be prepared to make the most of it. It is essential to ensure that it is a genuine opportunity and not a trap. What matters is the process of preparation – study, analysis, training – so that one can make the most of life’s opportunities.
f) Building alliances and weakening your adversary
Vegetius’s seventh rule of war states that “one must place great trust in luring and harbouring enemies, provided they come in good faith, for deserters inflict greater losses on the enemy than casualties do” (Vegetius, 2006, p. 309; III.XXVI).
It may be a worthwhile strategy to form alliances with people who were previously part of an opposing group, provided their intentions are good. The first step is to impartially verify their account of events. The second is to be generous, ensuring they feel better treated than they did in their original group. The result is to weaken the opposing group through diplomatic means.
References
Vegetius Flavius Vegetius Renatus (2006), Compendio de técnica militar, Cátedra, Madrid, trans. David Paniagua Aguilar.
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