Importance of the sacral factor in the Roman army of the early Empire

This article examines the problem of the importance of sacral factor for Roman soldiers of the early empire and the role of religious views in the army, which are applied to processes occurring within the Roman military system, including during the political crisis of the 3rd century A.D. The work identifies and analyzes the main factors that determine the worldview of the warriors, taking into account the importance of the leading military factor in the processes of expansion and evolution of the general Roman pantheon, Also taking into account the complexity and heterogeneity of ideological relations in the early Roman Empire. The moral and ethical aspects of military service for Christian soldiers are addressed. The systematization of the causes that determined the formation of the religious worldview of the Roman warriors indicates that the main aspects were specific historical factors that determined the immediate needs and life of soldiers, religious preferences of the ruling dynasty, The nationality of the soldiers, as well as the religious environment in the provinces where the soldiers were stationed. The study also makes it possible to draw conclusions that the formation of an army pantheon with a specific set of cults took place in the era of principate, in the process of professionalization of the army and its separation from the civilian collective.