Just before the fall of the Roman Empire over 50% with estimates upward of 80% of the army was Germanic in origin.
By 400 AD only about 1% of the total population of the Roman Empire were of the original race of people who created the Roman Republic.
There is an argument that Rome fell simply because none of the Romans (and especially the military) really cared much about it by the time it fell since there were truly hardly any Romans left.
I think Ancient Empires operated a lot more decentralized than Empires (countries) today operate and thus many people didn't care much who the rulers of the overall empire were since it didn't affect them much. People weren't as dependent on the government as they are today. When Trump announced he wanted to annex Canada most Canadians should have just said okay sure whatever and carried on without caring because whether the USA runs Canada or Canada runs Canada the outcome is basically going to be the same for all the peasants (or actually improve) so fighting to help one tyrant rule instead of another is pointless. This is especially true of multicultural empires where the invading force isn't likely to ethnically cleanse anyone after conquering the empire. Many Canadians though were scared because they didn't want to lose "free healthcare" so social programs act as a hook for peasants to fight for tyrants but Rome lacked enough of this for peasants to care. Out with the old king, in with the new king. Same difference to any peasant so why fight?
It was less centralized because the governors had the right of Imperium, I think that's what they called it, which gave them near autonomous power over their provinces.
I didn't know the numbers of foreigners in the army, but I knew it got bigger and bigger. I think that the Praetorian Guard eventually become foreigners. Which seems like a strange idea, to trust strangers to protect your leader. Although the Swiss Guard guarding the popes has been highly successful.
I didn't know the numbers of foreigners in the army, but I knew it got bigger and bigger. I think that the Praetorian Guard eventually become foreigners. Which seems like a strange idea, to trust strangers to protect your leader. Although the Swiss Guard guarding the popes has been highly successful.
VERY common.
The Varangian Guard (Vikings) were the elite bodyguard of the Byzantine Greek emperors.
The Janissaries (European Christians, Albanians, Hungarians, Caucasians, etc.) were the army of the Ottoman Empire.
The Hessians (Germans) fought many of the battles of the Revolutionary War for the British.
There is an argument that Rome fell simply because none of the Romans (and especially the military) really cared much about it by the time it fell
You can't have a country alongside people with an escape parachute. You can't have a country when you are neighbors with someone who can say "fuck you, I got mine" and then return to their place of origin.
Just before the fall of the Roman Empire over 50% with estimates upward of 80% of the army was Germanic in origin.
By 400 AD only about 1% of the total population of the Roman Empire were of the original race of people who created the Roman Republic.
There is an argument that Rome fell simply because none of the Romans (and especially the military) really cared much about it by the time it fell since there were truly hardly any Romans left.
I think Ancient Empires operated a lot more decentralized than Empires (countries) today operate and thus many people didn't care much who the rulers of the overall empire were since it didn't affect them much. People weren't as dependent on the government as they are today. When Trump announced he wanted to annex Canada most Canadians should have just said okay sure whatever and carried on without caring because whether the USA runs Canada or Canada runs Canada the outcome is basically going to be the same for all the peasants (or actually improve) so fighting to help one tyrant rule instead of another is pointless. This is especially true of multicultural empires where the invading force isn't likely to ethnically cleanse anyone after conquering the empire. Many Canadians though were scared because they didn't want to lose "free healthcare" so social programs act as a hook for peasants to fight for tyrants but Rome lacked enough of this for peasants to care. Out with the old king, in with the new king. Same difference to any peasant so why fight?
It was less centralized because the governors had the right of Imperium, I think that's what they called it, which gave them near autonomous power over their provinces.
I didn't know the numbers of foreigners in the army, but I knew it got bigger and bigger. I think that the Praetorian Guard eventually become foreigners. Which seems like a strange idea, to trust strangers to protect your leader. Although the Swiss Guard guarding the popes has been highly successful.
VERY common.
The Varangian Guard (Vikings) were the elite bodyguard of the Byzantine Greek emperors.
The Janissaries (European Christians, Albanians, Hungarians, Caucasians, etc.) were the army of the Ottoman Empire.
The Hessians (Germans) fought many of the battles of the Revolutionary War for the British.
You can't have a country alongside people with an escape parachute. You can't have a country when you are neighbors with someone who can say "fuck you, I got mine" and then return to their place of origin.
That comment is very antiseptic.