Roman soldiers were split into different classes, initially according to personal wealth. Conscription was replaced by a professional army allowing Roman soldiers to develop an entire career.
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Roman soldiers were split into different classes. In the earliest period, the census allowed a ranking of individuals by wealth and on that basis their role in the Roman army was determined. The richer individuals who could afford weapons, armour and horse would be in the cavalry, called equestrians, whilst the broader, poorer population was infantry.
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