Dominic Sandbrook

Paulus and Varro, the two new consuls, they then set about raising two new legions each, so another four in total. And they spend the early months of their consulship drilling them, training them, readying them for battle. Now, these legions are much larger than normal. So each one consists of 5,000 infantry, 300 cavalry. They also recruit an equal number of men from the Italian allies.

Paulus and Varro, the two new consuls, they then set about raising two new legions each, so another four in total. And they spend the early months of their consulship drilling them, training them, readying them for battle. Now, these legions are much larger than normal. So each one consists of 5,000 infantry, 300 cavalry. They also recruit an equal number of men from the Italian allies.

Paulus and Varro, the two new consuls, they then set about raising two new legions each, so another four in total. And they spend the early months of their consulship drilling them, training them, readying them for battle. Now, these legions are much larger than normal. So each one consists of 5,000 infantry, 300 cavalry. They also recruit an equal number of men from the Italian allies.

So mental maths, the total is about 80,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry. I mean, 80,000 infantry. I mean, that is an enormous number of men.

So mental maths, the total is about 80,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry. I mean, 80,000 infantry. I mean, that is an enormous number of men.

So mental maths, the total is about 80,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry. I mean, 80,000 infantry. I mean, that is an enormous number of men.

And this sense that the whole city is now going to war is enhanced by the fact that about a third of the Senate are serving in the army. And this sense that the Roman elites justify their status by their readiness to fight is very, very manifest in the roster of people going to war with Hannibal in 216.

And this sense that the whole city is now going to war is enhanced by the fact that about a third of the Senate are serving in the army. And this sense that the Roman elites justify their status by their readiness to fight is very, very manifest in the roster of people going to war with Hannibal in 216.

And this sense that the whole city is now going to war is enhanced by the fact that about a third of the Senate are serving in the army. And this sense that the Roman elites justify their status by their readiness to fight is very, very manifest in the roster of people going to war with Hannibal in 216.

Fabius doesn't go, but his erstwhile master of horse, Minicius Rufus, he goes, he's serving as a tribune. So are many others who have been consuls, so they have experience of command. They're all serving as tribunes who are essentially the kind of the link men between the two consuls who are in command and the mass of the legions. You know, it's not just about the vastness of the manpower.

Fabius doesn't go, but his erstwhile master of horse, Minicius Rufus, he goes, he's serving as a tribune. So are many others who have been consuls, so they have experience of command. They're all serving as tribunes who are essentially the kind of the link men between the two consuls who are in command and the mass of the legions. You know, it's not just about the vastness of the manpower.

Fabius doesn't go, but his erstwhile master of horse, Minicius Rufus, he goes, he's serving as a tribune. So are many others who have been consuls, so they have experience of command. They're all serving as tribunes who are essentially the kind of the link men between the two consuls who are in command and the mass of the legions. You know, it's not just about the vastness of the manpower.

It's also about the seasoned experience of the commanding officers. And these officers, for the first time in Roman history, swear a formal oath of service, what's called a sacramentum. And Livy gives us the terms of it, never to leave the field in order to save their own skins.

It's also about the seasoned experience of the commanding officers. And these officers, for the first time in Roman history, swear a formal oath of service, what's called a sacramentum. And Livy gives us the terms of it, never to leave the field in order to save their own skins.

It's also about the seasoned experience of the commanding officers. And these officers, for the first time in Roman history, swear a formal oath of service, what's called a sacramentum. And Livy gives us the terms of it, never to leave the field in order to save their own skins.

nor to abandon their place in the line for any purpose other than to recover or fetch a weapon, to strike an enemy or to save a friend. And this will establish a template for the oath that soldiers are swearing when they join the legions for centuries to come. It's all about fostering a sense of common purpose.

nor to abandon their place in the line for any purpose other than to recover or fetch a weapon, to strike an enemy or to save a friend. And this will establish a template for the oath that soldiers are swearing when they join the legions for centuries to come. It's all about fostering a sense of common purpose.

nor to abandon their place in the line for any purpose other than to recover or fetch a weapon, to strike an enemy or to save a friend. And this will establish a template for the oath that soldiers are swearing when they join the legions for centuries to come. It's all about fostering a sense of common purpose.

that this really is the Roman people in arms, joined in a unity, in a kind of sense of determination that is shared by every class of person, by every age group. And I think this matters not just for psychological reasons, but also because there is a slight problem with the sheer scale of the army, which is that it's not at all integrated. I mean, none of these religions have kind of

that this really is the Roman people in arms, joined in a unity, in a kind of sense of determination that is shared by every class of person, by every age group. And I think this matters not just for psychological reasons, but also because there is a slight problem with the sheer scale of the army, which is that it's not at all integrated. I mean, none of these religions have kind of