roman army number early and later recuitment

[king hannibal]

hi this question I've be woundering about this for a bit in the later roman world the roman struggled for men to recuit, were as in the early period rome could make half or more of it army up with allied state and subjegated states if I can remember correctly 250,000 men could have be use againest hannibal. so I'm guessing that this form of millitry alliances between rome and allied state and subjegated states didn't continue or to the same extent as the later preiods as when there were civil wars men came to and from everywhere to join the army so was the number of men that roman could recuite because of a changed political stans.

 

or did they in the early period get there massive amount of allied troops from italy itself and when they made all itallians have roman citizenship this law could no longer be used

 

thanks

[caldrail]

Recruitment in the late empire was a thorny issue. The practice of cutting off thumbs and rendering yourself incapable of holding a sword was increasing, to the extent that one emperor declared that two men wthout thumbs were as good as one. Press gangs were employed to forcibly recruit people, and this was necessary since entire communities were opting out of roman control. However, the late romans made up their numbers by recruiting entire barbarian tribes to fight for them.

[ASCLEPIADES]

hi this question I've be woundering about this for a bit in the later roman world the roman struggled for men to recuit, were as in the early period rome could make half or more of it army up with allied state and subjegated states if I can remember correctly 250,000 men could have be use againest hannibal. so I'm guessing that this form of millitry alliances between rome and allied state and subjegated states didn't continue or to the same extent as the later preiods as when there were civil wars men came to and from everywhere to join the army so was the number of men that roman could recuite because of a changed political stans.

 

or did they in the early period get there massive amount of allied troops from italy itself and when they made all itallians have roman citizenship this law could no longer be used

 

thanks

Salve, Amici

Here comes Ammianus Marcellinus, Historia, Liber XIX, cp. XI, sec VI-VII:

 

...tributariorum onera subirent et nomen. His post reditum tribunorum conpertis imperator exultans ut negotio, quod rebatur inexplicabile, sine ullo pulvere consummando cunctos admisit, aviditate plus habendi incensus, quam adulatorum cohors augebat id sine modo strepentium, quod externis sopitis et ubique pace conposita proletarios lucrabitur plures et tirocinia cogere poterit validissima: aurum quippe gratanter provinciales corporibus dabunt, quae spes rem Romanam aliquotiens adgravavit.

 

"... they (THE LIMIGANTES) might submit to the burdens and the name of tributaries. When this was known after the return of the tribunes, the emperor, exulting in the accomplishment without any toil of a task which he thought insuperable, admitted them all, being inflamed with the desire for greater gain, which his crew of flatterers increased by constantly dinning it into his ears that now that foreign troubles were quieted, and peace made everywhere, he would gain more child-producing subjects and be able to muster a strong force of recruits; for the provincials are glad to contribute gold to save their bodies, a hope which has more than once proved disastrous to the Roman state".

 

and ibid Liber XXI, cp. IV, sec. IV:

 

verum pubescente iam fide gestorum, cui robur adventus gentilium addiderat legatorum, precibus et obtestatione petentium citra flumen suscipi plebem extorrem: negotium laetitiae fuit potius quam timori, eruditis adulatoribus in maius fortunam principis extollentibus, quod ex ultimis terris tot tirocinia trahens ei nec opinanti offerret ut conlatis in unum suis et alienigenis viribus invictum haberet exercitum, et pro militari supplemento, quod provinciatim annuum pendebatur, thesauris accederet auri cumulus magnus

 

"But when the belief in what had taken place gained strength, and was confirmed by the coming of the foreign envoys, who begged with prayers and protestations that an exiled race (THE GOTHS) might be received on our side of the river, the affair caused more joy than fear; and experienced flatterers immoderately praised the good fortune of the prince, which unexpectedly brought him so many young recruits from the ends of the earth, that by the union of his own and foreign forces he would have an invincible army; also that instead of the levy of soldiers which was contributed annually by each province, there would accrue to the treasuries a vast amount of gold".

 

Then, there was at the IV century a regular recruitment (probably annual) which was frequently evaded by Roman citizens in exchange of money, so Germanic Barbarians were welcomed as new recruits.