Search for:
Dining

Military Rations of Roman Legions – Response To Tasting History With Max Miller



NOTE: When I quote Polybius I’m specifically mentioning this verse from Histories, book six: “The infantry receive a ration of wheat equal to about 2/3 of an Attic medimnus a month”. So when I was translating that to grams I said “900grams a month” but I meant to say per day. I just had the word “a month” stuck in my head so I misspoke. Apologies for the confusion.

Join this channel to get access to more old school Metatron videos the algorithm wouldn’t prioritize!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjGKyrdT4Gja0VLO40RlOw/join

Also if you like what I do and wish to support my work to help me make sure that I can continue to tell it how it is please consider checking out my patreon! Unboxings are Patreon exclusives!
https://www.patreon.com/themetatron

Check out tasting history with max miller!
https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory

The Roman Military Diet: Fueling an Empire’s Conquests
The Roman military machine was powered not just by iron and discipline, but by a sophisticated system of food provisioning that kept its legions fighting across three continents. At the heart of the Roman military diet was grain, particularly wheat, which soldiers would grind themselves to make bread or porridge. Each legionary was entitled to about 850 grams of wheat per day, a ration known as the frumentum.
Beyond their daily grain allowance, Roman soldiers sustained themselves on a diet that was remarkably varied for ancient military forces. The basic military meal, called pulmentum, consisted of puls (a wheat porridge) enriched with whatever meat, vegetables, or legumes were available. Soldiers would gather in their eight-man contubernium to prepare and share these meals, fostering unit cohesion through communal dining.
The meat in a legionary’s diet came from multiple sources. While on campaign, soldiers would receive regular rations of salted pork (lardum) or beef. They supplemented these rations through hunting, purchasing from local markets, or requisitioning from the territories they passed through. Archaeological evidence from Roman military sites has revealed bones from cattle, sheep, pigs, and even wild game, indicating a more diverse diet than historical accounts alone suggest.
Vegetables and legumes played a crucial role in maintaining the health of Roman troops. Lentils, beans, and peas provided essential protein and could be easily dried and transported. Archaeological remains from military sites have yielded evidence of local vegetables like carrots, onions, and garlic, which soldiers would have either grown in military gardens or purchased from local farmers. These foods not only provided vital nutrients but also helped prevent the scurvy that plagued many ancient armies.
The Roman military’s beverage of choice was posca, a mixture of water and sour wine vinegar. This drink served multiple purposes: it helped purify potentially unsafe water, provided essential calories and minerals, and was believed to have medicinal properties. Soldiers also received a ration of sour wine (acetum), which they would typically mix with water to make posca. The acidity of these drinks helped kill harmful bacteria, making them safer than plain water for troops on campaign.
The logistics of feeding an army were as impressive as the Roman military itself. The Romans developed an extensive supply chain system, establishing horrea (granaries) along major military routes and near permanent camps. These warehouses stored not just grain but also olive oil, wine, and preserved foods. The military also maintained its own bakeries, with archaeological evidence showing large-scale bread production facilities at many fort sites.
Roman commanders understood that well-fed troops were essential for maintaining morale and combat effectiveness. This understanding led to the development of portable hand mills, which allowed soldiers to grind their own grain while on campaign. Each contubernium was equipped with a mola manualis (hand mill) and cooking equipment, enabling them to prepare hot meals even during active campaigns.
Despite this sophisticated system, the reality of military life meant that soldiers often had to adapt to local conditions. During sieges or rapid campaigns, troops might subsist on bucellatum, a hard biscuit that could be stored for long periods. This hardtack ancestor became a symbol of military life, featuring in contemporary accounts of campaign hardships.
The Roman military diet stands as a testament to the empire’s organizational capabilities and understanding of logistics. By ensuring their soldiers were well-fed with a varied and nutritious diet, Roman commanders maintained an army that could operate effectively across vast distances and in varied terrain. This sophisticated approach to military provisioning played a crucial role in Rome’s ability to conquer and maintain its vast empire, demonstrating that an army truly does march on its stomach.

#ancientrome #food #history

24 Comments

  1. CLARIFICATION: When I quote Polybius I'm specifically mentioning this verse from Histories, book six: "The infantry receive a ration of wheat equal to about 2/3 of an Attic medimnus a month". So when I was translating that to grams I said "900grams a month" but I meant to say per day. I just had the word "a month" stuck in my head so I mispoke. Apologies for the confusion.

    Join this channel to get access to more old school Metatron videos the algorithm wouldn't prioritize!

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIjGKyrdT4Gja0VLO40RlOw/join

    Also if you like what I do and wish to support my work to help me make sure that I can continue to tell it how it is please consider checking out my patreon! Unboxings are Patreon exclusives!

    https://www.patreon.com/themetatron

    Check out tasting history with max miller!

    https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory

  2. Looking at the spread of stuff on the table, I'm surprised you have access to all that (and would eat all of that). … I am under the assumption you still live in Italy.

  3. I like it when Metatron dresses up in full Roman citizen legionary kit from circa, 88 A.D. to 106 A.D. wearing lorica segmentata.
    Now, since I'm not Italian, if I were to dress up in Roman kit, I would choose the auxilia of 106 A.D. I would be wearing lorica hamata chainmail, shorter in length than the time of Caesar. My helmet would be a bronze Coolus type. My wool tunic might be the cheaper, undyed, natural wool fabric, but it could be colored from blue, to madder red, or brown. It just depended upon what was available in inventory at the time and how much the Roman state was willing to pay more for dyed woolen tunics. In times of emergency when there was a huge surge in manpower demand, likely the tunics would be undyed natural wool to speed mass manufacturing and reduce costs.

  4. I would love to have a customer ask me for "copious amounts of food" at the restaurant I work at, especially with a latin accent it just sounds better.

    Me " Hi, I'll be taking care of you today. What can I get for you today?"

    Legionair (yes I know I miss spelled it, my phone doesn't have it on productive text) "I would like copious amounts of food."

    Me " So that'll be the all you can eat pancakes? Can I get you a coffee with that or perhaps an orange juice?"

  5. As an American I absolutely will not accept any food criticism from an Italian…but I will quietly and desperately try to reproduce the glory of Italian cooking in secret!!!

  6. And Roman vinegar would most likely be some form of wine vinegar, would be flavorful soaked into hard tack, even thin, watery soup or broth to soak it in would work well….

Write A Comment