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  1. #1
    Guest Dayve's Avatar
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    Default Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Just from Italy or all over the empire? I mean the heavy legionary infantry, not auxilia.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Before Marius they were only recruted from Italy. After Marius men from any subjugated area could serve so long as they were citizens.

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    Probably Drunk Member Reverend Joe's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    The Marian legions were generally recruited from the Western territories of Australia, but some were recruited from Madagascar.

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    Large Member Member NightStar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    @Zorba

    You can´t fool me, in those days the world was flat so they couldn´t recruit people from down under
    Roma must be destroyed


  5. #5

    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Quote Originally Posted by NightStar
    @Zorba

    You can´t fool me, in those days the world was flat so they couldn´t recruit people from down under
    Actually, I recall seeing some Greek maps/globes which clearly displayed the world as being round, but I could be wrong...

    As for the Legions, it depends. Pre-Marius, the Roman Legions were recruited anywhere, as long as they were made of Roman citizens (which generally restricted it to Roma but there were also colonies and such scattered around the place to "split up" the various allies to prevent them from ganging up on Rome...kinda failed with the Socii Wars...), while allied Legions were usually Italian allies. After Marius, it was pretty much the same thing, except Roman citizenship wasn't quite as exclusive.

    So the Legions could be/were recruited from pretty much wherever you would have found decent numbers of Roman citizens.

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    Speaker of Truth Senior Member Moros's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Yes, Greeks new the world was round. Someone even calculated it's size, I can't remember the name, with the use of shadows and the orbit of the sun. But he was a bit off, he tought the earth was about 1/4 to 1/3 smaller as it actualy is. (I'm not good with numbers and names lol).

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    Sovereign Oppressor Member TIE Fighter Shooter Champion, Turkey Shoot Champion, Juggler Champion Kralizec's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Eratosthenes of Cyrene

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    Sardonic Antipodean Member Trithemius's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Quote Originally Posted by NightStar
    @Zorba

    You can´t fool me, in those days the world was flat so they couldn´t recruit people from down under
    They could, but it would not be heavy infantry since the ropes that hold them on would break under the weight of armour.
    Trithemius
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    Thread killer Member Rodion Romanovich's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Quote Originally Posted by Dayve
    Just from Italy or all over the empire? I mean the heavy legionary infantry, not auxilia.
    Initially mostly Latium, a small part of Italy. Post-marian they were recruited elsewhere too. The rest of the Italian peninsula came into action as recruitment center quite early. Out of provincial areas, Iberia was AFAIK one of the major areas used for recruitment of legionaries, and it didn't come into action until very, very late, something like 150 AD.
    Last edited by Rodion Romanovich; 06-03-2006 at 11:19.
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    Member Member cunctator's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Here is a list of the known homelands of legionaries in the early empire (augustus-caligula):

    Until the civil war era most legionnaries were recruited in Italy, thereafter increasingly from all areas of the empire. As you can see soldiers of celtic origin were already the largest group at this time, while the roman heartland became much less relevant. Perhaps service in priviledged units as the Praetorian guard in Roma itself was more attractive than the legions. Later recruitment shifted more towards the border areas were the bulk of the army was stationed.




    Last edited by cunctator; 06-03-2006 at 10:39.

  11. #11
    Ja mata, TosaInu Forum Administrator edyzmedieval's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    From my house.
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    Guest Dayve's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where were legionaires recruited from?

    Quote Originally Posted by edyzmedieval
    From my house.
    From everywhere in your house or just the regions where people posted rubbish to add a point to their post count?

    Thanks for your answers everybody.

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