Defending the Republic is hard work!

Funny enough, wars were generally not very profitable for the Roman state. Even the provinces conquered rarely paid much more than their own upkeep and security.

Now, for the generals and soldiers who got fantastic amounts of loot and didn't pay a penny out of their own pockets for the losses incurred? They made bank. Funny that there's such a steady stream of Roman politician-generals in the Republic who constantly started trouble with weakened neighbors? Must be a coincidence.