From Citizen Militia to Professional Military - Transformation of the Roman Army (Paperback)

The late Roman Republic faced what looked unsolvable social problems and all attempts made by the politicians from all parties failed or made the situation even worse. Finally the crisis was so deep that the security and survival of the state was at stake. Professionalization of the Roman military brought back stability to the state destabilized from internal conflicts and civil wars. The army became more efficient and expended Roman Empire through the most of the known world of the time, and reached its greatest extent in A.D.116 only two centuries after first military reforms brought the army toward professionalization. The state hierarchy became clearer with the Emperor who was commander in chief and patron of all military forces, and who was now able to conduct all necessary reforms which brought relative peace and stability to the people of Rome. Augustus success and his greatness were only possible because he had a standing army backing up his political work as well as suppressing his opponents.