Why was the Roman Auxilia so effective? (Roman Auxiliary Infantry)

It is important to note that roman generals often preferred to use Auxilia units in combat. In this way, it was possible to report that not a "single citizen" died in battle.

Finally! No one talks about the Roman Auxillary, one of the main driving forces behind a lot of their victories

The Auxiliary Infantryman was one of the highest quality & most successful warriors in history. Like Phillip of Macedon they were/are overshadowed by the proximity to one of the greatest. They were professional soldiers who served for a standard term of 25 years(20 years active and 5 years reserve duty) in the Roman Army. Roman Auxilia were often thrown straight into the meat grinder without a moment’s hesitation and those that survived the experience would have been quite the formidable warrior. If they were honorably discharged(finished the 25 years without committing any serious crime) then they would be granted Roman citizenship. It was one of Rome’s great accomplishments to consistently produce such large numbers of high quality troops from conquered peoples...that became assimilated in the process. It is interesting to think of the difference between the Auxilia and the later Rome foederati. Both were non-Romans enlisted in the army….the Auxilia was a successful institution and the later foderati was ultimately a failure. One was carried out in a methodical fashion and the other wholesale enlistment of non-Roman tribes on a large scale, was definitely less successful. Later Roman leaders did have a much tougher situation to deal with...so perhaps the comparison isn’t quite fair. I suspect that Caracalla’s watering down of the privilege of Roman citizenship, may have diminished a powerful incentive that had proved effective in earlier times. When Roman citizen was no longer special, citizenship could not be used to motivate.

The one thing I always notice is the topographical detail in your maps, I've never seen another content creator display them this way. I don'y know enough to know how accurate the actual shown geography is but the aesthetic is appreciated at least!

I read a letter in university of a Roman citizen's letter to his father upon his successful enrollment into the auxilia. During the height of the Empire, the army was so well regarded and provisioned for that they had such strict entry requirements, that some prospective Roman citizens joined up with the auxilia instead. Pretty neat.

Good video, very efficient use of time also. It was interesting how once former enemies of Rome on the Italian Peninsula, who after being invested in the Roman system, were quite loyal to Rome when the Second Punic War arrived. Hannibal thrashed Roman army after Roman army. He expected these other cities, after seeing Rome get crushed repeatedly, would back him and get a chance at revenge against the Romans. To Hannibal's big surprise that did not happen to the extent he was hoping for. For most parts they stayed loyal to Rome, which absolutely confounded Hannibal. Also good catch in how the Romans posted men afar from where they were recruited it. As you said it helped make them prefer Rome as an idea and institution they were invested in, when they were in some far away land with different people, culture. It also made it easy for them to put rebellions down in a bloody fashion if needed. They're not killing their friends and neighbors back home. They were people they didn't know.

these auxillarymen need to be focused more on. glad they're being focused

Do you realize how much better you are than years of the history channel and their millions of dollars budgets? Well done.

As a Rome II Total War fan I love the auxilary system. It's awesome I can recruit gallic spearmen and African cavalry and Syrian archers.

Roman auxiliary forces: when your cohort is literally a cohort.

I really enjoyed your presentation on the unsung auxiliaries of the Roman army, good job!

"Cretian Archers!" "Archers of Crete!"

When you see how important the access to citizenship was to spreading Roman culture by use of auxilia, it really hammers home how much the general granting of citizenship near the end really would have damaged the stability of the empire. The emperor mortally wounded a good part of his armies with that action.

Awesome artwork!

I was at work when you posted this video. I couldn't wait to get to see it! I can't thank you enough for producing & posting all your content. Kudos!!!

Dude I love this channel and its art so much. Especially I love your use of maps and your narration. Everything about this channel is amazing. Every upload is a treat for me.

Its a good day when Epimetheus uploads

I knew the auxiliary forces were important as in cavalry and ranged units but I didn't know they were half of Rome's manpower

It was said that no Roman Consul ever triumphed over the Marsi - and that no Roman Consul ever celebrated a Triumph without them.

YES YES YESSS. IM BOARDING A PLANE LOVE TO HAVE THIS TO WATCH ON THE AIR. LOVE YOUUUU