Socii

As Socii (Latin ) ally of the Roman Republic were referred, in particular, the troops provided by them for the Roman army.

The various forms in which Italic peoples or cities were bound to Rome, are referred to in modern research as an ally system. In the contracts ( Foedera, singular: foedus ) concluded with Rome, the Status of Forces was established by the allies who formed the army of the Roman Republic with the Roman legions. The units of socii were called cohortes or for riders turmae. There were also socii who were obliged to seek the vessels ( socii navales ).

When, after the Social War, the Italian socii received Roman citizenship and the Roman legion developed by the connected with the name of Gaius Marius army reforms to a professional army, were provided by non-Italian allies auxiliaries ( auxilia ) in place of the socii.

In addition to the Italian socii there were formal allies of the Romans in the Republican period also outside Italy, especially in the Greek East.