08-09-2016, 11:10 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-09-2016, 11:49 AM by Dan Howard.)
(08-08-2016, 01:54 PM)Steven James Wrote: The military age for the Romans is from 18 years to 45 years. This gives a span of 27 years,
The above gives a span of 28 years because it is inclusive of both 18 and 45. However, I was under the impression that troops came from property-owning citizens known as iuniores, which were aged between 16 and 46, giving a span of 31 years. We also have evidence of soldiers that enlisted even earlier. There are a few who enlisted at 14 or 15 and one who may have enlisted as young as 11: Antonius Hermos was a legionary of the I Italica (Pannonia, 3rd C AD), whose tombstone claims that he died at the age of 30, and had served 19 years. Any numbers that look neat on paper do not translate to reality.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen & Sword Books
