How many Roman legionaries survived to retirement?

YouTube ^ | March 19, 2022 | The Historian's Craft

[SunkenCiv]

Roman soldiers famous received a plot of farmland, and citizenship (if they weren't already Roman citizens) when they were discharged from the Roman army. The terms of service could see troops under obligation to serve between sixteen and twenty five years, depending on the time period. But, being a soldier is a dangerous job, and Roman fought many conflicts. So, how many soldiers actually made it to retirement? How many got that piece of land?

SOURCES:
Marriage, Family, & Survival in the Roman Imperial Army: Demographic Aspects, Scheidel
The Complete Roman Army, Goldsworthy
A Companion to the Roman Republic, Morstein-Marx & Rosenstein

How many Roman legionaries survived to retirement? | March 19, 2022 | The Historian's Craft

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

[SkyDancer]

Well there’s this old guy down the road with plenty of stories.

[MinorityRepublican]

Or how many Russian conscripts survived this year?

[colorado tanker]

Probably depends on what era they served in. After the civil wars and the abandonment of Germany, the Pax Romanum, I’d guess a lot lived to retirement. But, once the barbarian invasions began . . .

[ClearCase_guy]

Too many. Their defined benefits plan is what bankrupted the Empire. It was all a ponzi scheme to begin with. [/jk]

[M Kehoe]

My guess, twenty percent.

Give or take a few wounds.

5.56mm

[nickcarraway]

Did they have a pension?

[MercyFlush]

Yeah, so how was their dental program?

[Republican in occupied CA]

It would heavily depend on when they served, much as with any army.

[Larry Lucido]

The ones who served under Publius Quinctilius Varus didn’t make it to retirement.

[nomorelurker]

One of my minor hobbies is studying what and how a Roman legion was equipped with and how they were supplied/foraged. The Romans knew the value of logistics something armies seem to keep relearning even today see todays headlines.
The Roman Legion camp was a marvel for it’s defense structure and how quickly it could be built. It’s standardization was a brilliant concept that lasted for at least 1,000 years, think about that.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Larry Lucido]

The Legionnaires at Cannae and Trasimene didn’t fare too well.

[SunkenCiv]

Yup, they had it going on. From the Roman conquest of Ostia to the final fall of Constantinople the span is closer to 2000 years. Of course, Rome had to learn everything the hard way and due to invasions by the Gauls and Carthaginians, and various reforms were instituted by successful generals down the centuries.

The size of the Claudian invasion of Britain was gleaned in recent years by surviving records of how many mules they took along, something like that.

[lurk]

16 to 25 years walking to the next hand to hand combat theatre while living out in tents or the open air. Sign me up.

[SunkenCiv]

Obviously some few survived, because word ggot back to Rome quickly, given the distance and technology of the time. Arminius didn't fare so well when he had to face the Romans again, and after he fled with the clothes on his back, he hid out with some relatives who eventually sold his head to the Romans.

[SunkenCiv]

It was a good deal and a good life for that time, at least for those who came from various humble backgrounds. They had the satisfaction of carrying out astounding feats of construction, many of which leave traces to this day.

[SunkenCiv]

LOL

[packagingguy]

Some didn’t last long and were made to fight wabid wild animals. Especially when they mocked Biggus Diccus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzgS61zgPEg