History of Roman Army Recruitment

[Timianus]

I also think it is important to consider the social/economic strata during the late imperial period. Since the end of the republic, there was a trend where the "middle class" farmer (the mainstay of the republican army) was basically eliminated. An increasing number now worked under indentured servitude contracts to very wealthy large villa owners. These very wealthy aristocrats were able to avoid having their "employees" recruited; hence the concern that conscription turned up only the destitute. Also consider the difference in martial vigor and conditioning between a farmer and a malnourished city-dwelling destitute.