Question about Roman legions naming

[Orko]

The first legion Germanica, for example, why was it called that way? Were the members of it Germans, or was it placed in Germania, or soething else? Why were Roman legions given certain names(leaving their numbering aside)?

[DAVIDE]

The first legion Germanica, for example, why was it called that way? Were the members of it Germans, or was it placed in Germania, or soething else? Why were Roman legions given certain names(leaving their numbering aside)?

Legio I Augusta Germanica took the name Augusta as honour to the Emperor Augustus. Germanica because of the good service Legio gave in the Germanic wars under Emperor Tiberius, in 17 Ad. It's plausible Legio Augusta Germanica was the previous Legio I Augusta which, according to theories, could've been dismantled or moved to Rhein river, until it has been refounded and renamed by Tiberius around 17Ad

[Orko]

Legio I Augusta Germanica took the name Augusta as honour to the Emperor Augustus. Germanica because of the good service Legio gave in the Germanic wars under Emperor Tiberius, in 17 Ad. It's plausible Legio Augusta Germanica was the previous Legio I Augusta which, according to theories, could've been dismantled or moved to Rhein river, until it has been refounded and renamed by Tiberius around 17Ad

And what of the other legions names? from where do they come? I just gave the Germanica legion as an example.

[DAVIDE]

And what of the other legions names? from where do they come? I just gave the Germanica legion as an example.

Where the legion took service and the name of Emperator who created them. the number was used to distinguish legions, especially two of them with the same identical name. The zoo-morph symbol of a legion represented usually, one of the animals of zodiac. The 2 most important symbols of legion were the eagle and vexillum. Eagle was given from Senate or Emperor to legion, in the moment legion has been formed. It's formed by a wooden hasta with at the top the golden eagle. On this hasta, then were fixed the phalere, the recognition of military valor of the legion. Vexillum was the symbol of the legion, a square shaped cloth of red colour with golden letters with the name, number and zoo-morph symbol of legion. Eagle were carried by aquilifer. Vexillum by vexillifer

[Optimus Marcus Ulpius Traianus]

how many legions were destroyed not that relevent but im curious

[bushbush]

they also add names like victorious and etc if the legion had some remarkable victories.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Late Republican Legions.

Legio I Germanica (Germanic): 48 BC–70 (Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
Legio II Sabina (Sabine): 43 BC to circa 9 AD, early name of the Legio II Augusta
Legio III Cyrenaica (from Cyrenaica): probably around 36 BC to (at least) 5th century, Mark Antony
Legio III Gallica (from Gallia): around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull)
Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian): 48 BC–70 (disbanded by Vespasian), Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, capricorn)
Legio IV Scythica (from Scythia): around 42 BC to at least early 5th century, Mark Antony (emblem: capricorn)
Legio V Alaudae (Larks): 52 BC–70 (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar (emblem: elephant)
Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad): 52 BC to after 250, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, wolf and Romulus and Remus); twin legion of Legio VI Victrix
Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis: 51–44 BC, Julius Caesar; disbanded and re-formed by Vespasian as Legio VII Gemina
Legio VIII Augusta: 59–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio VIII Augusta
Legio IX Hispana Triumphalis (Triumphant): 59–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio IX Hispana

Legio X Equestris, also known as X Equestris (Mounted): before 58–45 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded, reconstituted by Lepidus, incorporated into the Legio X Gemina by Augustus.

• Legio X Veneria (devoted to the goddess Venus): another name of X Equestris.

Legio XI: 58–45 BC, Julius Caesar (emblem: Neptune), disbanded, reconstituted by Augustus

Legio XII Victrix (Victorious): 57 BC–45, Julius Caesar

• Legio XII Antiqua (Ancient): reconstituted by Lepidus in 43 BC, named by Mark Antony, included in Augustus army as Legio XII Fulminata

Legio XIII Gemina: 57–45 BC: Julius Caesar, later (41 BC) reconstituted as Legio XIII Gemina by Augustus
Legio XVIII Libyca (from Libya): disbanded 31 BC, Mark Antony
Legio XXX Classica (Naval): 48–41 BC, Julius Caesar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_legions

And theres so many more there. Id post them but it would take a lot of editing. Suffice to say, the legions were generally named after the location they were raised or recruited, peoples they have vanquished, or after the name of the Emperor who established them. Later Imperial legions were named Legio I, Legio II, Legio III, ect. Followed by where they were stationed or raised.