V. The Roman Empire: The Army and the Provinces in the 1st Cent AD(i) Functions of the Army: -Peace & stability of the Empire
-Security of the Emperor
-Frontiers
-Internal security (esp in the provinces):
examples of Dalmatia/Italy & Egypt/Alexandria
-Important social & economic role: social
mobility for recruits & officers,Romanization,
economic stimulus
(ii) Size and Organization of the Army:
-28 legions in standing army
-3 legions lost under Varus & not replaced
(hence 25 legions)
-Each legion nominally 5400 men: 150,000 men in all
-2 more legions raised under Caligula or Claudius
(increased to 30 under Flavians)
-Later up to 33 legions
-The Praetorian Guard (9 cohorts)
-Auxiliary regiments: infantry cohorts & cavalry alae
(iii) The Stationing of Legions (AD 23:Tacitus Annals IV 5):
-Rhine 8 legions, Danube & Balkans 6, Spain 3,
Africa & Egypt 2 each, Syria 4;
9 Praetorian Cohorts, 3 Urban Cohorts
-Fleets
-Forces of client kingdoms & auxiliaries
-Emergence of permanent legionary stations on Rhine
& Danube
(iv) Frontiers: -No permanent frontiers before Varus, except for Parthia
-Customs & control of trade
-Legions tend to become sedentary on frontiers:
local recruitment
(v) Recruitment:
(vi) Life & Legal Status of Soldiers: -Soldiers not allowed legally to marry
-Auxiliaries receive citizenship on discharge
(vii) Conscription, Recruitment & Remuneration: -Legionaries
-Centurions (graduations in rank)
-Rates of pay
(viii) The Army as an Avenue for Social Mobility:
1.Some Celts in the Roman Army:C Julius Macer,
C Julius Victor, C Julius Rufus
2.Benefits of citizenship: "ownership" under Roman
law of formerly tribal lands
(ix) Where the Army was Stationed: Rhine, Danube, Spain, Britain,
Judaea, Syria & the Eastern frontier,
later Dacia for a limited time
(x) Client Kings & their functions:
-Keeping order in their kingdoms
-Frontier defense
-They were gradually incorporated as regular provinces
under the Julio-Claudians
-The example of Armenia
(xi) Control of the Legions: -"Imperial" & "senatorial" provinces
-Legionary legates & provincial governors
-The example of Cyrene (five edicts of Augustus)
-The special case of Egypt
-Equestrian governors (in the lesser provinces)
eg in Judaea
(xii) Language(s) & Culture: -Greek & Latin
-local languages: Oscan, Celtic, Punic, Coptic, Aramaic
-Greek language & culture in the Near East
(xiii) Quality of Roman Provincial Administration:
-Maladministration & extortion: some examples
from Pliny's Letters
-Official instructions & advice from the Emperor
-The imperial post and dispatch system: absolute
maximum 200 miles a day
-Consequent effective autonomy of governors in
dealing with emergencies
-Movement of troops
-Sea travel (Wells p 140 for examples):
eg Paul's wreck on Malta (Acts 27)
cf the grain ships
-"Personal" quality of provincial administration
except for taxes and public order
NB The relative "invisibility" of the provincial administration
(examples from New Testament)
-Importance of citizen status (esp in the provinces)
-Collection of taxes: property tax, capitation,
customs duties (portoria) on internal as well as
external trade, taxes on inheritances,
on manumission of slaves
NB Role of cities & publicani (tax-collectors' private syndicates)
in collecting taxes
-The census (Wells p144)
-The administration of Egypt: -papyri give us special
insight into Egypt
-The unique nature of Egyptian administration
-Egyptian documents: regulations of the idios logos
NB Minute attention to detail, flight of workers, extortion
-Generalizing from the Egyptian evidence
(xiv) Central Authority in the East:
-Autonomy of cities, their role in administration
-Financial problems of cities (Pliny Letters Bk X)
(xv) Central Authority in the West:
-Pre-existing urban areas
-Urbanization fostered by Rome
-Evidence from Gaul, Rhineland & Britain (1st century AD)
-Areas of previous urbanization (Greeks & Phoenicians):
Mediterranean coast of Gaul & Spain, South Spain
& North Africa
-Spread of Latin: "Romanization"
-Some examples: 1.Baetica (also Tarraconensis)
2.Narbonensis: -new colonies (Roman & Latin)
-widespread building (eg Pont du Gard)
-typical careers (of men from Narbonensis)
3.Africa: -Punic cites, language & culture
-Roman foundations: Carthage, Lepcis Magna
-resources:grain & olives
-typical people: Punic & Latin names
-the influence of the Roman Army in the
"New Africa" (cf North West Europe)
-the revolt of Tacfarinas
(farmers vs "nomads" ie cowboys)
4.Romanization in Gaul, Germany & Britain:
-role of the army: "pacification"
-trade & military supply
-economic effects of soldiers' pay
NB Good example of quantification using approximation!
-military bases & towns: lowland
& highland