| The next major change in the army took place at | | | | that was lacking in the previous army and would |
| the end of the 2nd century B.C. when Gaius | | | | eventually become very important in the coming |
| Marius was elected Consul, placing him in | | | | years: extreme loyalty. Before, the army |
| command of the Roman army. Ceaseless attacks | | | | consisted of landowners and farmers who were |
| from the Germanic tribes forced large armies to | | | | forced to serve for six years and longer if they |
| be raised to defend Rome. However, just with | | | | wished. Of course, they wanted to get back to |
| Cannibal in the beginning, the legions suffered | | | | their wives, families, and land. Now, the legions |
| defeat after defeat, and the number of "legal" | | | | consisted of the landless, and jobless (with of |
| men (men who owned land) to be recruited was | | | | course, some wealthy), and service was |
| dwindling. Most had already fought and died or else | | | | increased to 20-25 years or longer. The army |
| was still fighting the Germanic tribes. | | | | was now looked upon as a lifelong career, and |
| In this emergency, Marius had no choice but to | | | | was mostly an all volunteer army, except in times |
| break the norm and devise a new recruitment | | | | of emergency. In the Pre-Marius times, the |
| method. Thus, the Marius Reforms took place. | | | | soldiers might have been loyal to the general, but |
| They were a serious of reforms that helped | | | | were really fighting for the survival of Rome, their |
| professionalize the Roman army and make a | | | | lands, and their families. |
| more efficient, uniform fighting force. It also | | | | Now, the troops were extremely loyal to the |
| greatly affected the citizens and society of | | | | Legate, as Marius encouraged a strong bond |
| Rome, mostly due to the new recruitment | | | | between the troops and the General. Though the |
| method. Because land owners available for | | | | immediate effects of a loyal army to the general |
| recruitment were dwindling to dangerously low | | | | may not have been seen, it had major impacts |
| numbers, he offered the general masses a | | | | on the Roman society during the next several |
| chance to join his army. This included the jobless, | | | | centuries. Eventually, the army itself had a role in |
| poor, and uneducated in Rome and surrounding | | | | selecting emperors. They, along with the generals, |
| provinces and cities. With a solid financial structure | | | | commanded more influence than many of the |
| that ensured payment and wages, war spoils, as | | | | emperors and senators. During the civil war |
| well as retirement benefits he gave the "mob" of | | | | period, the loyalty of the army to the general |
| Rome a chance to earn money, land, a job, and a | | | | was very important in the eventual taking of |
| life worth living. | | | | Rome by Octavian (or better known as |
| As Marius offered employment to anyone who | | | | Augustus) and setting himself up as the first |
| was willing to fight, he also introduced something | | | | emperor of the Roman Empire. |