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12% of the total force (2,400 out of a normal consular army of approximately 20,000 total effectives), was greater than in most peninsular Italian forces, but well below the overall 21% cavalry component that was typical of the Principate army (80,000 cavalry out of 380,000 total effectives in the early 2nd century). Since a pre-Social War consular army always contained an equal number of legions and alae, 75% of its cavalry was provided by the Latin allies. An allied ala, commanded by 3 Roman praefecti sociorum, was similar or slightly larger in infantry size (4–5,000 men) to a legion, but contained a more substantial cavalry contingent: 900 horse, three times the legionary contingent. The Italian forces were organised into alae (literally: 'wings', because they were generally posted on the flanks of the Roman line of battle). This was Rome's defence system until the Social War of 91–88 BC.

In addition, the legion lacked missile forces such as slingers and archers.Until 200 BC, the bulk of a Roman army's cavalry was provided by Rome's regular Italian allies (socii), commonly known as the 'Latin' allies, which made up the Roman military confederation. Around 200 BC, a legion of 4,200 infantry had a cavalry arm of only 300 horse (just 7% of the total force).This was because the class of citizens who could afford to pay for their own horse and equipment – the equestrian order, the second rank in Roman society, after the senatorial order – was relatively small. The mainstay of the Roman republic's war machine was the manipular legion, a heavy infantry unit suitable for close-quarter engagements on more or less any terrain, which was probably adopted sometime during the Samnite Wars(343–290 BC).Despite its formidable strength, the legion had a number of deficiencies, especially a lack of cavalry. The regimental names of many auxiliary units persisted into the 4th century, but by then the units in question were different in size, structure, and quality from their predecessors. By the end of the period, there were no significant differences between legionaries and auxiliaries in terms of training, and thus, combat capability.Īuxiliary regiments were often stationed in provinces other than that in which they were originally raised, for reasons of security and to foster the process of Romanisation in the provinces. The Julio-Claudian period (30 BC–68 AD) saw the transformation of the Auxilia from motley levies to a standing corps with standardised structure, equipment and conditions of service. Reliance on the various contingents of non-Italic troops, especially cavalry, increased when the Roman Republicemployed them in increasing numbers to support its legions after 200 BC. In contrast to the legions, which only admitted Roman citizens, members of the Auxilia could be recruited from territories outside of Roman control.

#ROME 2 AUXILIARY UNITS FREE#

The Auxilia were mainly recruited from the peregrini, free provincial subjects who did not hold Roman citizenship and constituted the vast majority of the population in the 1st and 2nd centuries (c. Like their legionary counterparts, auxiliary recruits were mostly volunteers, not conscripts. The auxiliathus represented three-fifths of Rome's regular land forces at that time. By the 2nd century, the Auxilia contained the same number of infantry as the legions and, in addition, provided almost all of the Roman army's cavalry(especially light cavalry and archers) and more specialised troops.

'auxiliaries') constituted the standing non-citizen corps of the Imperial Roman armyduring the Principate era (30 BC–284 AD), alongside the citizen legions.

Rome 2 auxiliary units