04-27-2001, 10:54 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
After one of the contenders for the imperial purple died his forces would generally be taken back into service with usually only officers being purged. The army rank and file was generally not very interested in politics per se, which seems more to have been a matter for the officers. Despite this the attrition caused by the internecine warfare so characteristic of the third and fourth century could still result in significant casualties among the regulars (reason to put Gothic federates in the front and do the dying) which were hard to replace.<br>
<br>
The foreign enemies indeed do appear to have clearly gotten priority. Diocletianus and his collegues at least ignored the usurpation in Britain until their forces had their hands free to deal with the problem. Victories over foreign enemies brought more prestige than over other Romans (there is certainly no Romanicus Maximus in imperial titles).<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sandervandorst>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 4/27/01 12:58:32 pm<br></i>
<br>
After one of the contenders for the imperial purple died his forces would generally be taken back into service with usually only officers being purged. The army rank and file was generally not very interested in politics per se, which seems more to have been a matter for the officers. Despite this the attrition caused by the internecine warfare so characteristic of the third and fourth century could still result in significant casualties among the regulars (reason to put Gothic federates in the front and do the dying) which were hard to replace.<br>
<br>
The foreign enemies indeed do appear to have clearly gotten priority. Diocletianus and his collegues at least ignored the usurpation in Britain until their forces had their hands free to deal with the problem. Victories over foreign enemies brought more prestige than over other Romans (there is certainly no Romanicus Maximus in imperial titles).<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sandervandorst>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 4/27/01 12:58:32 pm<br></i>
