Daily+Life+-+Military

=Roman Military=

The Roman army was the actual sensation and key to creating the Roman Empire. The Roman army became the first all-time full pledged fighting force in the world. The army had various ways of making itself the greatest army of all time. The factors are that the army is always ready for combat and war, and that the army has a very good system of how to treat the soldiers it had at the time being, and that the army always had the best defensive and offensive attack strategies. Also, the Roman army makes itself to the top of the list because the army always seems to get the certified job done. At any cost, the army must do what it is supposed to do and that made the army the greatest of all in ancient times. The army was quite an organized one, having 150,000 regular soldiers (legionaries). As well as officer, commanders, and auxiliary soldiers. //**
 * __Roman Imperial Army__**
 * //Figure 1

As you see in figure 1 (left), the legionaries are preparing for battle and getting themselves well organized by running drills and planning the tactics of the upcoming war.



There were various different types of soldiers in the army which each had their own special purpose. Among the most were of course the common soldiers, which were the **legionaries**. The legionaries were warriors which fought only by foot. They were the soldiers which kept the army intact and strong when it comes to defending their territory. The legionaries were ones which carved out the most of the enemies armies. Though the legionaries were not as armed as other specified warriors, they still made a fearful army. The regular soldiers were armed with body armor, a sword, a javelin, a shield, a helmet, and other suited armor which came in handy. In war the regular soldiers were up to 150,000 and were mainly divided into 28 legions. //**
 * __Life of a Roman soldier__**
 * //Figure 2

If you look in figure 2 (left), you would be able to see what certain equipment and armor was given to the legionaries when going off to battle. The other armor that is displayed in figure 2 is also important. For when they battle against their enemies, they most likely would not like to be struck in certain areas which would make them completely weak.



At the end of a whole days march, the soldiers’ work was far from over. It seems over a single night an entire city of goatskin tents. When they were not fighting in war, the soldiers trained or built roads or forts. It seems discipline was a must, and if theft was committed they would be flogged or crucified. Ordinary soldiers were not allowed to get married, though some had “unofficial wives”. There were many reasons why people joined the army and auxiliaries, mainly because men wanted to make their standard higher in society; most soldiers became citizens of Rome when they retired. The soldiers were well paid regularly and a fair grant when they retired. The soldiers of the Roman army were to serve for 25 years in the army.

The Roman soldiers lived a tough life, but a worthy one. In the army, to be officially accepted, each soldier got “the military mark”, which was a brand burned onto their hands with a hot iron. Soldiers were part-time and had to have their own equipment. Not known much, legionary soldiers were actually Roman citizens, convicted criminals, slaves or adulterers that were barred from the ranks.

Roman soldiers were well organized for any battle. Cavalry units separated from the infantry legions were called “alae”, or “wings”, they were spread out to the side of a legion like a pair of wings. “Ala” had 480 men which were then divided into 16 troops of 30 men each. Roman military had a truly remarkable history. The one of a kind army, soldier, and of course empire.