Question about Evocata Germanica

[antred]

What are they supposed to be? Regular Roman veterans that just happen to have served in Germany? Germans that have been recruited into the legions and attained veteran status?

[shawn858]

kinda curious about it too. a google search of evocata germanica proved of no help either

edit: found this on honga, but it doesn't really explain the germanica part. What's so special about the specifically german veterans?

After a roman legionary had finished his up to 25 years in the army, he could be asked back to join the Evocati, the ranks of “those who are called”. Usually affiliated to their old commander or re-enlisting at the bequest of a particular consul in times of need, veterans were afforded great respect and honour because of their previous service. As examples to the common soldier, they were often immediately promoted to centurion and given a pay rise. Crucially, veterans were exempt from the mundane and laborious tasks of legionary life such as digging latrines, building roads or making camp. During the civil war all sides called on old soldiers to swell their ranks and provide much needed experience. Pompey persuading a large number of evocati to join him against Julius Caesar by promising them promotion and more money to return. The veteran Praetorians of the Evocati Augusti were held in especially high regard.

[Ghost9489]

I think that they were called Germanica because of serving in Germany. As i can recall, some emperors got a nickname or an extenstion of their name by their soldiers and ppl for their service, there were a couple of Germanicus emperors, though cant remembar which one. Anyway i think that thats why its called Germanica, same as Germanicus for emeperors. Anyone correct if im wrong, im interested in this too

[Le_Swede]

The Rhine-border was one of the thoughest places to serve at throughout the roman empire's history and as such the soldiers stationed there were also some of the finest soldiers in the empire. If my memory serves me right alot of the Generals who usurped, or threaten to usurp the power of Rome managed to do so by the support of these soldiers.

[Augustusng]

Yep, the Rhine and Danube borders were among the most important borders, and there were many emperors who came to power through the support of legions stationed there. These guys are probably veterans recruited originally from Germanic regions.

Also, historians often talk about the "Germanization" of the legions in the later Roman Empire, which you can see in the game with these units as well as the plethora of new Germanic auxiliary units available.

As the Empire needed more recruits and the borders with Germanic tribes became more difficult to hold, the Romans started letting Germanic tribes settle within the Roman Empire, in exchange for the men serving in the legion, and other restrictions - the tribes typically disarmed and were dispersed among different settlements, and gave up loyalty to tribal chiefs (these things didn't happen when they let the Goths in... and the Battle of Adrianople happened).

As far as Evocata Germanica in the game, they actually have longswords (initiative 2 in stats currently) and stealth abilities - you can deploy them outside your normal deployment zone.