A Day in the Life of a Roman Legionary | Struggles, Envy, and Promotion

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Step back in time and experience the daily life of Valerius as he goes from a city dweller to a professional soldier of the 14th Legion. From the trumpet call at dawn to night watch duty, we shed light on the intricacies of Roman military life along the frontier with a fun animation!

[@HistoriaMilitum]

For this video, we decided to go for a different animation style than usual. It was the best way to go over the day-to-day events and feelings of promotion, envy, and wanting to visit your family and friends. Stay tuned for 2 more videos this month!

[@RENATVS_IV]

The new style Is very cool. I approve

[@noneofyourbusiness43]

Much prefer your art style in your earlier videos. Too many videos use this sort of silly corporatized "south park" stick figure sort of art and it really detracts from the seriousness of and trivializes historical content. The information in your video is as always top notch.

[@HistoriaMilitum]

@@noneofyourbusiness43 Thanks for the input. We will always retain our original animation, don't worry. It just have been too hard to use it for a "day in the life" video. Cheers!

[@FlaviusRed23]

​@HistoriaMilitum what happens to old walls of Roman sellmeants

[@TravisBrady-wn8fr]

Great show. You are a great teacher

[@jonbaxter2254]

I ship Rufus and his cook-wife.

[@benm5913]

A Day in the Life sounds like a great series. Every day stuff is sorely lacking in popular history.

[@RoniiNN]

There is like 6 channels that does it already…

[@benm5913]

@RoniiNN Other than SandHRoman I've not seen channels do daily life stuff. Being loose with definitions there's several food history channels, but, as much as I like food it's not every day stuff.

[@Pan_Z]

Emperors, generals, and politics make up most Roman historical works. These views really help ground these times, making it easier to insert one's self in the Roman world.

[@Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

A hard part regarding every day life is much of it requires conjecture, analysis of various loosely tied sources, and a LOT of archaeological record which we wouldnt have standard (reputable) access to. It's kind of like how most cuneiform tablets we have are receipts, religious texts, or ledgers - what gets written down is what literate society at the time viewed as important to note, and standard daily life isnt really worth recording to most people (the past is much like the present in this way. When is the last time you wrote down the events of a normal day in a physical journal? Or personally knew someone who did?). That being said, with enough access to historic texts, artwork, mythos, overlapping accounts: im sure a relatively stable narrative could be put together with time.

[@Spencer_232]

Exploring the life of a Roman sailor would be a good idea. Just like always you guys bless us with great videos about history. Thank you.

[@graham5716]

Mare mare mare

[@tappajaav]

@@graham5716 Yare yare daze

[@philly83]

Here's another vote for a day in the life of a Roman sailor

[@StuartAnderson-xl4bo]

​@@tappajaavno Roman sailors there were slave rowers and Roman soldiers no Navy in Rome Ghay was Ghay without the Navy

[@liamkisbee8117]

Rome had a navy and won a few battles, it wasn't a big navy and nothing compared to the likes of the greek navy but it had a navy.

[@3numa3llis]

I can't stretch this enough - you have a high-quality informationly animated video about the slice of life of an otherwise war-driven historical major power. This is breathtaking.

[@ZimBeckler]

Our granaries are FULL m'lord! Triggered a core memory with that stronghold music

[@thari7429]

Haha i knew this music sounds familiar

[@jonbaxter2254]

Your day in the life and logistic videos give me life. Romans were some of the smartest people to live, and even the ordinary things they got up to were fascinating.

[@user-on3zi9fo2g]

Most of their administrative and military tactics were invented long before by civilizations in ancient Africa.

[@EJobuu]

This is an amazing video which I didn’t want it to ever end. It gives so much information and portraits a great account of how the massive cogwheel that was the Roman Empire lived in another time. I would love to see more videos like it for other types of soldiers or sailors as to how they start from the ground up and even what it took to go from their mid careers to get to the upper echelons of the military or society. I liked the way the information was presented spending more detail on the information provided than spend excess time & money into fancy graphics & sounds.

[@Rohv]

A little detail correction. People who can't read know when their names are written down, if they have seen it many times previously. In my line of work, I've had occasions to know people who can't read and write, except their own names. So Valerius would probably not ask his fellow soldier where his name is, but what he should do. However, if the written words are repetitive, Valerius would recognize the task, by familiarizing himself with the block of words.

[@Pan_Z]

We often have a fantastical view of the Roman military, with its hard discipline and impressive scale. It's easy to forget it was composed of ordinary men; men who's days were often filled with simple, ordinary, monotonous tasks. Can't imagine a solider back then would be any more or less enthusiastic for nightly watch duty as soldiers are now.

[@tappajaav]

Technology and culture changes but people stay the same

[@shortscreator7981]

This is Amazing! Thats a really good video and very Happy to see this channel now use Animations to show us History❤❤❤❤

[@josephpe90]

It’s crazy how our modern languages haven’t changed much from Latin. I speak both English and Spanish and I can understand a lot of Latin since a lot of words are similar if not technically the same.

[@tappajaav]

Modern or ancient Latin?

[@allonzehe9135]

More "day in the life" vids please. These are great!

[@juanzayas3844]

I’m looking forward to more documentaries like this one, especially the like of a Roman sailor.

[@schafholt]

How the Praetorians and Stronghold vibes are kicking in... maybe i played it too much back in the days 😅

[@enlighten92]

Damn. This is a good video and sheds light on the ordinary life of Roman Empire.

[@josecandidoferraz562]

Day in the life of a Military tribune, please. Great vid!!

[@ProbusVerus]

Thank you! Love your videos! Seeing a day of a roman governor would be wonderful

[@MahmoudMoussa-tx7kh]

Really liked the video format cant wait for the others

[@juliopaveif]

I really enjoy these day in a life of videos

[@geralsonwithrow2205]

Just subscribed but been watching you videos for some time. Great video!! Would like to see other videos like this. Roman Sailor, messengers, and so on. Keep up the good work!!

[@markp44288]

This was one of your best videos. I love personal "common person" narrative.

[@chrisbrocknc]

Loved the video and hope to see more

[@GarfieldRex]

Amazing video 👌🏼 would love more routine videos

[@MomentsInTrading]

I enjoyed this and would enjoy the other videos you mentioned possibly making. Cheers

[@BluffyMoo]

Valerius' daily life is still indicative of all E3 and below in the modern day US military where every Enlisted starts. (Exception being the literacy rate is much higger.) Great video!

[@LiveinReykjavik]

Wonderful and thorough as always! Would be amazing if you could do a day in the life of a Centurion, be it just a regular Joe or a Primus Pilus! Also, hearing about a life of a Cavalry office is compelling as well!

[@eMkaAce]

Please more of these. Epic :)

[@petrmisek3681]

Great video and animation

[@DerceinArt]

THIS IS AWESOOME, really, learning about the daily life of soldiers *or sailors, or people in general in ancient Rome is absolutely great. Please More !!! xD

[@TheGodCold]

Your videos are like warm mint tea. Comfy and always enjoyable

[@robbabcock_]

Wonderful! I love these "day in the life" videos. While the 'Great Men' are celebrated by history it's the average folks that are moving the world along.

[@catherineladd5300]

Great video! More please!

[@pharsianimation954]

Great Explaination Video❤

[@gw7120]

Great video , the writing made it feel even more alive , what day I dont think i could manage , I would be a literate solider haha

[@jordany9807]

Fantastic video.

[@silveryuno]

Yes! More please.

[@andychap6283]

Love this channel, the video makes you appreciate that ancient people were real

[@micahistory]

super interesting, please make more videos in this style

[@davidhughes8357]

Excellent presentation friend.

[@LupercusArchanus]

I enjoyed this and I would love to see a day in the classis

[@fozzy1004]

One of the best advantages to have when in the Roman army was being able to read and write, this alone would make you stand out, and potentially to be promoted to even Centurion. Putting it simply if you cant read and write orders or write important reports then you were useless as a centurion or leadership role in the legion. I remember watching a documentary about a Roman soldier who got promoted very quickly to centurion because not only was he a good soldier, fighter and leader but was very proficient in reading, writing and even basic book keeping. When he got promoted their was several other legionnaires who could of taken up the position even with more military experience but because he could read, write and had basic math skills, that sealed the deal for him to the senior commanders. Even being able to write your own name back in these times was seen as impressive to most, imagine being able to read and write where most others around you cant, really makes you think.

[@Zeruel3]

Absolutely fascinating video

[@HistoriaMilitum]

Thank you!

[@travisfinx5185]

It's a wonderful video. Others like this are good ideas

[@matawie]

Great game and music

[@tex1797]

This was a great video it was very interesting 😁

[@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347]

More please! Pretty pleassssseeeee

[@MarcusAgrippa390]

Sailors would be interesting, if for no other reason than they get so little coverage. Anyway, excellent job as always on these little details that so often go overlooked!

[@carlv8415]

Backing audio track brings back some good memories.

[@g0dofimmortality]

Sounds like Stronghold

[@MrRandomSuperhero]

"Surely this must make his mother very proud" Did you guys just cheekily snuck in a Tommy Tallerico HBomber reference haha

[@Imperator-SPQR]

I noticed the stronghold music

[@bohemiancasanova5538]

Amazing video! I dont even mind you mispronouncing the letter C in words such as Principales.

[@VinnieG-]

A long, difficult boring life with the occasional pure horror in the form of battle

[@andezong9565]

Crazy how there’s still a ton of similarities with the Legion and modern militaries

[@richardvaldes3959]

Would love to see a cavalier scouts life in rome

[@mideon13]

Hanc fabulam inveni valde interesting. plus habere vellem. Gratias tibi

[@qetiogusliriope7436]

As an ex-army infantryman, lemme tell you this goes hard.

[@mikemurphy9960]

Dacian wars part 3 please!!!!

[@deanmartin995]

Could you also do the the life of the centurions of caesar.

[@nikolahavaic759]

Greetings from a fellow Pannonian! Castrum Iovia Botivo and Aquae Iasae salute you!

[@ramonruijgt4532]

not be able too read is intresting to me on how simple things would work in life.

[@danol.8595]

good video

[@LordPrinceIV]

Well done, Valerius. Enjoy your retirement.

[@georgecristiancripcia4819]

Very nice video. I wonder if the soldiers who receive double pay had a separat tent.Or where the slaves will sleep.I wonder if they share the food with their camarades. I dont think the immunes had a easy life either.All soldiers with special skills were granted the rank of immunes or it was a reward? A video about the boot camp will be nice.

[@Rosskie-Annie]

More Video like this

[@TheRealKiRBEY]

yea

[@samym1694]

I thought this month your going to talk about the Greek fighting styles like the use of Hoplites like the Phalanx even by the Romans before the Maniple Reforms. I've also wanna to know how the use of Macedonian Phalanx & their Sarissas Pike protects the whole unit of Pikemen which doesn't make even sense with such a thin protection

[@thomasthetanderloin]

why am I hearing stronghold 2 music in the background?

[@stevecarnduff6444]

Stronghold music lol

[@Holsp]

Can I ask how long was the nigthwatch interval?

[@ver93]

when will dacian wars part 3 be uploaded? is the series discontinued?

[@HistoriaMilitum]

Not at all! Part 3 is scheduled for early-mid May.

[@oliver5403]

Awesome!!! Pick the Governor!!

[@ramonruijgt4532]

how did housing market work in roman times?

[@CubeInspector]

Me, watching this while playing bannerlord with serve as a soldier and eagle rising mods

[@jeffreymyles38]

i bet his boot camp was way more difficult than mine

[@thespartan8476]

History of Europe is way more clear with a Hellenic classical education, and someone who speaks like a native Greek and not as an outsider/foreigner who learned Greek. Dionysius Pyrrhus requests the exclusive use of Hellene in his Cheiragogy: "Never desire to call yourselves Romans, but Hellenes, for the Romans from ancient Rome enslaved and destroyed Hellas." And George Gemistus Plethon pointed out to Constantine Palaeologus that the people he leads are "Hellenes, as their race and language and education testifies". Ducas Vatatzes, wrote in a letter to Pope Gregory IX about the wisdom that "rains upon the Hellenic nation". He maintained that the transfer of the imperial authority from Rome to Constantinople was national and not geographic, and therefore did not belong to the Latins occupying Constantinople: Constantine's heritage was passed on to the Hellenes, so he argued, and they alone were its inheritors and successors. His son, Theodore II Lascaris, was eager to project the name of the Greeks with true nationalistic zeal. He made it a point that "the Hellenic race looms over all other languages" and that "every kind of philosophy and form of knowledge is a discovery of Hellenes […]. What do you, O Rome, have to display?" A time when Romans thought of war. Greeks thought of philosophy in Alexandria, they thought of thought itself. The ancient Greeks used the name "Italia" In addition to the "Greek Italy" and it was Ulfilas, a Greek Who Created the Early German Alphabet. The Greeks created it, the Romans & Germans copy it, and the English exploit it. 😅 In the beginning... God created the Earth, and in the light blue waters, put a small ship to travel forever, in order not only to give birth but also to transfer great ideas all over the world ... He called that ship...HELLAS! 🐬 The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance. Herodotus. No other small country can compare with Greece in terms of impact on human benefit.

[@RosierJulio]

Mas,mas,mas😊

[@Techibos]

I am now a legionary.

[@majidb6266]

Know i am invested, will he get his promotion or will he loss his cool and stab the consul 😅

[@LiamTheOne]

anyone know a game where i can experience this?

[@SidheKnight]

The Forgotten City

[@JuliusCaesar888]

The soil in Pannonia is terrible for farming!!

[@sebastiantovarmarquez1902]

Primus pilus

[@noneofyourbusiness43]

Much prefer your art style in your earlier videos. Too many videos use this sort of silly corporatized "south park" stick figure sort of art and it really detracts from the seriousness of historical content. The information in your video is as always top notch.

[@OdinsVikingr]

Roma Invicta

[@jasonpaz]

Sounds like every town outside of US Army bases

[@juanibuscaglia3239]

Great video, but if I can be a little nitpicky I don't think being illiterate means you can't read your own name. I'm illiterate in Cyrillic but I can "read" (more like recognize?) plenty of names and words. Surely even an illiterate Roman would've been able to recognize his own name.

[@NelsonDiscovery]

THE THEOMAS AMERICAN!

[@darientertainment2615]

14 = XIV not XIIII

[@travisruiz5205]

Hmm weird

[@michaelscarn5625]

Ig I'm the second

[@elshebactm6769]

🗿👍

[@CmdrSoCal]

stole music from Stronghold video game.

[@michaelhawkins7701]

Day in life of a salor

[@pranikislive]

ig i'm the first.

[@user-on3zi9fo2g]

The imperial legion was largely based off the military structure of ancient african armies

[@Enolagay1945]

Sooo...this is just a made up story....as in fake. Not what I wanted..

[@tappajaav]

You completely missed the educational purpose?

[@decem_sagittae]

What's with this animation style? It looks bad, like Simple History or what that channel is called. I hope this doesn't signify a decline in the quality of your content.

[@HeliodromusScorpio]

The main art is almost of laughable quality.

[@optio256]

Day in the life of Auxiliary, Centurion, Cavalry, or an OPTIO. Did the Optio share a tent with just Principales, like Sesquiplicarii (1.5* pay) or Duplicarii (2x pay)? ⚔🎪

[@ThishandlefeatureISdumb]

I gotta ask, is that music from Stronghold the game? It sounds so familiar but I can’t quite place it.

[@HistoriaMilitum]

Yes, it is :)

[@SasoriZert]

Life of a daily Gladiator in the Roman Empire...