3 ms·

This isn't very different from the reasons people join the military today

philipov 3y ago
I don't think so, because it wasn't until the reforms of Marius in the late republic that the military became a job for poor people. Before that, you were expected to be wealthy enough to purchase your own equipment, which made military service a privilege where the middle and upper classes could obtain honor, not a career where poor people could obtain food. The military career open to the poor would have been in the navy, as a galley rower, not the army.
- nerdponx 3y ago
  The Wikipedia article for the Battle of Cannae states that recruiting was opened up to convicts and other lower strata of society to try to quickly replace two of the lost legions. obviously I shouldn't take everything I read on Wikipedia as unassailable fact, but that does seem somewhat at odds with the historical stereotype of an army composed of self-funding middle-class legionnaires.
  - mplanchard 3y ago
    > to try to quickly replace two of the lost legions Yes, it seems like this was part of the extraordinary measures taken after the defeat at Cannae. From the same wikipedia article you’re talking about: > As news of this defeat reached Rome, the city was gripped in panic. Authorities resorted to extraordinary measures, which included consulting the Sibylline Books, dispatching a delegation led by Quintus Fabius Pictor to consult the Delphic oracle in Greece, and burying four people alive as a sacrifice to their gods. To raise two new legions, the authorities lowered the draft age and enlisted criminals, debtors and even slaves. Despite the extreme loss of men and equipment, and a second massive defeat later that same year at Silva Litana, the Romans refused to surrender to Hannibal. His offer to ransom survivors was brusquely refused. The Romans fought for 14 more years until they achieved victory at the Battle of Zama. The person you’re replying to was talking about the norm, while this would have been the exception (until the later reforms of Marius)

I don't think so, because it wasn't until the reforms of Marius in the late republic that the military became a job for poor people. Before that, you were expected to be wealthy enough to purchase your own equipment, which made military service a privilege where the middle and upper classes could obtain honor, not a career where poor people could obtain food. The military career open to the poor would have been in the navy, as a galley rower, not the army.

nerdponx 3y ago
The Wikipedia article for the Battle of Cannae states that recruiting was opened up to convicts and other lower strata of society to try to quickly replace two of the lost legions. obviously I shouldn't take everything I read on Wikipedia as unassailable fact, but that does seem somewhat at odds with the historical stereotype of an army composed of self-funding middle-class legionnaires.
- mplanchard 3y ago
  > to try to quickly replace two of the lost legions Yes, it seems like this was part of the extraordinary measures taken after the defeat at Cannae. From the same wikipedia article you’re talking about: > As news of this defeat reached Rome, the city was gripped in panic. Authorities resorted to extraordinary measures, which included consulting the Sibylline Books, dispatching a delegation led by Quintus Fabius Pictor to consult the Delphic oracle in Greece, and burying four people alive as a sacrifice to their gods. To raise two new legions, the authorities lowered the draft age and enlisted criminals, debtors and even slaves. Despite the extreme loss of men and equipment, and a second massive defeat later that same year at Silva Litana, the Romans refused to surrender to Hannibal. His offer to ransom survivors was brusquely refused. The Romans fought for 14 more years until they achieved victory at the Battle of Zama. The person you’re replying to was talking about the norm, while this would have been the exception (until the later reforms of Marius)