Long-standing Roman use of non-citizen auxiliaries differed from dependence on mercenary formations. Scipio Africanus learned from the failure of armies in Spain that had relied too heavily on allies and hired troops whose loyalty ran through their own commanders. He kept auxiliaries below half of his field army and placed officers and non-commissioned leaders over them within his command system. Each soldier therefore owed allegiance through Scipio's organization rather than to a contractor who received and redistributed the pay. The lesson is about command integration and loyalty, not simply whether troops were citizens.
Notable Point · 1:04:06-1:05:23
Why Roman auxiliaries were not simply mercenaries
Scipio Africanus illustrates the organizational difference between allied auxiliaries integrated into Roman command and hired bands loyal to separate leaders.