What change took place in the army under the rule of in the Roman Empire under the rule of Augustus Caesar?

Answer 1

Augustus more than halved the size of the army, reducing it from 60 legions to 28.This was because many legions had been levied by the commanders who fought each other in the previous civil wars and the army had become too big. He settled the discharged soldiers in Roman colonies (settlements) around the empire under the already existing arrangement that on discharge form service, the soldiers were to receive grant of a plot of land to farm. He stationed most of the remaining legions in the frontier provinces of the empire and this turned the army into a standing force as the soldiers stayed where they were stationed throughout the length of their service. He increased the length of military service from 16 to 20 years. He created a military treasury to fund military expenditure and to pay the soldiers. This meant that the soldiers were paid by the emperor instead of the military commanders who levied troops as previously. This ensured the loyalty of the soldiers to the emperor.

Augustus also created the auxiliaries (auxilia). This was a military force recruited from the non-Romans of the empire. They received the same equipment and training as the Roman legions. Their role was to support the Roman legions. Some of their contingents provided troops in areas where the Roman legions were weak. They provided most of the cavalry. There were also specialised units: light cavalry from Numidia (In modern Algeria) and archers from Syria. The length of their service was 25 years instead of 20 and their pay was lower. They, too, received a grant of a plot of land on discharge and they were also granted Roman citizenship. The size of the auxilia force was the same as that of the legionary force.