Title: List of Roman legions | Military Wiki | Fandom
Headings: List of Roman legions
List of Roman legions
Late Republican legions
Early Empire legions
Legend
Late Empire legions
See also
References
Primary sources
Secondary sources
Notes
External links

Content: Late Republican legions
Until the Marian reforms of 107 BC, the Republican legions were formed by compulsory levy of Roman citizens (who met a minimum property qualification) and raised whenever it was necessary. Usually they were authorized by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded. Gaius Marius ' reforms transformed legions into standing units, which could remain in being for several years, or even decades. This became necessary to garrison the Republic's now far-flung territories. Legionaries started large-scale recruiting of volunteer soldiers enlisted for a minimum term of six years and a fixed salary, although conscription was still practiced. The property requirements abolished by Marius, so that the bulk of recruits were henceforth from the landless Citizens, who would be most attracted to the paid employment and Land offered after their service. In the last century of the Republic, proconsuls governing frontier provinces became increasingly powerful. Their command of standing legions in distant and arduous military campaigns resulted in the allegiance of those units transferring from the Roman state to themselves. These imperatores (lit: victorious generals, from the title imperator they were hailed with by their troops) frequently fell out with each other and started civil wars to seize control of the state.