Foreign Legion in the Sahara

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by fernando

Actually were the Romans that started it, before 107 BC .

The Roman Manipular Legions were started in the 4th century b.c. The Marian reforms of 107 b.c. produced the 'modern' legionary organization we think of as the Legions of the SPQR. They degenerated to smaller units in the late imperium as more non-citizens were allowed in the Legions, and less citizens were available and willing.

The earliest Marian legions were about 6000 strong, with 'foreign' auxiliary units of smaller size. Legionaries were citizens, and retired after a fixed term of 20 years or so. Later imperial legions varied. They retiree and were given a plot of land (usually in a conquered are where they were essentially reservists) and a pension.

Auxilliary soldiers were non-citizens who served their term, then earned their citizenship. So it's the Auxiliaries who were the Foreign part of the legion. Late 3-4c+ western Imperial legions degenerated and could be as small as 600, and were mostly foreign.