The Augustan Army Reforms

• creates permanent standing army
• stabilizes number of legions at 28 legions
• fixed term of service: 16 years at first, then from AD 6 on, 20 years.
• creates aerarium militare (military treasury) to resolve the problem of the discharge ‘pension’: a new tax was levied to meet the demands of this. See C&F C3, p. 114
• benefits for soldiers:

peculium castrense: a soldier whose father was still living could dispose of everything he acquired in military service, i.e., bypassing the authority of the father (patria potestas)

testamentum militare: a will made by a soldier was valid despite technical flaws as long as intent was plain

citizenship extended to all soldiers, thus encouraging enrollment by provincials (who would then be exempt from certain taxes)

• forbade soldiers to marry
• made praetorians permanent force of nine cohorts (1000 each)

served 12 yrs. at first, then from AD 5 16

pay doubled by Senate in 27 (3x what legionaires got)

• seems to have created a separate urban cohort; paid only half what praetorians were
• creates vigiles: 7 cohorts, made up of freedmen, in charge of various functions around the city, e.g. fire, policing, etc.
• creates two standing fleets at Misenum and Ravenna, commanded by equestrian prefects; captains of ships were imperial freedmen; manned by auxiliaries (provincials)