All were armed with a leather helmet, round shield, breastplate, greaves (leg-pieces), spear, and sword.

The fifth rank was composed of the second class, who were armed like the first, without breastplate.

The sixth rank was composed of the third class, who had neither breastplate nor greaves.

Behind these came the fourth class, armed with spears and darts, and the fifth class, having only slings.
Each soldier of the infantry paid for his own equipments; the cavalry, however, received from the state a horse, and food to keep it.
This new organization of both patricians and plebeians was originally only for military purposes,--that the army might be increased, and the expenses of keeping it more equitably divided among all the people.

But gradually, as the influence of the wealthy plebeians began to be felt, the organization was found well adapted for political purposes, and all the people were called together to vote under it.