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The Marian Reforms of Roman Military: The Contributing Cause of the Destruction of the Roman Republic
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Abstract
The Marian reformation was a monumental event in the history of the late Roman Republic. It fundamentally changed the military system in the Roman Republic and facilitated the decline of the Republic in the first century BC. This paper will discuss the causes and process of the Marian reforms and examine the means by which the Marian reforms contributed to Rome’s transition from an aristocratic republic to a military autocracy. It will argue that although the Marian reforms initially intended to improve Rome’s military prowess—by enhancing the army’s efficiency and preparing it for wars against its enemies—the reforms had long-lasting effects on the loyalty, motivations, and social status of soldiers. The reforms made it possible for Roman commanders to use their army for personal political ambitions and led to the emergence of private warlords who led Rome into repeated civil wars.
Keywords
ancient history, history, Roman history, classics
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Cite this article
Wong,C.K. (2023). The Marian Reforms of Roman Military: The Contributing Cause of the Destruction of the Roman Republic. Communications in Humanities Research,4,35-39.
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