Roman Republic

In the early days of the Roman Republic, only tax-paying, property-owing citizens able to afford their own weapons and armor were permitted to serve in the army. This meant, of course, that the military success of the state depended principally upon the military service of the affluent — men who were able to afford the best weapons and best armor. And only the very well to do could afford to be in the cavalry, which required not only armor and weapons but a war horse as well, and the expenses attendant to keeping one.

Around 400 B.C. Rome began to pay its soldiers, to help cover their daily expenses while in service, but the men were still required to provide weapons and armor at their own expense.

Finally, in 107 B.C. Gaius Marius introduced reforms that created a professional standing Roman army. Service was opened to all classes of society, with the state providing all arms and supplies. Poor, landless men, who had never before been allowed to serve in the army, joined in large numbers, boosting Roman military strength and fueling Roman expansion. After the introduction of the Marian Reforms, Rome’s professional, well-trained, well-provisioned, and well-disciplined military became one of the most dominant the world has ever known.

The photo is of reenactors depicting Roman legionaries of the 1st century A.D.