How ancient armies, such as the Roman Legions, able to feed themselves during wartime campaigns?
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Since you’re asking about the Romans, here’s one of the earliest published treatises on the subject.
De re militari, by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus
>CARE TO PROVIDE FORAGE AND PROVISIONS
>…An exact calculation must therefore be made before the commencement of the war as to the number of troops and the expenses incident thereto, so that the provinces may in plenty of time furnish the forage, corn, and all other kinds of provisions demanded of them to be transported. They must be in more than sufficient quantity, and gathered into the strongest and most convenient cities before the opening of the campaign. If the provinces cannot raise their quotas in kind, they must commute for them in money to be employed in procuring all things requisite for the service. For the possessions of the subjects cannot be kept secure otherwise than by the defense of arms.
>… But a faithful management of the magazines and a frugal distribution of the provisions, with proper precautions taken at first, will insure sufficient plenty. When provisions once begin to fail, parsimony is ill-timed and comes too late.
>On difficult expeditions the ancients distributed the provisions at a fixed allowance to each man without distinction of rank; and when the emergency was past, the government accounted for the full proportions. The troops should never want wood and forage in winter or water in summer. They should have corn, wine, vinegar, and even salt, in plenty at all times. Cities and fortresses are garrisoned by such men as are least fit for the service of the field… By observing the foregoing precautions, the besieged may have it in their power to ruin the enemy by famine, if he keeps his troops together, and if he divides.them, by frequent sallies and surprises.
Edit:. Thank you for the silver, if you’re interested in reading more, I can’t recommend [The Roots of Strategy Book 1](https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Strategy-Thomas-R-Phillips/dp/0811721949/) enough. It has all of the classics and useful forwards.
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