As expected for such a terrifying military force, Roman legionaries (meaning soldiers) were incredibly well-trained and adept at both close-combat and long distance fighting. To become a Roman legionary, recruits had to be male, 17 years of age, and fit for battle. (A separate armed force was created for non-Roman citizens, called auxiliaries.) Recruits typically signed on for 25 years of service, but if they successfully completed their lengthy stint in the military, they were given a piece of land to farm, making it a tempting offer for many young Roman men in spite of the extreme time commitment.
The Roman army was divided into four distinct groups: officers, infantry, cavalry, and ranged projectile units. Officers at varying levels of seniority managed and organized the army. The infantry was the largest, most prominent military division of the Roman army, and was the main cause of their successful conquests. The cavalry was a small, mobile group that provided extra support to the infantrymen. Finally, the ranged units, consisting of archers, slingers, javelin throwers, and even artillery operators would attack from a distance at the beginning of a battle to weaken the enemy opposition before the close-combat units entered the fray.
Weapons, armor, and other equipment were provided by the empire; the equipment one received would be different depending on what position they served in. For example, infantrymen would carry a variety of weapons, such as a gladius (a short, light sword), two pilum (throwing spears), and one pugio (a short dagger). Specialized units like the cavalry and ranged units were given other equipment specifically tailored to their positions.
Perhaps the Romans’ greatest secret to their remarkably successful conquests lied in their training. Many recruits were already tall, young, fit, and had experience working in a profession that required manual labor, such as blacksmithing. However, Roman generals pushed soldiers’ physical limits to the max. Roman legionaries were expected to march over 20 miles in the summer heat in only five hours, all while carrying a 70-pound backpack filled with necessary survival equipment and materials. Additionally, soldiers frequently trained and sparred with one another to become more familiar with their weapons. They also spent a great deal of time perfecting strategy and attack formations to prevail over less organized forces. A combination of all these tactics ensured their victory in almost every battle.
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