Beginning with the military reforms of Augustus the author, G.L. Cheesman, proceeds to examine the strength and organization of the Roman auxiliary regiments as well as their recruits and distribution throughout the empire. Special sections cover the use of auxilia for war and frontier defense as well as their arms and armor. 192 pages, paperback

Despite the fact that the auxiliary infantry and cavalry regiments made about half the fighting-strength of the Roman Imperial army, much less attention has been devoted to their alae and cohortes. Cheesman's was one of the first studies (1914) to do so and his work is an essential start to anyone attempting to make sense of these non-citizen (and sometimes citizen) troops. From the Augustan reforms and the early institutionalization of allied troops, Cheesman discusses the history, strength, organization, recruitment and equipment of the auxilia as well as the end of the system at the beginning of the third century AD.