Duo esse praecipua quae militem faciunt, ddectum
The Sacred Calling of the Soldier
The author defends the military profession as a divinely instituted calling defined by selection and the Sacrament.
Specifically, selection and the Sacrament. Don't think, however, that I'm hostile toward the military or that I'm twisting the vices of individuals into the duties of the office; I take up its defense against anyone who resists, and with the Lord as its author, I will defend it most thoroughly. For this profession is as laudable as it is necessary, and no one can disparage it while maintaining proper reverence for God, by whom it was instituted. Look through the Old Testament. Review the sequence, and you'll find it to be just as I say. It makes no difference if these people act wrongly, since the law of the military hasn't been established for them, and none of them, to speak accurately, is a soldier. Read both ecclesiastical and secular books that deal with military matters, and you'll clearly find that there are two things that make a soldier: selection and the Sacrament. For these two things are common to those who practice both spiritual and physical warfare.
The Necessity of Careful Selection
The process of selecting soldiers is a grave responsibility that requires evaluating both physical strength and moral character.
The bishop’s voice calls the former to the service of the altar and the worship of the Church, while the leader’s voice chooses the latter for the defense of the state. The writings of our ancestors explain what these offices and positions are, what kind of people should be chosen for each role, and how. But because secular military service is what we’re dealing with now, let’s listen to what Vegetius Renatus has to say about the selection of soldiers. He says: 'The safety of the entire state depends on this: that the recruits chosen are outstanding not only in body but also in spirit; the strength of the kingdom and the foundation of the Roman name rest on that first examination during the selection process.' This shouldn't be considered a light duty, nor should it be entrusted to just anyone, since it’s well known that the ancients considered this especially praiseworthy among so many different types of virtues. For the youth responsible for defending the provinces must excel in both character and strength. Integrity makes a soldier capable, and a sense of shame, by preventing him from fleeing, often makes him a victor. For what good is it if an ignoble man is trained, or if he lingers in the camp for many terms of service?
Virtue Over Numbers
Military success depends on the diligent discernment of leaders to ensure only the most capable and virtuous are enrolled.
An army never succeeds in wartime if its recruits were poorly chosen from the start. We have learned from experience that this is why so many disasters are inflicted by enemies everywhere: because a long peace makes for a careless selection of soldiers, because useless men pursue civil offices, and because recruits are assigned to military service through the influence or indifference of those in charge, rather than being the kind of men their commanders would actually want to have. Therefore, great leaders should choose young men with great diligence. Once a careful selection has been approved, those found suitable for service must be signed up and enrolled. For one must look for speed and strength, and also determine whether a person is capable of learning the discipline of arms and whether he possesses military confidence. Many who don't look objectionable at first glance are proven unworthy by experience. The less useful must therefore be rejected, and the most vigorous put in their place. In any conflict, it's not so much numbers that help as it is virtue.
Training for Duty
After selection, the leader must ensure the soldier is fully prepared through consistent training and discipline.
The leader’s work and judgment are both essential in exploring, forming, and advancing this. Once the recruits are enrolled, they must be taught through daily weapons training so that, whether they’re infantry or cavalry, and whether they’re fighting in light or heavy armor, on land or at sea, they can fulfill the role of a capable soldier.
Read the original Latin
scilicet et sacramentum. Ne me tamen putes inimicari militiae et uitia personarum in officia retorquere, ego patrocinium eius quouis renitente suscipio et eam auctore Domino sufficientissime excusabo. Professio namque tam laudabilis est quam necessaria, et quam nemo uituperare potest salua reuerentia Dei a quo est instituta. Veteris Instrumenti reuolue. seriem et inuenies ita esse ut dico. Nichil enim ad rem a attinet, si isti praeuaricantur quoniam eis lex militiae posita non est, nec aliquis eorum, ut recte loquamur, miles est. Lege libros tam ecclesiasticos quam mundanos quibus agitur de re militari; et manifeste inuenies duo esse quae militem faciunt, electionem scilicet et sacramentum. Haec enim duo communia sunt his qui spiritualem et corporalem militiam exercent.
Hos enim ad ministerium altaris et cultum ecclesiae uocat lingua pontificis, illos ad defensionem rei publicae eligit lingua ducis. De quibus officiis et locis quales et qualiter ad alterutrum officium eligendi sint, maiorum scripta declarant. Sed, quia nunc secularis militia uersatur in manibus, uel Vegetius Renatus super electione militum audiatur. Ait ergo: In hoc totius rei publicae salus uertitur, ut tirones non tantum corporibus sed etiam animis praestantissimi delegantur; uires regni et Romani nominis fundamentum in prima delectus examinatione consistunt. Nec leue hoc putetur officium aut passim quibuscumque mandandum, quod apud ueteres inter tam uaria genera uirtutum praecipue constat esse laudatum. luuentus enim, cui defensio prouinciarum imminet, et moribus excellere debet et uiribus. Honestas enim idoneum militem reddit et uerecundia, dum prohibet fugere, saepe facit esse uictorem. Quid enim prodest si exerceatur ignobilis, si pluribus stipendiis moretur in castris?
Numquam exercitus proficit in tempore belli, cuius in probandia tironibus claudicauit electio. Et quantum usu experimentisque cognouimus, hinc tot ubique ab hostibus illatae sunt clades, dum longa pax militem incuriosius legit, dum inutiles quique ciuilia sectantur officia, dum indicti possessoribus tirones per gratiam aut dissimulationem probantium tales sociantur armis, quales domini habere fastidiunt. A magnis ergo uiris magnaque diligentia idoneos conuenit eligi iuniores. Cum uero diligens electio iudicio fuerit approbata, signandi sunt et ascribendi militiae qui ad eam inuenientur idonei. Nam et uelocitas requirenda est et robur et utrum armorum disciplinam quis ediscere ualeat et an habeat confidentiam militarem. Plerique enim quamuis non improbabiles uideantur in specie, tamen experimentis comprobantur indigni. Repellendi ergo minus utiles et in locum eorum strenuissimi subrogandi. In omni enim conflictu non tam prodest multitudo quam uirtus.
In qua exploranda formanda et promouenda ducis uertitur tam opera quam iudicium. Signatis namque tironibus per cotidiana exercitia armorum est demonstranda doctrina ut leui armatura et graui, terra item et pelago, pedites sint an equites, strenuum militem possint implere.
Policraticus companion
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