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In earlier times the general military age was 18 to 45, however boys and older men could be called out as a final resort in defence of the city.

As the empire expanded and expeditionary forces and garrisons required extended service, it became until called out for the duration of the campaign. This led eventually (particularly after the late 2nd Century BCE when the non-propertied class was enlisted to match the numbers of the German migration) to longer term service leading to a professional army of volunteers, whose term of service varied, first 16 years, then 20 years and in the later Empire, 26 years. Even these were extended during severe contingencies, which caused mutinies from time to time.

There were nuances, such as the latter part of the service being classed as veteran (on lighter duties), and differentiation between city cohorts, preatorian cohorts, naval and other specialised service. Auxiliaries often had a different length of service.

So there was no specific retirement age, as it depended on the era and the age you enlisted.

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13y ago

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