09-20-2007, 06:30 AM
Is it possible that the reason for the 'banding'/'means testing' of individual legionaries into velites, hastati, etc, by wealth was to ensure that they could actually pay for the arms they were issued with? There's no point in making a poor dirt farmer a princeps when he couldn't reimburse the state or individual for the gear. Both theories of who supplied the army may be correct and don't necessarily exclude each other, perhaps?
His refusal to take reimbursement for the expense may have had more to do with not having to be beholden to the state, so he could maintain as much autonomy as possible? However, if the legionaries over time reimbursed him for the arms they now had, he could eventually repay his debts and/or refill his coffers. But that year's crop would have gone untended by him which is why he says "This year's crop will be ruined..." which would be unrecoverable, and therefore cause a fiscal loss no matter what given his refusal of reimbursement through spoils.
The question would be whether the legionaries sold the equipment to the state afterwards or, like Quintius' obligations, were obliged to donate them through civic duty after gaining spoils and wealth through victory? Or, did they retain them, being expected to maintain and use them for future conflicts? Quintius's financial outlay may have been to only equip the new members of the legion (possibly recoverable from the men themselves), and maintain their supplies for the duration (recoverable through spoils).
His refusal to take reimbursement for the expense may have had more to do with not having to be beholden to the state, so he could maintain as much autonomy as possible? However, if the legionaries over time reimbursed him for the arms they now had, he could eventually repay his debts and/or refill his coffers. But that year's crop would have gone untended by him which is why he says "This year's crop will be ruined..." which would be unrecoverable, and therefore cause a fiscal loss no matter what given his refusal of reimbursement through spoils.
The question would be whether the legionaries sold the equipment to the state afterwards or, like Quintius' obligations, were obliged to donate them through civic duty after gaining spoils and wealth through victory? Or, did they retain them, being expected to maintain and use them for future conflicts? Quintius's financial outlay may have been to only equip the new members of the legion (possibly recoverable from the men themselves), and maintain their supplies for the duration (recoverable through spoils).
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
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