03-12-2001, 07:54 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
There are still references to the use of the <i> dilectus</i> or conscription levy under the empire. This applied to the unemployed and wanderers (<i> otiosi</i> and <i> vagri</i>) in particular, but it could also involve propertied citizens, though these could evade actual service by providing a <i> vicarius</i>, a replacement (as could be done in many European armies in the 19th century until conscription was made truely universal). Both draftees and volunteers served apparently side by side and for the same duration. Such long terms of conscript service (16 to 25 or more years) are not unique in history: in 18th century Czarist Russia conscripts were also drafted for such long periods. It is only at the start of the third century that sources indicate that volunteers may have predominated, but this was after a pay rise and the grant of new priviledges (legalised marriage for serving soldiers), so those circumstances may indicate that this may not have been not usual before that date.<br>
<br>
The actual process used during the principate is not well understood, though there are references to several sorts of officials, <i> dilectatores</i> and <i> conquisitores</i>, who were responsible for organising drafts. The draft could be used to levy both citizen and peregrine soldiers: one of the complaints of the Batavians was that Roman recruiting officers were levying their men where they used to select their own. In the later empire conscription levies were made in particular areas with a reputation for martial prowess, other areas having to pay a tax instead, but it is not known whether this reflected earlier practice as well. In the later empire landowners were taxed, if not owning enough on their own then collectively, to provide army recruits when a recruiting drive was thought necessary. This probably meant that one had to serve in person or provide a willing recruit (comparable to the <i> vicarius</i> of Trajanic times). By the fourth century military service was made compulsory for sons of soldiers and this may have been a common practice before. The change in priviledges granted to auxiliaries and recorded on their discharge certificates indicate that in the first half of the second century citizenship was no longer automatically granted to their children, who had to take up service to receive it on their own account.<br>
<br>
It is not known whether soldiers under the empire were granted early releases. Though some passages in tacitus seem to refer to auxiliary levies being send home, it is not known whether these would be demobilised or kept in readiness or whether such troops were regulars or perhaps a part time militia. Other evidence seems to indicate that soldiers were more likely to be kept in service beyond their term, the twenty five years being regularly exceeded in recorded careers. This may have been related to problems finding the money to pay for discharge bonuses, which may in some cases or at some particular times not have been provided to all veterans (this is at least suggested by Alston for some Egyptian veterans and in the late Roman army one could be discharged after twenty years with limited rewards and after twenty five with full benefits). There are references to <i> honesta missio ex causa</i>, honarable discharge on medical grounds, and <i> missio causaria</i>, discharge on medical grounds, which, if not actually referring to the exact same thing, seems to indicate that soldiers could be invalided out with discharge benefits.<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: 3/12/01 3:28:56 pm<br></i>
<br>
There are still references to the use of the <i> dilectus</i> or conscription levy under the empire. This applied to the unemployed and wanderers (<i> otiosi</i> and <i> vagri</i>) in particular, but it could also involve propertied citizens, though these could evade actual service by providing a <i> vicarius</i>, a replacement (as could be done in many European armies in the 19th century until conscription was made truely universal). Both draftees and volunteers served apparently side by side and for the same duration. Such long terms of conscript service (16 to 25 or more years) are not unique in history: in 18th century Czarist Russia conscripts were also drafted for such long periods. It is only at the start of the third century that sources indicate that volunteers may have predominated, but this was after a pay rise and the grant of new priviledges (legalised marriage for serving soldiers), so those circumstances may indicate that this may not have been not usual before that date.<br>
<br>
The actual process used during the principate is not well understood, though there are references to several sorts of officials, <i> dilectatores</i> and <i> conquisitores</i>, who were responsible for organising drafts. The draft could be used to levy both citizen and peregrine soldiers: one of the complaints of the Batavians was that Roman recruiting officers were levying their men where they used to select their own. In the later empire conscription levies were made in particular areas with a reputation for martial prowess, other areas having to pay a tax instead, but it is not known whether this reflected earlier practice as well. In the later empire landowners were taxed, if not owning enough on their own then collectively, to provide army recruits when a recruiting drive was thought necessary. This probably meant that one had to serve in person or provide a willing recruit (comparable to the <i> vicarius</i> of Trajanic times). By the fourth century military service was made compulsory for sons of soldiers and this may have been a common practice before. The change in priviledges granted to auxiliaries and recorded on their discharge certificates indicate that in the first half of the second century citizenship was no longer automatically granted to their children, who had to take up service to receive it on their own account.<br>
<br>
It is not known whether soldiers under the empire were granted early releases. Though some passages in tacitus seem to refer to auxiliary levies being send home, it is not known whether these would be demobilised or kept in readiness or whether such troops were regulars or perhaps a part time militia. Other evidence seems to indicate that soldiers were more likely to be kept in service beyond their term, the twenty five years being regularly exceeded in recorded careers. This may have been related to problems finding the money to pay for discharge bonuses, which may in some cases or at some particular times not have been provided to all veterans (this is at least suggested by Alston for some Egyptian veterans and in the late Roman army one could be discharged after twenty years with limited rewards and after twenty five with full benefits). There are references to <i> honesta missio ex causa</i>, honarable discharge on medical grounds, and <i> missio causaria</i>, discharge on medical grounds, which, if not actually referring to the exact same thing, seems to indicate that soldiers could be invalided out with discharge benefits.<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: 3/12/01 3:28:56 pm<br></i>
