History Origin of Roman troops by region

[Maciamo]

Someone took the time to calculate the breakdown in origins for Roman troops during the imperial period in various parts of the empire based on surviving records.

 

[Tomenable]

Very interesting that in Iberia most soldiers were locals, while in Britain only 3%.

It seems Rome did not trust the Britons?

 

[Riverman]

What's the definition of "Danubian" in the British context? Is it "Balkan & Danubian" (Central-Eastern to South Eastern Europe) or more specific?

 

[Maciamo]

Very interesting that in Iberia most soldiers were locals, while in Britain only 3%.

It seems Rome did not trust the Britons?

That's for sure. That's why Rome kept three legions permanently stationed in Britain while they only had one in Iberia for a territory nearly three times larger. In the first and second century CE Iberia had a population of 5 to 6 million people while a Roman Britain had a bit less than 3 million.

 

[Maciamo]

What's the definition of "Danubian" in the British context? Is it "Balkan & Danubian" (Central-Eastern to South Eastern Europe) or more specific?

I would think Pannonia and Moesia.

 

[Tomenable]

That's for sure. That's why Rome kept three legions permanently stationed in Britain while they only had one in Iberia for a territory nearly three times larger. In the first and second century CE Iberia had a population of 5 to 6 million people while a Roman Britain had a bit less than 3 million.

This (not recruting Britons to the army) probably also made the Britons defenceless when the Anglo-Saxons invaded.