02-02-2009, 09:14 PM
I am currently reading Adrian Goldsworthy's "In the Name of Rome" which presents information on the more famous and or successful generals including all the noteables. Interestingly, he confirms what many have said that in the Republic and early Principate these men, by enlarge, were of senatorial rank checking their boxes on their cursus if you will. There is no evidence of schools and they gained their knowledge and skills from reading the histories of prior successful leaders and by stints as junior officers usually in the employ of relatives or family friends. Given time and some exposure to conflict, they were expected to know what to do and if fortunate, given an opportunity to prove it. Of course, if successful they gained enormous power and prestige as we all know.
It seems to have changed by the time of Marcus Aurelius who started to appoint equestrians to the senior ranks. This trend continued with Severus who did away with legates in at least three of his legions and appointed prefects instead. The thought is that these men, coming from equestrian ranks would have been long term soldiers and more in the vein of experienced professionals. In addition, as Imperial appointees they would have been more loyal to the throne and less likely to rebel as had the senatorial generals who, most usually schemed to advance themselves and usually at no little cost to the Empire itself.
I haven't read far enough into the book to see if this trend continued but with the smaller legions of the latter days of the Empire I would hazard a guess that it did and they were altogether more professionally led.
Very interesting to follow this evolution.
Thanks to all for the excellent input.
Cheers,
Pict.
It seems to have changed by the time of Marcus Aurelius who started to appoint equestrians to the senior ranks. This trend continued with Severus who did away with legates in at least three of his legions and appointed prefects instead. The thought is that these men, coming from equestrian ranks would have been long term soldiers and more in the vein of experienced professionals. In addition, as Imperial appointees they would have been more loyal to the throne and less likely to rebel as had the senatorial generals who, most usually schemed to advance themselves and usually at no little cost to the Empire itself.
I haven't read far enough into the book to see if this trend continued but with the smaller legions of the latter days of the Empire I would hazard a guess that it did and they were altogether more professionally led.
Very interesting to follow this evolution.
Thanks to all for the excellent input.
Cheers,
Pict.
Andrew son of Andrew of the family Michie, of the clan Forbes highlanders to a man from our noble forebears the blue painted Pict, scourge of the legions.
