How many years did a roman soldier have to serve?

Answer 1

In correction to someone else's claim, the average foot soldier ranged from 5'0 sometimes shorter to much taller. Excavations show the average height of a Roman male being around 5'5-ish, but what size samples are these? Some narcissistic emperors tried to recruit legions with a minimum height. Sometimes emperors used taller ethnicities as bodyguards for personal protection. They were kept with a watchful eye, but useful to intimidate smaller latins.

Throughout the duration of the empire terms of service were constantly changed depending on the general, emperor, and legion. For example, some legions revolted after the Varian war and Augustus's death demanding to reduce the minimum time to 16 years and to receive higher pay. The ring leaders were executed under Germanicus. Under different times, and trials of the empire the terms of service were both extended and contracted. Early Roman Republic legions were largely levied, and disbanded after their use. Forced conscription was seen throughout the tenure of ancient Rome, and mostly done on the basis of age. Sometimes, latin, military-aged males were in such shortage that emperors killed a fraction of the population divided into 'lots' to force volunteers before having to forcibly conscript.

Good sources are Casius Dio, Josephus, Tacitus, and Vegitius, but none should be taken as 'truth' as like any ancient historian their perspectives are very different and they may come from far off places with little such perpsective, and much embellishment of the true nature of events; if they had any truth at all. Dio, and Tacitus are very good.

Answer 2

Technically one could join the Roman army at the age of 18. The enlistment ages were 18 to 25. However this was not always adhered to. It was size that mattered as the Romans tried to keep the men at roughly the same height.

Answer 3

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

Answer 4

The length of time of a soldier's service depended upon the times. At the beginning of the city a soldier only had to stay for one battle or one campaign season and then he went home. Marius changed this to a professional type army with the men having to enlist for 18 years. Augustus changed this still further, having the men remain in the army for 20 years with a five years reserve.

Answer 5

During the republic, a soldier had to serve for eighteen years. Augustus raised the time to twenty years. He also raised the pay and instituted bonuses upon discharge instead of the republican promise of land grants. In both eras, after discharge, the soldier had to serve five more years as a reserve.

Answer 6

They would accept eighteen year olds if they looked strong, but the preferred age was twenty. This was the preferred age. Older men were also accepted. In times of dire need, the army was not fussy about birthdays in filling the ranks.

Answer 7

Spartans began training at seven and went to war at 20 so about 17 id say. i know the were taken at 13

Answer 8

19