Editing Army (section)

===Ancient Rome===
[[File:Relief Kolumna Trajana2.jpg|thumb|A 2nd-century depiction of Roman soldiers on [[Trajan's column]]]]

The [[Roman Army]] had its origins in the citizen army of the [[Roman Republic|Republic]], which was staffed by citizens serving mandatory duty for Rome. Conscription remained the main method through which Rome mustered forces until the end of the Republic.<ref>
* {{Cite book |last=Lintott |first=Andrew |title=The last age of the Roman republic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3yUkzNLiY4oC |series=Cambridge Ancient History |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1994 |isbn=0-521-25603-8 |editor-last=Crook |editor-first=J A |edition=2nd |volume=9 |chapter=Political history, 149–95 BC |display-editors=etal|page=92|quote=The Romans continued to levy regularly by conscription.}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gruen |first=Erich |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8a4wDwAAQBAJ |title=The last generation of the Roman republic |year=1995 |isbn=0-520-02238-6 |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press|page=367|quote=And the Marian reforms... did not abolish the levy. Conscription continued... to the end of the republic.}}</ref> The army eventually became a professional organization largely of citizens, who would [[career soldier|served continuously]] for 25 years before being discharged.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knighton |first1=Andrew |title=The Roman Army – The Development Of One Of The Most Powerful Military Forces In The Ancient World |url=https://www.warhistoryonline.com/ancient-history/roman-army-development-military.html |website=War History Online |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=May 7, 2018}}</ref>

The Romans were also noted for making use of [[Auxiliary (Roman military)|auxiliary troops]], non-Romans who served with the [[Roman legion|legion]]s and filled roles that the traditional Roman military could not fill effectively, such as [[skirmisher|light skirmish troops]] and [[heavy cavalry]]. After their service in the army they were made citizens of Rome and then their children were citizens also. They were also given land and money to settle in Rome. In the [[Late Roman Empire]], these auxiliary troops, along with foreign mercenaries, became the core of the Roman Army; moreover, by the time of the Late Roman Empire tribes such as the [[Visigoths]] were paid to serve as [[Mercenary|mercenaries]].