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The most important of the Marian reforms was the opening of the army to those who had no property. Previously only those who had land or wealth could join the army. Marius because of the shortage of manpower in Rome recruited even the landless poor. This was strictly against the law, and many conservatives opposed Marius efforts.
However, such was as the threat from the Cimbri and The Teutones that Marius was able to get his reform passed. There was a problem with recruiting the poor in that they did not have the resources to purchase their arms and armor., Marius arranged for the Roman state to provide them with arms and equipment. The soldiers would also be paid, and this made joining the army very attractive for the many landless peasants who had lost their lands because of the expansion in the estates of the rich.
Many poor men rushed to join the army, and they were expected to enlist for at least fifteen years. Marius was also able to standardize the equipment used by the soldiers. He also believed that Rome, because of its Empire and the various threats to its borders needed a standing army. Previously, the army was only composed of citizen-soldiers.<ref>Polybius. The Histories. 4.1</ref>. The soldiers would return home after the end of every campaign. Marius believed that a soldier should be a professional and train full-time. Even in times of peace, the Roman soldier should be ready for war. <ref>Goldsworthy, <i>Adrian The Complete Roman Army</i> (London, Thames & Hudson, 2002), p. 134</ref>
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