07-06-2001, 11:39 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
Troops could both volunteer and be conscripted into the army and this included the guard as well as the legions or auxiliary forces. In the first and second century CE most of the recruits would come from Italy or citizen <i> coloniae</i> from the provinces, notably from Macedonia and Spain. In part troops were also transferred from the provincial armies, though this was, with the exception of the guard formed by Vitellius, an occasional affair before the reign of Septimius Severus. From then on transfer of picked legionaries became the normal manner of recruitment and soldiers from the Danubian provinces began to dominate the ranks. Whether this was more about proven qualities than the right personal connections is debatable, but both factors played a part in other military promotions and favouritism was an accepted part of everyday life.<br>
<br>
Whether there was a length requirment as exist today for the Guards regiments in the British army is unsure, though Vegetius describes that men for the cavalry and the first cohort of a legion had to meet higher height standards than other troops. Even though Vegetius is a problematic source, in this instance his statement seems to be confirmed in part at least by another source reference that the emperor Maximinus was made a horseman because of his length. It is however unknown whether a similar requirement existed for the praetorian guard. Personal appearance of troops in general had to be smart and guards attending to duties within the <i> pomerium</i> wore the <i> toga</i> rather like modern bodyguards wear suits.<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: 7/6/01 7:48:20 pm<br></i>
<br>
Troops could both volunteer and be conscripted into the army and this included the guard as well as the legions or auxiliary forces. In the first and second century CE most of the recruits would come from Italy or citizen <i> coloniae</i> from the provinces, notably from Macedonia and Spain. In part troops were also transferred from the provincial armies, though this was, with the exception of the guard formed by Vitellius, an occasional affair before the reign of Septimius Severus. From then on transfer of picked legionaries became the normal manner of recruitment and soldiers from the Danubian provinces began to dominate the ranks. Whether this was more about proven qualities than the right personal connections is debatable, but both factors played a part in other military promotions and favouritism was an accepted part of everyday life.<br>
<br>
Whether there was a length requirment as exist today for the Guards regiments in the British army is unsure, though Vegetius describes that men for the cavalry and the first cohort of a legion had to meet higher height standards than other troops. Even though Vegetius is a problematic source, in this instance his statement seems to be confirmed in part at least by another source reference that the emperor Maximinus was made a horseman because of his length. It is however unknown whether a similar requirement existed for the praetorian guard. Personal appearance of troops in general had to be smart and guards attending to duties within the <i> pomerium</i> wore the <i> toga</i> rather like modern bodyguards wear suits.<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: 7/6/01 7:48:20 pm<br></i>
