With the Marian reforms of the army of 107 BC, the Roman army was changed from being a citizen militia whose levy was restricted to propertied peasants to a volunteer army open to everyone. Previously there was a property qualification because soldiers had to pay for their sword or javelin, armour and shield. The reforms provided that the state pay for the military equipment and removed the property qualification so that anyone could join. It also established a career of 16 years (later it was increased to 20 and then 25 years). Soldiers received a grant of either a sizable lump sum of money (numnaria missio) or a plot of land to farm (agraria missio) on discharge. The landless poor flocked to the army because they would get a career, a pay and a pension.
During the republic the government was headed by the consuls. They also commanded the army, but other officials, called praetors, could also raise and command an army. Governors of provinces also had this right.
The Roman policy that changed in 265BC was that the Roman army was big enough to defeat anything it challenged, therefore Rome stopped making citizens of the people it conquered.
Firstly, remember that a legion was the main unit of a Roman army. The Romans would naturally use their legions to conquer new territories. Therefore the legions helped Rome expand during the republic.
The two consuls of the Roman Republic were the two annually elected heads of the Republic and the army. They were not chosen by the senators. They were elected by one of the three popular assemblies of the Republic: the Assembly of the Soldiers.
During the period of the Roman republic the consuls were the two annually elected heads of the Republic and the army. During the period of rule by emperors the emperors were absolute rulers and the consulship was reduced to a ceremonial office and a stepping stone to join thew imperial administration.
It became a paid army loyal to its generals.
It became a paid army loyal to its generals.
The consuls were the heads of the republic and the army.
The emporer
Their well equipped and disciplined army
The Roman army was created differently over the years. It was originally a militia in which the wealthy armed themselves and came to the rescue of the city. When the campaigning season (summer) was over, they would disband and go home. Marius enabled all free born men to join the army, which he changed into a standing army armed by the state. From this time, the troops swore their loyalty to their generals. When Octavian took power he again changed the army making it into a national army with all the troops swearing their loyalty to the emperor (himself). The army filled its ranks by recruitment, draft, and the leving of auxillaries on the provinces.
He abandoned his plow to save the roman army.
The Roman republic which was the head of the army
Mass evacuations of non-latens were carried out by the roman army.
In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.In the Roman republic, the senate was in charge of the military. This was the reason that a Roman political hopeful had to have some military experience in order to be elected to the higher offices. One of the duties of a consul was to lead an army if necessary.
If console is a misspelling for consul, during the 482 years of the Roman Republic (509-27 BC) two annually elected consuls were the heads of the Republic and the army.
The military power in the Roman republic was the same as it had always been -- the Roman army. Whoever led the army, or at least a few legions, could hope for supreme power if he wanted it. Men such as Marius, Sulla, Pompey and Caesar used their legions to gain power.