Capite censi

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Capite censi, literally meaning "those counted by head", was a term used in Ancient Rome to refer to the lowest class of citizens, people not of the nobility or middle classes.

Gaius Marius, as part of the Marian Reforms of 105 BC, established the capite censi allowing non-land owning Romans to be enlisted in the Roman legions. This meant that men no longer had to own property to fight for Rome. Because these men had no property, they became the clients of their generals and looked to them for welfare. Now the Roman generals were linked to their soldiers. This reform would facilitate the demise of Rome, as the great civil war between Pompey Magnus and Julius Caesar was backed by their private armies.

[edit] See also

• Proletarians
• Working class