Marian Reforms

Before the Marian reforms, many men who wanted to join the Roman army were unable to do so due to land ownership prerequisites, which in turn limited the size of the Roman Army . All of the soldiers of the pre-Marian Roman army also had to supply their own equipment, which limited the Cavalry to noblemen only because of the price of horses and gear. In turn the poorer Romans were limited to becoming units which carried inexpensive equipment.

Gaius Marius also standardized training and equipment throughout the Roman Legion s, which also aided in the conquest of surrounding territories. All generals and Roman Emperor s who came into power after him followed his example of military excellence.

After the Marian reforms were passed, anyone from any subjugated region, regardless of land ownership or income, was eligible to enlist in the Roman legions if he was a citizen. Most professional soldiers served for 25 years, at the end of which they were given a pension, at first by their general and later by the emperor, in the form of land in the province in which they had served. This program of land grants was instrumental to the process of taming foreign lands and civilizing border provinces. Foreign auxilaries who served next to the legionaries of Rome were granted with Roman citizenship for themselves and their families.

These reforms were instrumental in the growth and success of the Roman military machine and in consequence, the continued success of the Roman Empire , but plebs grew in importance and demanded representation in the Senate, so it was an important step to the Roman Republican Civil Wars .

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Marian Reforms