[PapaBear3625]

In short, Rome was a city. The question isn’t why did it fall, the question is how did the empire stay together so long. You can’t hire your enemies as paid mercenaries and think you are secure.

No, but you CAN award your troops prime farmland in the areas you conquer, where they can raise a large family whose sons will want to serve a stint in the Army so that THEY can get land of their own.

[morphing libertarian]

Yes I made that point in my comment about enlisting for loyalty