Caesarian Roman army
Encyclopedia
The Marian Roman army refers to the armed forces deployed by the late Roman Republic
between the Marian reforms
(107 BC) and the establishment of the Roman Principate
(early Roman Empire
) by Augustus
in 30 BC.
The Marian army constitutes the transition from the Manipular Roman army (ca. 300-107 BC), which was a temporary force based on adult male conscription of citizens to the Imperial Roman army
of the Principate, which was a standing, professional force based mainly on volunteer recruitment.
The creation of this new kind of army was a response to grave challenges posed by Germanic invasions and the war against Jugurtha
which severely taxed the older Roman military organization. Indeed, as a purely military tool the Marian army turned out to be more than equal to its tasks. However, gradually, it became clear that the new army was in the final analysis loyal not to the Republic but to its commander, to whom the troops ultimately looked for rewards and spoils.
Marius
himself had effectively abolished the allied legions. They were formally abolished after the end of the Social War, when Roman citizenship
was granted to all of Rome's Italian socii, ending the dual structure of legions alongside non-citizen alae. The latter were abolished, and the Italian allies were henceforth recruited into the legions. The non-Italian allies that had long fought for Rome (e.g. Gallic and Numidian cavalry
) continued to serve alongside the legions but remained irregular units under their own leaders.
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
between the Marian reforms
Marian reforms
The Marian reforms of 107 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by Gaius Marius, a statesman and general of the Roman republic.- Roman army before the Marian reforms :...
(107 BC) and the establishment of the Roman Principate
Principate
The Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century, after which it was replaced with the Dominate. The Principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the Emperors to preserve the...
(early Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
) by Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
in 30 BC.
The Marian army constitutes the transition from the Manipular Roman army (ca. 300-107 BC), which was a temporary force based on adult male conscription of citizens to the Imperial Roman army
Imperial Roman army
The Imperial Roman army refers to the armed forces deployed by the Roman Empire during the Principate era .Under the founder–emperor Augustus , the legions, which were formations numbering about 5,000 heavy infantry recruited from Roman citizens only, were transformed from a mixed conscript and...
of the Principate, which was a standing, professional force based mainly on volunteer recruitment.
The creation of this new kind of army was a response to grave challenges posed by Germanic invasions and the war against Jugurtha
Jugurtha
Jugurtha or Jugurthen was a King of Numidia, , born in Cirta .-Background:Until the reign of Jugurtha's grandfather Masinissa, the people of Numidia were semi-nomadic and indistinguishable from the other Libyans in North Africa...
which severely taxed the older Roman military organization. Indeed, as a purely military tool the Marian army turned out to be more than equal to its tasks. However, gradually, it became clear that the new army was in the final analysis loyal not to the Republic but to its commander, to whom the troops ultimately looked for rewards and spoils.
Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
himself had effectively abolished the allied legions. They were formally abolished after the end of the Social War, when Roman citizenship
Roman citizenship
Citizenship in ancient Rome was a privileged political and legal status afforded to certain free-born individuals with respect to laws, property, and governance....
was granted to all of Rome's Italian socii, ending the dual structure of legions alongside non-citizen alae. The latter were abolished, and the Italian allies were henceforth recruited into the legions. The non-Italian allies that had long fought for Rome (e.g. Gallic and Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry
Numidian cavalry was a type of light cavalry developed by the Numidians, most notably used by Hannibal during the Second Punic War. They were described by the Roman historian Livy as "by far the best horsemen in Africa."...
) continued to serve alongside the legions but remained irregular units under their own leaders.
See also
- Roman armyRoman armyThe Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
- Manipular Roman army
- Imperial Roman armyImperial Roman armyThe Imperial Roman army refers to the armed forces deployed by the Roman Empire during the Principate era .Under the founder–emperor Augustus , the legions, which were formations numbering about 5,000 heavy infantry recruited from Roman citizens only, were transformed from a mixed conscript and...
- Structural history of the Roman militaryStructural history of the Roman militaryThe structural history of the Roman military concerns the major transformations in the organization and constitution of ancient Rome's armed forces, "the most effective and long-lived military institution known to history." From its origins around 800 BC to its final dissolution in AD 476...
- Campaign history of the Roman military