A Roman Soldier Could Not Legally Marry for 25 Years
The ban kept legions mobile, and Servius Felix spent the wait saving his pay and enlistment coins for land and a wedding.
TED-Ed · A day in the life of a Roman soldier - Robert GarlandA Roman legionary could not enter a legal marriage during his 25 years of service, only after discharge.
That was Rome's rule for soldiers, meant to keep legions mobile and to keep families from following the camps.
Servius Felix, a legionary serving in the year 15 CE, enlisted at 18 from a poor farming family with little to look forward to. At 26, he is eight years into his service, with 17 years still to go.
Unlike most soldiers, he does not gamble, so he has saved most of his wages. He still holds his enlistment grant, three gold coins called the viaticum. If he survives to retirement, he will receive several acres of land. He hopes to marry a young woman from his hometown once his service ends.
Questions people ask
How much was a Roman soldier paid?
A legionary in the early empire earned about 900 sesterces a year, paid in three installments, with deductions for food, clothing, and equipment. It was steady pay for a poor farmer's son, and a careful saver could accumulate a meaningful sum over 25 years, especially with bonuses from victorious generals or emperors.
What did a soldier actually get when he retired?
On honorable discharge, a legionary received a cash payment or a land grant, often several acres in a frontier colony. The idea was to give veterans a farm to live on while also settling loyal Romans in newly conquered territory.