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Called miles ("soldier") or legionarius in Latin, the Roman legionary was (usually) a Roman citizen under 45 years of age. The soldier enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for the duration of a campaign. The last five years were on veteran lighter duties.
On the march in unfriendly terrain, the legionary would be loaded down with armour (lorica segmentata or more commonly lorica hamata) and shield (scutum), helmet, two javelins (one heavy pilum and one light), short sword (gladius), dagger (pugio), a Sarcina (marching pack) about fourteen days worth of food, a waterskin, cooking equipment, two stakes for the construction of palisades, and a shovel or wicker basket.
The Roman soldier underwent especially rigorous training; discipline was the base of the army's success and the soldiers were relentlessly and constantly trained with weapons and especially with drill — forced marches with full load and in tight formation were frequent. Discipline was important and infractions were heavily punished by the centurions.
Immunes
Included in the ranks, aside from the basic heavy infantrymen, were the immunes, specialist soldiers with secondary roles such as engineer, carpenter and medic. These men were still fully trained legionaries however and would fight in the ranks if called upon. They were excused some of the more laborious tasks such as drill and fatigues and received better pay than their comrades.
Pay
From the time of Julius Caesar onwards, Legionaries received 225 denarii a year; this basic rate remained unchanged until Domitian, who increased it to 300 denarii. In spite of the steady inflation during the 2nd century, there was no further rise until the time of Septimius Severus, who increased it to 500 denarii a year. This salary would be supplemented by the booty taken in a campaign.
All legionary soldiers would also receive a sizeable sum of money on the completion of their term of service: 3000 denarii from the time of Augustus and/or a plot of good farmland (good land was in much demand). Later, under Caracalla, the praemia increased to 5000 denarii.
Other legionaries
Legionary is also a term used for members of other legions, like French Foreign Legion, Spanish Foreign Legion or Polish Legion. Members of these modern legions are often called légionnaires, the French term for legionary. The term was also used by the Romanian far right paramilitary group known in English as the Iron Guard.
See also
"Legionary"