Garrison Settlement

A garrison serves many purposes. In the large empires of the ancient world, it was often easy for a subjugated people to question the authority of an absent and unseen ruler. In most cases a small garrison provided a reminder of who was really in control, often forestalling any rebellious activity before it even began. Furthermore, this arrangement was beneficial for both the local economy, as the soldiers looked for opportunities to spend their wages, and for the soldiers themselves, to whom life in a peaceful garrison was infinitely preferable to being on campaign. Many large and prosperous towns owed their success to the presence of a garrison.