Roman Youths Accompanying Army

[john m roberts]

We should probably not take the instances of generals/kings taking their heirs to war at a very young age as any sort of example. These boys were learning to be high commanders and had to learn the manner and the swagger. They were not expected to perform a soldier's duties. In the age of sail midshipmen went to sea as early as the age of 7, but seamanship and navigation required an education that was virtually like that from grammar school through college. I believe that only in an emergency would Rome have taken males younger than 17.