Marian Legions?

[Phalanx300]

Including both legionaries and allies, the strength of the Roman army during the 2nd Punic war peaked at about 250,000 men in 26 legions. The standing army of the early Principate numbered about 30 legions totalling about 300,000 men when auxilia are included. And this was only about half of the total manpower of the opposing armies during the late civil war period.

So Rome while only in Italy had almost as much soldiers as the Empire at its height?

All the more reason for me to like the "old" Rome of Hastati, Principes and Triarii more.

Behold the Polybians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L41MJLXJAYI

This is their best video when they are fighting some Gauls: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nefrit3#p/u/3/kSRy-z3J7Vc