[gothic-l] Re: Armalist

[Frank Kermes]

> >   From: Bertil Häggman <mvk575b at tninet.se> wrote:-
> >> ... The great mistake was to employ Germanic soldiers as legionaries.
>...
> >
> > That would have these risks for the Romans:-
> > (1) On the battlefield they might be somewhat unwilling to fight against
>their
> > own people, if the enemy were also Germanic.
> > (2) They would learn Roman fighting methods and then go home and teach
>them to
> > other Germanic tribes.
>
>A third should be added...
>(3) They would be tempted to inform their own countrymen of any impending
>invasions or miliatary actions.
>
>Gendler.

And (4)  They had a tendency to defect as entire units if the empire wasn't
paying them enough (or feeding them, or whatever).  Like the Gothic unit
that went over to Fritigern right before the battle of Adrianople . . .

Cheers
Frank

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