Title: Roman Army - Recruitment, Legions, Siege Warfare & More
Headings: The Roman Army of the Roman Republic
The Roman Army of the Roman Republic
Recruitment of Soldiers for the Roman Army
Legion Under Augustus
Contubernium of Soldiers in the Roman Army
Legion Names
Roman Army Punishments
Siege Warfare
The Roman Soldier

Content: Roman Army - Recruitment, Legions, Siege Warfare & More
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The Roman Army of the Roman Republic
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By
N.S. Gill
Ancient History and Latin Expert
M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota
B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota
N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. our editorial process
N.S. Gill
Updated March 04, 2018
The Roman army ( exercitus) did not start out as the superlative fighting machine that came to dominate Europe to the Rhine, parts of Asia, and Africa. It began like the part-time Greek army, with farmers returning to their fields after a quick summer campaign. Then it changed into a professional organization with long terms of service far from home. The Roman general and seven-time consul Marius is considered responsible for the change of the Roman army into its professional form. He gave the poorest classes in Rome the opportunity to be career military, gave land to veterans, and changed the composition of the legion. Recruitment of Soldiers for the Roman Army
The Roman army changed over time. The consuls had the power to recruit troops, but in the last years of the Republic, provincial governors were replacing troops without the approval of the consuls. This led to legionaries loyal to their generals rather than Rome.