Triarii were a class of soldier in the early Roman Army, consisting of spearmen drawn from the oldest and wealthiest soldiers who could afford high-quality equipment; they typically formed the third line, behind the well-to-do principes and two rows behind the poor and young hastati. The Triarii fought in a phalanx formation during the 4th century BC, but their formation was reformed during the Punic Wars, and the three classes of soldier were scrapped by Gaius Marius in 107 BC and replaced by professional milites who were issued the same standard equipment.