Could (I'm not asking Should!) the Roman Empire have been saved? #SPQR Or even democratised?
The reforms by Emperor Diocletian and others were the start of the rot arguably at least
Making everyone a citizen seems laudable but it also exempted those citizens from taxation
The old system abandoned citizen conscription in favour of a volunteer based military which allowed non citizens to achieve citizenship via military service
What is ignored here is the divide between rich and poor which
Could (I'm not asking Should!) the Roman Empire have been saved? #SPQR made the Marian Reforms necessary in the first place
Could a mix of citizen-or Resident-conscription with serviceleadstorewards work?
Say allowing citizens to forgoe taxes in return for the old auxiliary 20-25 years of services? Or is it better to retain the "citizens can join the legions, non citizens can join the auxiliaries"?
Perhaps with the provisio that: the second sons of all citizens should serve between 3-15
Could (I'm not asking Should!) the Roman Empire have been saved? #SPQR Or even democratised?
The reforms by Emperor Diocletian and others were the start of the rot arguably at least
...
Perhaps with the provisio that: the second sons of all citizens should serve between 3-15 years in the legions or 4-20 years in the auxiliary legions , depending on family wealth, with Citizens able to volunteer for 18 years in return for tax exemptions and non citizens 20 years in return for citizenship.
Everyone else has to enlist before they reach the age of 20 or pay a large "scutage" fine.
The richest are obliged to serve four years and also pay scutage fees if they don't re-enlist by aged 30.
Neil Thurogood