12-14-2013, 09:47 PM
Actually, in the 2nd century romans still had to pay for their equipment and food and other stuff, as some papyri show. However, it seems that during late 2nd and 3rd century this changed as a kind of compensation for inflation or indirect salary rise. Latest with Diocletians system of annonae militaris it did not make sense anymore, to let the soldiers pay for anything with money which was worth nothing. IIRC, the emperor who finally stopped inflation also for silver and copper currency by accident was Maiorianus. And this was close to the end already.
Again for early and high empire, there is some analysis, which shows, that the recruits were usually 20-24, even if they could enter the army with 17. Equestrian officers and some Centurions coming from a civil career often were older than 30. However, we know of a centurio, who died with 19. I doubt, that we have comparable good data for late empire, because such data mainly come from epigraphy, which dropped significantly in late empire.
Again for early and high empire, there is some analysis, which shows, that the recruits were usually 20-24, even if they could enter the army with 17. Equestrian officers and some Centurions coming from a civil career often were older than 30. However, we know of a centurio, who died with 19. I doubt, that we have comparable good data for late empire, because such data mainly come from epigraphy, which dropped significantly in late empire.
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas
