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Originally Posted by Bulgaroctonus
The Romans had used mercenaries as far back as the Republican period. For a long time, allied peoples formed the alae or wings of the manipular legion. Later in Roman history, these forces would be known as foederati, meaning roughly 'federates.'
The problem was not the fact that the later Roman army used mercenaries, but that the later emperors lost control of the officer corps. Incidentally, this officer corps was made up of many Germans and other federated people. The Roman army was capable even in the fifth century and could defeat any opponent if it was properly used. It was the loss of central control that led to the constant civil wars of the third and fourth centuries.
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That they used allied units as auxiliaries even before Marius’ reforms, yes. But the core legions were still made up of Romans and/or people subjugated by Rome. Their incentive to fight was it not based on the promise of land grants and/or the promise of Roman citizenship at the end of their tour of duty? Therefore they ultimately had an added personal incentive in preserving the Roman state, be it the Republic or the Empire.
When later Roman legions were comprised mainly of Gaul’s, Germans fighting mainly for a pay check, this incentive disappeared.