The structural history of the Roman military describes the major
chronological transformations in the organization and constitution of
ancient Rome's armed forces, "the most effective and long-lived
military institution known to history". From its origins around 800 BC
to its final dissolution in 476 AD with the demise of the Western Roman
Empire, Rome's military underwent substantial structural change. Rome's
military structure passed through four distinct phases. Initially,
Rome's military consisted of an annual citizen levy performing military
service as part of their duty to the state. As the extent of the
territories falling under Roman suzerainty expanded, and the size of
the city's forces increased, the soldiery of ancient Rome became
increasingly professional and salaried. In the third phase of the
city's military development, Rome's forces were tasked with manning and
securing the borders of the provinces brought under Roman control, as
well as Italy itself. Strategic-scale threats were generally less
serious in this period, and strategic emphasis was placed on preserving
gained territory. In the final phase of Rome's military, military
service continued to be salaried and professional for Rome's regular
troops. The uniformity of structure found in Rome's earlier military
forces disappeared. This was accompanied by a trend in the late empire
of an increasing predominance of cavalry rather than infantry troops,
as well as a requital of more mobile operations.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_history_of_the_Roman_military>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1791:
The Polish Constitution of May 3, one of the earliest codified national
constitutions in the world, was adopted by the Sejm.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_May_3%2C_1791>
1815:
Austrian troops led by Frederick Bianchi, Duke of Casalanza defeated
the forces under King Joachim Murat of Naples at the Battle of
Tolentino, the decisive battle of the Neapolitan War.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tolentino>
1837:
The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the oldest
university in the eastern Mediterranean, was founded.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_and_Kapodistrian_University_of_Athens>
1942:
World War II: Japanese forces began invading Tulagi and nearby islands
in the Solomon Islands Protectorate, enabling them to establish a base
so they could threaten and interdict the supply and communication
routes between the United States and Australia and New Zealand.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Tulagi_%28May_1942%29>
1947:
A new Constitution of Japan went into effect, providing for a
parliamentary system of government, guaranteeing certain fundamental
rights, and relegating the Japanese monarchy to a purely ceremonial
role.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
resile (v):
1. To start back; to recoil; to recede from a purpose.
2. To spring back; rebound; resume the original form or position, as
an elastic body
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/resile>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend
himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps,
and a lion to frighten wolves.
--Niccolò Machiavelli
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli>