Title: Legionary - Wikipedia
Headings: Legionary
Legionary
Contents
History
Inception: Marius's reforms
During the Principate
Decline
Functions
Immunes
Recruitment
Equipment
Battle and combat
Maintaining morale
Prelude to battle
Fighting style
Pay and conditions
Training and discipline
Diet
Healthcare
Other legionaries
See also
References
General books
Other books
External links

Content: Once retired, a Roman legionary received a parcel of land or its equivalent in money and often became a prominent member of society. Contents
1 History
1.1 Inception: Marius's reforms
1.2 During the Principate
1.3 Decline
2 Functions
3 Immunes
4 Recruitment
5 Equipment
6 Battle and combat
6.1 Maintaining morale
6.2 Prelude to battle
6.3 Fighting style
7 Pay and conditions
7.1 Training and discipline
7.2 Diet
7.3 Healthcare
8 Other legionaries
9 See also
10 References
10.1 General books
10.2 Other books
11 External links
History
Inception: Marius's reforms
When Gaius Marius became consul in 108 BC, Rome was at war with the Numidian king Jugurtha. Seeing a need for more manpower, Marius eliminated the property requirements that used to qualify Romans into the army, allowing any Roman citizen to become a legionary. After the war, Marius set out to professionalize and standardize the Roman legionary. He greatly enhanced the training of the soldiers and uniformly armed them, giving Rome an armed force that did not have to be raised with every new campaign. He further gave his soldiers retirement benefits, such as land or monetary payment. However, because the legionaries looked to their generals for their rewards and benefits, they soon became loyal to generals rather than the Roman senate. This would eventually factor in to the end of the Roman republic.