Each man could volunteer as long as he was a Roman citizen, which meant anyone, no matter how wealthy or poor, could join Rome’s armies. The entire army underwent a restructuring under General Gaius Marius, a statesmen and seven time consul who introduced sweeping reforms in the military. As the Roman Empire set about conquering all corners of the globe, its fighting forces were underpinned by rank upon rank of Legionaries – the backbone of the Roman Legions – and some of the most formidable troops of their time.
