04-19-2001, 08:16 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
The odds of a unit composed of a new levy of native Britons would stand a good chance of being sent abroad, most notably to southern Germany where several units of Brittones are attested stationed along the <i> limes</i>, though they could even end up in North-Africa, where an inscription of a British unit has also survived. Recruits joining an existing formation could end up both near home or transferred away.<br>
<br>
Recruits could join both local units and formations at far away locations. Soldiers with an <i> origo castris</i>, born at the camp, make up a considerable portion of the troops judging from inscriptions from the second century. These are generally assumed to be sons of serving soldiers. After enlistment troops could be posted away when the unit was transferred to another station or when the unit had to provide a vexillation of troops to beef up units stationed in other parts of the empire, either to bring troops up to full war strength prior to campaigning or to make up for losses after action.<br>
<br>
Troops wrote home and kept in touch with relatives, both in and out of the army. Though I am not sure whether they send money home, there are several requests known of soldiers asking their relatives to send them money or goods (weapons, tools, clothing etc). Since the army was to a large extent a bring your own affair in the first centuries of the principate, a legacy of the militia origins of the imperial army, recent recruits would probably have lttile to save from their pay after deducting the costs of their equipment and anything they could provide themselves would not have to be bought.<br>
<br>
Reading suggestions:<br>
<br>
Davies, R., <i> Service in the Roman army</i> (Edinburgh 1989) 336p.<br>
Southern, P., 'The numeri of the Roman imperial army' in: <i> Britannia</i> 20 (1989), 81-140.<br>
Vittinghoff, F., 'Die rechtliche Stellung der canabae legionis und die Herkunftsangabe castris' in: <i> Chiron</i> 1 (1971), 299-318.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
<br>
The odds of a unit composed of a new levy of native Britons would stand a good chance of being sent abroad, most notably to southern Germany where several units of Brittones are attested stationed along the <i> limes</i>, though they could even end up in North-Africa, where an inscription of a British unit has also survived. Recruits joining an existing formation could end up both near home or transferred away.<br>
<br>
Recruits could join both local units and formations at far away locations. Soldiers with an <i> origo castris</i>, born at the camp, make up a considerable portion of the troops judging from inscriptions from the second century. These are generally assumed to be sons of serving soldiers. After enlistment troops could be posted away when the unit was transferred to another station or when the unit had to provide a vexillation of troops to beef up units stationed in other parts of the empire, either to bring troops up to full war strength prior to campaigning or to make up for losses after action.<br>
<br>
Troops wrote home and kept in touch with relatives, both in and out of the army. Though I am not sure whether they send money home, there are several requests known of soldiers asking their relatives to send them money or goods (weapons, tools, clothing etc). Since the army was to a large extent a bring your own affair in the first centuries of the principate, a legacy of the militia origins of the imperial army, recent recruits would probably have lttile to save from their pay after deducting the costs of their equipment and anything they could provide themselves would not have to be bought.<br>
<br>
Reading suggestions:<br>
<br>
Davies, R., <i> Service in the Roman army</i> (Edinburgh 1989) 336p.<br>
Southern, P., 'The numeri of the Roman imperial army' in: <i> Britannia</i> 20 (1989), 81-140.<br>
Vittinghoff, F., 'Die rechtliche Stellung der canabae legionis und die Herkunftsangabe castris' in: <i> Chiron</i> 1 (1971), 299-318.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
