08-08-2013, 08:20 AM
Despite all the recruitment difficulties of the Roman Empire throughout the 4th and 5th centuries, what is surprising is that by the 6th century, the problem seems to have been resolved.
During Justinian's conquest, he raised a campaign army without apparrently any difficulties, and recruitment seemed to be largely voluntary, as no mention of conscription or hereditary enlistment was mentioned in the Justinian code.
Was recruitment, by the end of the day, only a problem of the western empire while in the East they always found an abundant source of manpower? Or was there any major demographic or socioeconómic changes between the 4th and 6th centuries to make military service an attractive career to many people again?
During Justinian's conquest, he raised a campaign army without apparrently any difficulties, and recruitment seemed to be largely voluntary, as no mention of conscription or hereditary enlistment was mentioned in the Justinian code.
Was recruitment, by the end of the day, only a problem of the western empire while in the East they always found an abundant source of manpower? Or was there any major demographic or socioeconómic changes between the 4th and 6th centuries to make military service an attractive career to many people again?
