How much did it cost to arm a Roman soldier?

According to Goldsworthy , in 70AD the legionary was paid a annual salary of 225 Denarii of which his equipment and food would cost about 110 Denarii.

Did Roman soldiers have to pay for their armor?

When Rome was in its infancy, there was no state-controlled army as such, with each soldier having to pay for their own armor and equipment. As Rome grew in power and wealth, and consequently had a need for a standing army, soldiers were provided with the necessary items, including armor.

How much was a Roman legion?

All in all, a legion consisted of circa 6,500 men, of whom 5,300 to 5,500 were soldiers. The legions were given numbers. In Augustean time, numerous legion numbers were assigned twice, because Augustus kept the traditional designations of older legions.

How much was a Roman centurion paid?

Centurion’s pay at the lowest level was in the region of 3,750 denarii a year with the primus pilus (5) earning as much as 15000 denarii, a pay which secured his services and marked his responsibility to the Emperor of the day.

How much did a Roman shield weigh?

How heavy was a Roman shield? – Quora. 5.5 – 10 lbs / 2.5 – 4.5kg depending on your person and time period, but likely not greater than 10 lbs and probably closer to 5. The strength of shields isn’t in their wood thickness, but the process used to hold them together; the cloth and edge binding is the secret.

How much was a legatus paid?

A legatus was entitled to twelve lictors, who carried out punishments with fasces (bundled rods).

How many Contubernia make up a century?

Its basic unit was the century, which comprised eighty men, divided into ten sections (contubernia) of eight, who shared either a barrack room or tent.

What was the average salary of a Roman legionary?

From 50 BC to 80 AD, the salary of a Legionary was 900 sesterces. Of an auxiliary, it was 750 sesterces. Each legion had 5,120 legionaries, and always had substantial auxiliry forces, usually about 6,000 auxiliares, with a total wage cost of 8,608,000 sesterces per year.

What was the total personnel cost of the Roman Empire?

The Roman Empire usually maintained 30-33 legions, at a total cost of 291 – 320 million sesterces. Also, they had a navy, with a personnel strength of 50,000 – 60,000 men, adding a cost of perhaps 50-60 million sesterces. So total personnel costs would be ca. 350 million sesterces.

Why was Roman legionary armor so popular?

Roman legionary armor was easy to construct and provided the most vital amount of protection without weighing down the wearer too much. It was designed to be easily transported and standardized to almost any size so that it could be used again by future soldiers.

What was the average life expectancy of a Roman soldier?

Of course, the average life expectancy of a soldier was such that only about 50\% lived to see retirement. Thus I adjusted that 120 denarii a year average down by 50\%. Wikipedia article says a soldier’s life expectancy was lower than the average for someone in the Roman era. Troops in the auxiliary forces did not get the bonuses or retirement pay.