Yes, black Africans served in Rome's Legions!

Fantasy.

The entire Roman empire was a racially integrated Empire made up of several people from hundreds of different lands from as south as Numidia and as far east as Asia minor.

In fact, the word Roman wasn't used to relate to a Race, but a Citizenship. Much like how people from the US are called American but are Racially Black, White or Native.
So there isn't an actual Roman race to begin with. In fact, the Forefathers of Romulus and Remus came from Rum, a country that was located in Asia minor.


Numidia, like Rome, was also an Empire with a sparsely Racial family. Phoenicians, Greeks, Syrians and Egyptians all lived in Numidia.

Of course Africans (likely north African) had served in both the Roman legionary army and the Roman auxiliary army. There was ample employment opportunity in both.

To join the legions you needed to be a Roman citizen, at least 5'8" tall, below the maximum allowable age of which I can't remember right now, and of course in complete physical health with no disabilities whatsoever. The background of the applicant was checked too for undesirables. The lowest age to join was 18 although there is historical evidence that indicates young men of 16 or 17 succeeded in sneaking in, probably because they looked older. (The height requirement lowered to 5'7" in the 4th century and lower to 5'5" in the 5th century as times got more desperate.)

To join the auxiliary legions you only needed to be of completely good physical health and no disabilities. Even individuals from enemy nations could join. Also there was no restriction on Roman citizens from joining the auxiliaries if they so desired, for whatever reason. I don't know what the maximum allowable age was.

There is no historical evidence to indicate any ethnic or racial bias against enrollment into the legions or the auxiliaries. Begin drafted into the legions did take place on very rare and only in extreme dire circumstances such as the drafting of nearly all Rome's gladiators during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, at the height of the Marcommani/Quaadi Wars. Drafting took place more commonly in the latter fourth century.

There's Septimius Severus too. He was the first Roman Emperor that was born in Africa. His family was of Phoenician, not black African, descent although there are references both to the dark colour of his skin, and the fact that he kept his African accent.

Far an taine ‘n abhainn, ‘s ann as mò a fuaim.

I have to say this is the most informative thread I've ever read in IMDB. Thanks to all for the wealth of historical information :)


If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen turn off the stove

Who is even saying otherwise?
It's a well known fact that half of the Roman army was comprised of auxiliaries recruited from conquered provinces (and that includes North Africa), who would later become Roman citizens after 20 years of service in the army. An Empire the size of Rome with it's ethnic diversity, wouldn't have survived for so long without integrating conquered peoples.