Press Gangs

[Carlton Bach]

I would doubt that a Roman press gang operated much like the Roal Navy, under most circumstances. I have no sources to back this up one way or another, but if the problems experienced in the Late Empire are in any way similar to earlier one it is more likely that the dilectus approached communities, not individuals. Such-and-such a place has to provide so-andf-so-many recruits, and if they weren't forthcoming, the dilector and his men would descend on the place and twist arms.

I also suspect that there was a considerable amount of quiet dealmaking and deferment purchase going on. Italy under Augustus can simply not have been that depleted of military-age males.