Describe one major impact of the Marian reforms on the Roman army.

• A. Opened service to the capite censi, professionalized the army
• B. Limited to property-holding citizens, reducing the army size
• C. Created a separate mercenary force outside the state military
• D. Ended the practice of paying soldiers salaries

Answer: (A)

Opening recruitment to the capite censi expanded who could join the army by removing the property requirement. This pulled in large numbers of landless and poorer citizens who had previously been excluded, dramatically increasing the pool of recruits and the army’s size. But the bigger shift is that these recruits became a professional, standing force: they trained regularly, served long terms, and received regular pay and equipment from the state. Because their livelihood and prospects depended on their commander—who paid them and promised spoils or land—their loyalty increasingly rested with the general rather than the Senate. This transformation, from a citizen militia bounded by property to a professional army tied to its generals, had lasting political consequences for Rome.