It seems like the point at which Rome was fucked was the moment that the legions became more loyal to their commanding officers than the nation itself.
Was this an inevitable outcome of Marius' reforms or could something have been done to keep the soldiers loyal to nation first?
>>3114797
>Was this an inevitable outcome of Marius' reforms
Yes, because Marius's reforms were a limp-wristed compromise which didn't go nearly far enough
>could something have been done to keep the soldiers loyal to nation first?
Yes, a state pension for the soldiers, perhaps some kind of state-managed land distribution program to put retiring soldiers on good farms.
Marian reforms were the first professional army in history, and wouldn't have caused problems if the Senate just paid the damn army. Throughout Roman history the Senate could've just pooled their resources and created an army loyal to them but instead they left it to the the generals and eventually the Caesars and wondered why their influence and popularity waned so much.
>>3114797
The very first thing Augustus did upon seizing power was to making sure the legions would remain loyal to the emperor by having the emperor pay all salaries directly, plus a substantial retirement package for those who retired after serving at least 16 years. He also changed the rules regarding Triumphs (victorious military parades) so that a Triumph could only be led by the emperor himself, or by a member of his immediate family. In this way, it was made clear that the Legions, and their generals, were all subordinate to the Emperor.
>>3114830
>assyria
>>3114830
>first professional army in history
The Macedonians and Syrians maintained professional armies well before the Romans did. And I'm sure they're are plenty of others
it saved rome from the germanic tribes
>nation
there it is again, the modern term used in ancient context