The Auxilia of the Roman Imperial Army

"The Auxilia of the Roman Imperial Army" by George Leonard Cheesman is a historical investigation that examines the makeup and function of the Roman army's supporting units during the first two centuries A.D. This thorough study, produced in the early 20th century, tries to address the complexities of using non-Roman soldiers within the Empire's military. Cheesman begins by pointing out how little attention had been paid to the auxilia before his work and then carefully lays out how these forces changed from the time of the Republic to the reign of Augustus. He points out that the auxilia were very important to Rome's military success. He further proposes that their historical significance extends to the social and political aspects of the Empire. Overall, this presents the setting for a thorough analysis into the characteristics, structure, and crucial parts that the auxiliary troops played in protecting the Empire's vast size.