The army of the early-mid Roman Republic was responsible for most of the conquest, and growth that the Empire maintained. The Republics armies had major differences from the Imperial Roman army. It was comprised of a citizen army, not a professional army. Furthermore, the equipment was not standardized till the time of Marius in the late Republic. The Republican Romans were also drawn into five warrior classes based on wealth, Velites (pic#6 skirmishers, also the youngest and poorest ) Hastati ( pic#3 &7 light infantrymen, the lower middle class, young men who fought in the first rank), Principes (pic# 1&2 medium infantrymen, men in the prime of life, they had better armour, and were a bit more wealthy than the Hastati), Triari (pic #4 heavy infantrymen, who fought with a spear opposed to a javelin used by the other ranks; these were also the old wealthy veterans, who could afford the best armour), and the Equites or knights (pic# 5 these were the highest social class of plebs who could afford a horse and maintain it on campaign),
( all miniatures are 28mm foundry republican roman miniatures)