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So throughout the late Roman empire there were multiple attempts at boosting the army recruitment in Italy that failed completely. Were the reasons for this entirely demographic? How and to what extent did social factors influence this problem? What could the empire had done (if anything) differently to change this trend?

For contrast, the empire heavily depended on Illyria for recruitment. What was so good about it in that respect (other than the idea of "soldier races")? Was it any different than, say, Gaul or Hispania at providing soldiers?

Thank you very much to anyone who answers.
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