10-13-2012, 08:59 PM
It didn't keep Caesar and Pompeius from recruiting. Of course, the late imperial Roman army was probably larger than the opposing late republican Roman armies in any of those conflicts.
It was probably policy that made the biggest difference though.
By hiring outside mercenaries they could bolster their own strength, keep the other side from hiring the same mercenaries to bolster their strength, and keep the mercenaries from raiding. By hiring Romans from their own territory, they would only accomplish the first of these. And by hiring Alanic or Hunnish mercenaries, they could reinforce their light cavalry; it was an important enough arm that Belisarius was still hiring Hunnish mercenaries to reinforce the light cavalry in the sixth century.
By more often using Roman troops to garrison key cities they might have somewhat fewer conflicts between garrisons and civilians, and by more often using mercenary troops to fight their battles they might use the opportunity to get rid of the ones they don't want. A few Roman historians praise Theodosius for getting his barbarian troops killed at the Frigidus.
P.S. I don't think this was a good idea. A few modern historians have suggested that the losses at the Frigidus may have prompted some of the revolts after the death of Theodosius.
It was probably policy that made the biggest difference though.
By hiring outside mercenaries they could bolster their own strength, keep the other side from hiring the same mercenaries to bolster their strength, and keep the mercenaries from raiding. By hiring Romans from their own territory, they would only accomplish the first of these. And by hiring Alanic or Hunnish mercenaries, they could reinforce their light cavalry; it was an important enough arm that Belisarius was still hiring Hunnish mercenaries to reinforce the light cavalry in the sixth century.
By more often using Roman troops to garrison key cities they might have somewhat fewer conflicts between garrisons and civilians, and by more often using mercenary troops to fight their battles they might use the opportunity to get rid of the ones they don't want. A few Roman historians praise Theodosius for getting his barbarian troops killed at the Frigidus.
P.S. I don't think this was a good idea. A few modern historians have suggested that the losses at the Frigidus may have prompted some of the revolts after the death of Theodosius.
