In a war, there were no major disadvantages for Roman soldiers.
In the days of the early ancient Roman Republic, citizen soldiers served short periods of time to wage combat against enemies of Rome. They were also landowners and had a stake in protecting their land and thus a strong incentive to serve and win battles.
Later as the republic grew into an empire, soldiers enlisted into the legions and that period of time could be as long as 25 years. That was one disadvantage, the long enlistment periods.
To some extent that was mitigated by receiving a pension and -or a piece of farmland, if they lived long enough.
Another disadvantage were situations where soldier pay was low and resettlement for retired soldiers was not always working properly.
The Roman soldiers were constantly in training whether there was a war on or not. This however was an advantage as it helped them win many wars as their opponents were often so prepared for war as the Romans were.
Mercenaries arn't trained as well as some of the other people in Rome.
They weren't loyal to Rome and they would work for whoever paid the most money.
They were not as experienced.
Mercenaries are hired soldiers who either fight in their own units or are seconded to a regular army. They are not subjected to the same level of discipline as soldiers in a regular army. They are also liable to revolt if they are not paid or their payment is delayed.
Sometimes they needed to hire large amounts Of soldiers quickly in unprotected areas; eventually there dependence on mercenaries helped lead to their downfall.
NO!!! The British still employ/use mercenaries today. They are the Ghurka Regiment of the British Army. In formal legalistic terms they are mercenaries.
No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.
No. The Roman Army had ceased to exist long before the Battle of Hastings.
Mercenaries are hired soldiers who either fight in their own units or are seconded to a regular army. They are not subjected to the same level of discipline as soldiers in a regular army. They are also liable to revolt if they are not paid or their payment is delayed.
Basically for reinforcement and special skills. Although the Romans could levy plenty of troops from Italy, some of their allies had specialities that were useful such as slingers, bowmen and cavalry which could reinforce the Roman units. An example of this is their Batavian allies who were not only excellent horsemen, but they prided themselves on being able to swim across a river in full armor.
Sometimes they needed to hire large amounts Of soldiers quickly in unprotected areas; eventually there dependence on mercenaries helped lead to their downfall.
Some Germanic peoples lived in the Roman Empire and fought alongside or the Roman army or fought on behalf of the Romans as Roman allies The Romans also hired Germanic mercenaries because of a shortage of Roman military manpower.
The Roman empire was under near constant attack from Attila the Hun and mercenaries. The Roman empire negotiated peace terms with the Huns which bled thousands of pounds of gold from Rome both as one time punishment fees and yearly tributes.
NO!!! The British still employ/use mercenaries today. They are the Ghurka Regiment of the British Army. In formal legalistic terms they are mercenaries.
They're called mercenaries.
Yes. At the very end of the empire, the Roman army was weak and made up of mercenaries with no loyalty to Rome. The army was overrun by the Germanic tribes in Gaul.
No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.No, the Romans never occupied Scandinavia, but they knew of the ancient Vikings and some of them even hired on as mercenaries in the Roman army. Roman artifacts have been found in Norse graves, indicating a contact.
No. The Roman Army had ceased to exist long before the Battle of Hastings.
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Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.Because of the size of the empire, it became necessary to hire foreign "mercenaries" to serve in the army. Italy simply did not have enough manpower to protect the entire empire. However, it should be remembered that not all the foreign recruits were actual mercenaries. Some of them were drafted by their rulers as part of their country's payment to Rome. At any rate, foreign men were generally willing to serve in the Roman army as upon their retirement they received Roman citizenship which was highly prized.