If I was a Roman soldier that absolutely hates being in the military, what options would I have?

by beefstewforyou

I’ve heard they had a 20 year commitment so let’s say I was at month three and I couldn’t stand it anymore. What could I do?

We’re there ways to get kicked out of the Roman military? If not, was it easy to desert without getting caught? Are there any documented cases of people in this position?

coyip

If you were a Roman soldier who hated being in the military and wanted to get out, your options would have been somewhat limited. In the Roman army, soldiers were expected to serve a term of service that typically lasted for 20 years. Desertion was a serious offense, and soldiers who were caught could face severe punishment, including flogging, imprisonment, or even execution.

However, there were a few ways in which a Roman soldier could potentially get out of military service early:

  1. Discharge due to disability: If a soldier became physically or mentally unable to perform their duties, they might be granted a discharge. This could happen due to injury, illness, or other factors.
  2. Discharge due to age: After a certain age, Roman soldiers might be granted a discharge and allowed to return to civilian life. The exact age at which this would happen would depend on the specific unit and the individual's rank.
  3. Discharge due to exceptional merit: In some cases, soldiers who performed particularly well in battle or who rendered exceptional service to the state might be granted a discharge as a reward.
  4. Desertion: As mentioned earlier, desertion was a serious offense, but it was not uncommon for soldiers to desert in order to avoid military service. Some soldiers might try to escape and go into hiding, while others might try to flee to a different country. However, the risk of getting caught and punished was high, and there is little documentation of soldiers who were successful in deserting.

It's worth noting that these options would have been more or less available depending on the specific circumstances of the soldier in question and the policies of the unit they were serving in. Additionally, it's important to remember that the Roman military was a very hierarchical and disciplined institution, and soldiers who wanted to get out might face significant obstacles in doing so.