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caitlyn -> RE: "Problem solved" (10/18/2006 3:43:12 PM)
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The Romans started this practice at the tail end of the Republic, and maintained it as an Empire. There were three basic levels of service for non-citizens.
Fundatores were groups of local soldiers that fought with men of their own nationality in the style of their homeland, and usually under their own officers. They were rarely given citizenship, but were allowed to settle on Roman land.
Auxilia were non-citizens that were armed and trained by the state, normally organized by 'lange' or language. As such, they were usually from the same region. At the end of service, they were granted full citizenship, although were rarely given the pension plot.
The Miles Gregarious (ordinary soldier) often included picked men from the Auxilia, that were selected to bring Legionary Cohorts up to size. The moment they were selected, they became citizens.
It's a myth, mostly started by Gibbon, that the Roman field armies at the end of the Empire was mostly made up of foreign troops that were not citizen soldiers, and who were serving to gain citizenship. This has been completely disproven by modern historians. The Comitates (field army) was primarily made up of highly trained citizen soldiers, augmented by troops personally loyal to various commanders, such as Stilicho and Aetius. Paid mercenaries were also widely used. The huge numbers of Goths used as part of the Limitanei (border troops) were never given any sort of citizenship ... they were mearly allowed to settle on Roman land, or were paid troops.
The truth of the matter is that it's the early Empire period that saw large numbers of non-citizen soldiers, serving to gain citizenship. Early Roman armies were close to half Auxilia, including all the cavalry, other than the Equites Alares and Equites Illyria.
By the end of the Empire, this had largely vanished. By that time, most people from areas within the sphere of influence of the Empire, were already citizens.
Sort of a highjack ... my apologies. [:D]
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