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AWA372 - Were ancient armies ever at full strength?

AWA372 - Were ancient armies ever at full strength?

Update: 2025-08-29

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In this episode of the Ancient Warfare Podcast, Murray answers a question from Marc about the actual size of ancient military units. Modern sources often quote full-strength numbers for legions and cohorts, but were ancient armies ever truly at full capacity?

Drawing on evidence such as the Vindolanda tablets, Murray discusses how understrength units may have been the norm, and whether modern historians should reconsider the numbers they often cite.

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AWA372 - Were ancient armies ever at full strength?

AWA372 - Were ancient armies ever at full strength?