Adsidui
Encyclopedia
In ancient Rome
, adsidui (also assidui; sg. adsiduus or assiduus, Latin
for "diligent, loyal", and collectively, "tax-payers") were the citizens who were liable to military service
in the main line of battle, that is, for much of the history of the Roman republic
, as legionaries. The adsidui were the members of the first five census classes
, which were, according to the Roman historian Livy
, created under the reign of Servius Tullius, the sixth legendary king of ancient Rome
. Under Tullius' original organisation, the first class was made of the richest, and thus best-equipped citizens, with helmet
, shield
, greave
s, cuirass
, spear
and sword
. As one went down through the classes and the corresponding levels of wealth, equipment went lighter and lighter. According to Peter Connolly
, the goal of Tullius' reform was to base military service on wealth, and not race, thus better integrating the Etruscans
, who at that time ruled Rome
, and the Romans
themselves ; he points out, however, that in the beginning most members of the richest first class must have been Etruscans.
The adsidui were, as opposed to the proletarii, eligible to serve in the legions. However, along the structural evolution of the Roman army
, the census levels necessary to be an adsiduus were gradually lowered. The Marian reforms
of Gaius Marius
, allowing any Roman citizen to become a legionary, were only the last step in this evolution.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, adsidui (also assidui; sg. adsiduus or assiduus, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "diligent, loyal", and collectively, "tax-payers") were the citizens who were liable to military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
in the main line of battle, that is, for much of the history of the Roman republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, as legionaries. The adsidui were the members of the first five census classes
Social class in ancient Rome
Social class in ancient Rome was hierarchical, but there were multiple and overlapping social hierarchies. The status of free-born Romans was established by:* ancestry ;...
, which were, according to the Roman historian Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
, created under the reign of Servius Tullius, the sixth legendary king of ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. Under Tullius' original organisation, the first class was made of the richest, and thus best-equipped citizens, with helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
, shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
, greave
Greave
A greave is a piece of armour that protects the leg.-Description:...
s, cuirass
Cuirass
A cuirass is a piece of armour, formed of a single or multiple pieces of metal or other rigid material, which covers the front of the torso...
, spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
and sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
. As one went down through the classes and the corresponding levels of wealth, equipment went lighter and lighter. According to Peter Connolly
Peter Connolly
Peter Connolly is a renowned British scholar of the ancient world, Greek and Roman military equipment historian, reconstructional archaeologist and illustrator. A research Fellow at Oxford in England, and a talented artist, his accurate and detailed illustrations of the Classical world are well...
, the goal of Tullius' reform was to base military service on wealth, and not race, thus better integrating the Etruscans
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
, who at that time ruled Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and the Romans
Roman Kingdom
The Roman Kingdom was the period of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a monarchical form of government of the city of Rome and its territories....
themselves ; he points out, however, that in the beginning most members of the richest first class must have been Etruscans.
The adsidui were, as opposed to the proletarii, eligible to serve in the legions. However, along the structural evolution of the Roman army
Structural history of the Roman military
The structural history of the Roman military concerns the major transformations in the organization and constitution of ancient Rome's armed forces, "the most effective and long-lived military institution known to history." From its origins around 800 BC to its final dissolution in AD 476...
, the census levels necessary to be an adsiduus were gradually lowered. The Marian reforms
Marian reforms
The Marian reforms of 107 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by Gaius Marius, a statesman and general of the Roman republic.- Roman army before the Marian reforms :...
of Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius
Gaius Marius was a Roman general and statesman. He was elected consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. He was also noted for his dramatic reforms of Roman armies, authorizing recruitment of landless citizens, eliminating the manipular military formations, and reorganizing the...
, allowing any Roman citizen to become a legionary, were only the last step in this evolution.