{legio_i_germanica} Legio I Germanica
{legio_i_germanica_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio I Germanica, the German legion, was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC by Julius Caesar to fight for him in the civil war against Pompey. After the Batavian rebellion (70), the remaining men of the Germanica were added to Galba's seventh legion, which became VII Gemina. The emblem of Legio I is unknown, but it was probably Taurus, like all the other legions levied by Caesar.\n\nThere are two theories about I Germanica recruitment. The most favored is that it was raised by Julius Caesar in 48 BC to fight in the civil war against Pompey. In that case it would have fought in the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. A second theory attributes its recruitment to Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus, a partisan of Caesar, who died in the Battle of Forum Gallorum against Marc Antony in 43 BC. Legio I would have been recruited in that year for that campaign. However recruited, Legio I was inherited by Augustus and therefore ought to have been entitled to the cognomen 'Augusta' after distinguished service under his eyes; however, there was no Legio I Augusta. One explanation is that an event happened to prevent or take away that name.\n\nThe career of Legio I subsequent to the civil wars remains unknown for sure. It is believed to be identical to the Legio I that took part in the Spanish campaign against the Cantabrians conducted for Augustus by Marcus Agrippa and was disgraced there. Inscriptions on Spanish coins indicate that between 30 and 16 BC, some Legio I was stationed in Hispania Taraconensis, where they would have fought in the war against the Cantabrians. Dio Cassius (54.11.5) says that one legion was stripped of its title, Augusta, after suffering reverses in that campaign. The two references are believed to be to the same legion, accounting for its early missing title and emblem.\n\nAround the turn of the century, Legio I appears on the Rhine frontier. The Annales of Tacitus state that they received standards from Tiberius, but when that was is not clear. This statement is problematic because only new or reconstituted legions received standards. The legion could have been reconstituted after Spain, but more likely it kept its aquila (which was only taken away on disbandment) and received new vexillae, or manipular standards, which would indicate a reorganization with perhaps replacements. The legion soon redeemed itself by winning the title 'Germanica', for its distinguished service in Germania. Exactly when they won it is not known. They were initially stationed at Oppidum Ubiorum (Cologne) in the jurisdiction that was to become Germania Inferior. For the time being, the province contained five legions and was under Publius Quinctilius Varus.\n\nIn AD 9, Varus and three legions were lured away to the north to suffer extinction in the Battle of Teutoburg forest. Fortunately for Legio I, he had not taken his entire command but left two legions in camp under legati or junior officers, Legio I being commanded by a nephew of Varus, Lucius Asprenas. Most likely, the title Germanica was granted for service in Drusus' subsequent punitive and exploratory campaigns against the Germanic tribes. Drusus was extremely popular. It was an honour to be in his service and he made sure that his men were honoured properly.\n\nWhen Nero died in the year 69, the Year of the Four Emperors, arrived. The Senatus Populusque Romanus could not decide on a suitable replacement for Nero. The various candidates fought for the distinction, introducing confusion on the Rhine frontier. The result was a general breakaway of the Celtic and Germanic tribes along the Rhine. They were categorically known as the Belgae at that time. Historians styled it the 'Batavian rebellion' of 70. In essence the tribes along the Rhine believed that the Roman Empire was finished and decided to set up a rump state in Gaul ruled from Triers by Gaius Julius Civilis. They managed to convince four legions and most of Gaul to swear allegiance to it. I Germanica was one of them, a fatal move for them. Units that tried to hold out against changing allegiance were attacked.\n\nThe victor of that infamous year of contention was Emperor Vespasian. He sent eight legions under Quintus Petillius Cerialis to the Rhine to clarify matters. On his approach, the four renegade legions repented and sought refuge in the future Alsace-Lorraine region on the left bank of the Rhine. Gaul repudiated the government at Triers, which begged finally for terms. Cerealis was lenient and forgave everyone. However, Legio I did not return to station. After the pacification was complete, Vespasian himself came to the Rhine and disbanded two legions, one of which was I Germanica. Enthusiasts of the Roman army would like to think that the men of the disbanded legions went into two new legions formed by Vespasian at that time. Disbandment, however, was a severe punishment, which would not have much point if the discharged men went right back into the army in some other legion. Perhaps some men were allowed to re-enlist on the basis of individual merit. There is no evidence of any reconstitution of legions involving extensive elements of the disbanded ones. Vespasian simply replaced the discarded legions with newly recruited ones.
{legio_i_germanica_descr_short}
Legio I Germanica, the German legion, was a Roman legion, possibly levied in 48 BC by Julius Caesar to fight for him in the civil war against Pompey.
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{legio_ii_augusta} Legio II Avgvsta
{legio_ii_augusta_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio II Augusta was levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in the 4th century. Its emblems were the Capricornus, Pegasus and Mars. II Augusta was originally raised by Octavian and consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, to fight against Mark Anthony; II Augusta fought in the battle of Philippi and in the battle of Perugia. At the beginning of Augustus rule, in 25 BC, this legion was relocated in Hispania, to fight in the Cantabrian Wars, which definitively established Roman power in Hispania, and later camped in Hispania Tarraconensis. With the annihilation of Legio XVII, XVIII and XIX in the battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9), II Augusta moved to Germania, possibly in the area of Mainz. After 17, it was at Argentorate (modern Strasbourg).\n\nThe legion participated in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43. The future Emperor Vespasian was the legion's commander at the time and led the campaign against the Durotriges tribe. Although it was recorded as suffering a defeat at the hands of the Silures in 52, the II Augusta proved to be one of the best legions, even after its disgrace during the uprising of queen Boudica, when its praefectus castrorum, who was then its acting commander (its Legatus and Tribunes probably being absent with the governor Suetonius Paulinus), contravened Suetonius' orders to join him and so later committed suicide. After the defeat of Boudica, the legion was dispersed over several bases; from 66 to around 74 it was stationed at Glevum (modern Gloucester), and then moved to Isca Silurum (modern Caerleon), building a stone fortress that the soldiers occupied until the end of the 3rd century. The legion also had connections with the camp at Alchester in Oxfordshire; stamped tiles record it in the second century at Abonae (Sea Mills, Bristol) on the tidal shore of the Avon (Princeton Encyclopedia).\n\nIn 122, II Augusta helped to build Hadrian's Wall.\n\nIn 196, II Augusta supported the claim for the purple of the governor of Britannia, Clodius Albinus, who was defeated by Septimius Severus. In occasion of the Scottish campaign of Severus, the Second moved to Carpow, to return to Caerleon under Alexander Severus.
{legio_ii_augusta_descr_short}
Legio II Augusta was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in 4th century. Its emblems were the Capricornus, Pegasus and Mars.
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{legio_iii_gallica} Legio III Gallica
{legio_iii_gallica_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio III Gallica was levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans led by Pompey. The cognomen Gallica suggests that recruits were originally from the Gallic Roman provinces. The legion was still active in Egypt in the early 4th century. The legion's symbol was a bull.\n\nThe legion took part in all Julius Caesar's campaigns against his enemies, including the battles of Pharsalus and Munda. Following Caesar's death, III Gallica was integrated into the army of Mark Antony, a member of the second triumvirate, for his campaigns against the Parthians. They were included in the army levied by Fulvia and Lucius Antonius (Antony's wife and brother) to oppose Octavian, but ended by surrendering in Perugia, in the winter of 41 BC. After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, III Gallica was sent again to the East, where they garrisoned the province of Syria.\n\nIII Gallica was used in Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo's campaign against the Parthians over the control of Armenia (AD 63). Corbulo's successes triggered emperor Nero's paranoia of persecution and eventually the general was forced to commit suicide. After this, III Gallica is transferred to Moesia province, in the Danube border. In the year of the four emperors 69, the legion, and the rest of the Danubian army, aligned first with Otho, then with Vespasian. They were instrumental in the final defeat of Vitellius in the second Battle of Bedriacum and in the accession of the Flavians to the throne of Rome. This legion during its service in Syria had developed the custom of saluting the rising sun, and when dawn broke at Bedriacum they turned east to do so. The Vitellian forces thought that they were saluting reinforcements from the east and lost heart. In these years, one of the military tribunes of III is Pliny the Younger.\n\nAfter this civil war, the legion was again sent to Syria, where they fought against the Judeans in the 2nd century. They also took part in Lucius Verus' (161-166) and Septimius Severus' (197-198) campaigns against the Parthian empire, none with noteworthy success.\n\nIII Gallica played a central role in the early reign of Elagabalus. In 218, during Macrinus reign, Julia Maesa went to Raphana, Syria, where the legion was based under the command of P. Valerius Comazon Eutychianus. She largely donated to the legion, which, in turn, proclaimed emperor Julia Maesa's grandson, the fourteen years old Elagabalus, on the dawn of 16 May. On June 8, 218 near Antioch, Gannys, Elagabalus' tutor, defeated Macrinus and his son, with the help of the III Gallica and the other legions of the East. Valerius Comazon entered in Elagabalus court, becoming prefect of the Praetorian Guard and consul in 220.\n\nIn 219, the legion, exhausted by Elagabalus excesses, supported its commander, Senator Verus, who proclaimed himself emperor. Elagabalus had Verus executed, and dispersed the legion. The legionaries were transferred mainly to III Augusta, stationed in the Africa provinces. However, the following emperor, Alexander Severus, reconstituted the legion and redeployed them back in Syria. III Gallica records then become obscure. Little is known about the legion's whereabouts, but, in 323, they were still in Syria. One noteworthy member of III Gallica was centurion Lucius Artorius Castus.
{legio_iii_gallica_descr_short}
Legio III Gallica was a Roman legion levied by Julius Caesar around 49 BC, for his civil war against the conservative republicans led by Pompey. The cognomen Gallica suggests that recruits were originally from the Gallic Roman provinces. The legion was still active in Egypt in the early 4th century. The legion's symbol was a bull.
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{legio_iii_augusta} Legio III Augusta Iterum Pia Iterum Vindex
{legio_iii_augusta_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio III Augusta Pia Vindex (Faithful Avenger) was a Roman legion levied by Augustus in 43 BC. Activity of this legion in the African Roman provinces, its principal theatre of operations, is still mentioned in late 4th century, early 5th century. Among the emblems of the legion were the winged horse Pegasus and the Capricornus.\n\nIII Augusta was probably present in the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, where Augustus and Mark Antony defeated the army of the senators that conspired to murder Julius Caesar. After this victory, III Augusta stayed under the command of Augustus, probably in Sicily, where Sextus Pompeius, son of Pompey had started a rebellion.\n\nFrom 30 BC onwards, III Augusta was stationed in the province of Africa. The legion was involved mainly in construction activities. Although Africa was a traditionally peaceful part of the Empire, between 17 and 24, they were involved in the war against the mutinous Numidian and Mauritanian tribes. In 18, a subunit was destroyed in a guerrilla attack. This disaster was probably due to cowardly behaviour, because afterwards, the entire legion was punished by decimation, that is, the killing of every tenth legionary. This procedure was the most serious action a commander could impose on his soldiers and rarely used. After that, IX Hispana was sent to reinforce Africa and by 24 the rebellion was over.\n\nIn the 1st century, Africa was the only province controlled by a senator, the proconsul governor. Thus, it was important for the Emperor that this man, also commander of III Augusta, would be loyal. Sulpicius Galba, emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors occupied the position between 45 and 46.\n\nIn the last years of the reign of Nero, Lucius Clodius Macer, proconsul of Africa, revolted and levied another legion, I Macriana Liberatrix to join forces with III Augusta. In the confusing Year of the four emperors (69), both legions supported first Galba, then Vitellius and finally Vespasian, although they took no part in the battles in Italy.\n\nIn 75, Vespasian moved the camp of III Augusta from Ammaedara, near Theveste, to Lambaesis. In the reign of Hadrian (117-138), the legion was stationed at Lambaesis in Numidia. The legion was to stay there for the next two centuries, guarding the province from the Berber tribes. Men from III Augusta were occasionally used in several campaigns against Parthia. It is also know that legionaries from this African legion were present in the Marcomannic campaign of Marcus Aurelius against the Hungarians.\n\nIn 193, Emperor Septimius Severus, an African man, awarded the legion with the cognomen 'Pia Vindex' (Faithful Avenger), for their action in the civil war that followed the murder of Emperor Pertinax.\n\nThe 3rd century was a time of crisis for III Augusta. First, it suffered heavy losses in a war against a desert tribe, having to receive reinforcements from the recently disbanded III Gallica. In 238, the Year of the Six Emperors, the legion suppressed the revolt of Gordian I and Gordian II, but was disbanded by their successor Gordian III. In 252, Valerian reconstituted III Augusta with troops coming from Raetia and Noricum, and gave it cognomen Iterum Pia Iterum Vindex (Again faithful, again avenger). The purpose of this reconstitution was to wage a war against a federation of Berber tribes that threatened the empire. This war was over in 260, but between 289-297, the situation was once more out of hand and Emperor Maximian went to Africa to command the Numidian legions personally.\n\nIII Augusta was in Africa until late 4th century, early 5th century. According to Notitia Dignitatum, the Tertio Augustani, a comitatensis unit, was under the command of the Comes Africae, possibly within the army of the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis. It is not known what happened to III Augusta after this.
{legio_iii_augusta_descr_short}
Legio III Augusta Pia Vindex (Faithful Avenger) was a Roman legion levied by Augustus in 43 BC.
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{legio_v_alaudae} Legio V Alavdae
{legio_v_alaudae_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio V Alaudae, the larks, sometimes known as Gallica, was levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC from native Gauls. Their emblem was an elephant, and their cognomen Alaudae came from the high crest on their helmets, typical of the Gauls, which made them look like larks. The French word 'Alouette' is a direct descendant of 'Alauda', itself not a proper Latin noun, but a loan word from Gaulish, possibly the first reason for the legionary name.\n\nV Gallica was the first Roman legion composed of provincial soldiers, as opposed to Roman citizens. Caesar paid the soldiers with his own resources, but the legion was later recognized by the Roman Senate. V Alaudae fought in the Gallic wars until 49 BC, as one of the most brave legions of Caesar, then they were moved to Spain. They served with Mark Antony between 41 and 31 BC and probably fought in Actium. After Antony committed suicide, they were merged into Augustus' army in 30 BC. Their emblem depicted an elephant and was awarded in 46 BC for bravery against a charge of elephants in the Battle of Thapsus.\n\nThe end of Legio V Alaudae is not clear, but some sources suggest that they were destroyed in the Batavian rebellion in the year 70.
{legio_v_alaudae_descr_short}
V Alaudae (Gallica) was the first Roman legion composed of provincial soldiers, as opposed to Roman citizens.
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{legio_vi_ferrata} Legio VI Ferrata Fidelis Constans
{legio_vi_ferrata_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions\n\nLegio VI Ferrata (Ironclad) was probably levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC in Gallia Cisalpina, and it existed at least until middle-3rd century, under Emperor Philip the Arab. VI Ferrata briefly served in Africa under the emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161), where it built a road. Later, when a new war broke out between Rome and Parthia, the emperor Lucius Verus employed the Sixth in Mesopotamia (162-165) and it was probably involved in the capture of Ctesiphon, the capital of the Parthian empire.\n\nDuring the civil war of 193 after the assassination of the emperor Publius Helvius Pertinax, the sixth legion sided with Lucius Septimius Severus and took up arms against Pescennius Niger, who was very close by. This brave act was rewarded with the title Fidelis Constans, 'loyal and constant'. What happened exactly is not known, but it is likely that behind the conflict between Jews and Samarians in 195 is in fact a civil war. The surname itself suggests that the legion withstood a siege under difficult circumstances, and perhaps its opponent was X Fretensis, but we can not be certain about this interpretation of the events.\n\nThe legion was still in Palestine in 215. It is possible that Severus Alexander (222-235) transferred it from Galilee to Phoenicia; however this may be, it is certain that the Sixth ironclad legion was still in existence during the reign of Philippus Arabs (244-249), who minted coins with the name of this unit. Its later history is not known but it seems likely that it disappeared during Valerian's defeat against the Sassanid Persians (260). Captive Roman soldiers were ordered to build a bridge at modern Shushtar and the city of Bishapur.\n\nThe emblem of this legion was the wolf-with-twins.
{legio_vi_ferrata_descr_short}
Founded by Caesar in 52 BC in Cisalpine Gaul. Its symbol was the bull.
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{legio_vii_cpfidelis} Legio VII Clavdia Pia VII Fidelis VII Paterna
{legio_vii_cpfidelis_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis (Faithful and Loyal Claudian legion) dates back to the four legions used by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars in 58 BC, and it existed at least until the end of the 4th century, guarding middle Danube. The emblem of this legion, as well as of all Caesar's legions, was the bull, together with the lion. The Seventh was among the oldest units in the Imperial Roman army. They were with Julius Caesar when he invaded Gaul in 58 BC. The Roman commander mentions the Seventh in his account of the battle against the Nervians (57), and it seems that it was employed during the expedition through western Gaul led by Caesar's deputy Crassus. In 56, the Seventh was present during the Venetic campaign, and it later took part in the two expeditions to Britain (55 and 54). During the crisis caused by Vercingetorix, it fought in the neighbourhood of Paris (52); it must have been active at Alesia and it was certainly involved in the mopping-up operations among the Bellovaci (51).\n\nIt was in Dalmatia when in 42 the governor of this province, Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus, revolted against Claudius, who had recently come to power. The soldiers of the seventh and eleventh legions, however, quickly put an end to the rebellion. The Seventh, which had been called Paterna (which means, 'the old ones', received the honorary title Claudia Pia Fidelis, "the seventh Claudian legion, loyal and faithful". The same title was given to the Eleventh.\n\nDuring the reign of Trajan, the war against the Dacians was renewed (101) and the seventh legion was one of the most important units. Its base Viminacium was used to build up the Roman army that was to invade Dacia in the second campaign season (102). In the neighbourhood, at Drobeta, the Romans erected a famous bridge across the Danube, designed by Apollodorus of Damascus. It is very likely that soldiers of the seventh legion were employed to do the actual building. Victory was finally achieved in 106.\n\nIn the third century, the Roman empire was threatened from several sides. The territories north of the Danube had to be evacuated. Several defeats are recorded, and the seventh legion must have suffered. On the other hand, it must have been among the troops that defeated the Visigoths in 269.\n\nDuring the conflict between the emperor Gallienus and his rival Postumus, the seventh legion supported the first-mentioned, for which it was rewarded with surnames like Pia VI Fidelis VI ('six times faithful and loyal') and Pia VII Fidelis VII. It is not know when it received the ones in between.\n\nThe Seventh was still guarding the Middle Danube at the end of the fourth century.\n\nLike almost all Caesarian legions, the emblem of this legion was a bull. The lion is also attested.
{legio_vii_cpfidelis_descr_short}
Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) dates back to the four legions used by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars in 58 BC.
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{legio_viii_augusta} Legio VIII Avgvsta
{legio_viii_augusta_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions\n\nLegio VIII Augusta was inherited by Julius Caesar and continued in service to Rome for at least 400 years thereafter.\n\nIt was levied by Caesar in 59 BC, or possibly earlier. Between 58 and 49 BC they fought in the Gallic wars under Caesar. In 49, the Eighth legion accompanied Caesar across the Rubicon into Italy, at the very beginning of the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, and at the Battle of Pharsalus. The legion was also present in Egypt, when Caesar captured Egypt for Cleopatra. In 46 BC the legion took part in the Battle of Thapsus (modern Tunisia), shortly before their disbandment.\n\nIn 44 BC, Augustus reconstituted the legion which had helped him gain control of the Empire. This loyalty gave the legion the cognomen Augusta. VIII Augusta took part in the Roman invasion of Britain.\n\nIn 69 AD, the Year of the Four Emperors, following the suicide of Nero, the legion took the part of Vitellius, one of the defeated emperors. After that they were moved to the Rhine frontier, where they stayed for almost the entire remainder of their history. The legion also fought in Parthia with Septimius Severus (who ruled from 193 until 211) and with his successors.\n\nRecords indicate that they were still active during the first years of the 4th century on the Rhine frontier. This means that the history of the legion covers more than 400 years of almost continuous service. In 371 it was stationed in Argetoratum (Strasbourg), in Germania Superior, according to an inscription. Later, the Roman general Stilicho, was compelled to move the German legions back to Italy to defend it against the Visigoth's invasion. According to Notitia Dignitatum, around 420 an Octaviani unit was under the Magister Peditum of Italia; it is possible that this unit was the old VIII Augusta, which was originally a Comitatensis unit that had been promoted to Palatina status.
{legio_viii_augusta_descr_short}
Founded prior to 59 BC, likely as a Consular Legion. Was inherited by Caesar as governor of Gallia in 58 BC.
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{legio_ix_hispana} Legio IX Hispaniensis
{legio_ix_hispana_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio IX Hispaniensis was probably levied by Julius Caesar before 58 BC, for his Gallic wars. The legion disappeared during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century, probably destroyed. The legion's symbol is unknown, likely a bull, as other legions created by Caesar.\n\nThe Ninth Legion was present during the whole campaign of the Gallic wars. Later, they remained faithful to Caesar in the civil war against the conservative faction of the Senate led by Pompey. They fought in the battles of Dyrrhachium and Pharsalus (48 BC) and in the African campaign of 46 BC. After his final victory, Caesar disbanded the legion and settled the veterans in the area of Picenum.\n\nFollowing Caesar's assassination, Octavian recalled the veterans of the Ninth to fight against the rebellion of Sextus Pompeius in Sicily. After his defeat, they were sent to the province of Macedonia. The Ninth remained with Octavian in his war of 31 BC against Mark Antony and fought by his side in the battle of Actium. With Octavian as sole ruler of the Roman world, the legion was sent to Hispania to take part in the large scale campaign against the Cantabrians (25-13 BC). Their surname Hispana likely dates from this event and was probably earned for distinction in fighting. After this, the legion was probably a member of the Imperial army in the Rhine border that was campaigning against the Germanic tribes. Following the abandonment of the Eastern Rhine area (after the disaster of the battle of the Teutoburg Forest in AD 9), the Ninth was relocated in Pannonia. In 43 they participated in the Roman invasion of Britain led by Emperor Claudius and General Aulus Plautius. Under the command of Caesius Nasica they put down the first revolt of Venutius between 52 and 57. The Ninth suffered important losses under Quintus Petillius Cerialis in the rebellion of Boudica (61) and was later reinforced with legionaries from the Germanic provinces. Their last record in Britain dates from the early 2nd century, when the legion built a fortress near York. Then, apparently they were moved to Germania Inferior.\n\nFrom about 120 on, the legion disappears from the records. It was destroyed in the reign of Marcus Aurelius, either during the Bar Kokhba's revolt (130s) or in the Danube revolts (160s).\n\nFor a time it was believed, at least by some British historians, that the legion disappeared during its stay in Britain, presumably in conflict with the peoples of present-day Scotland. However this view is not now accepted, as there are records of it being based on the continent after its time in Britain.
{legio_ix_hispana_descr_short}
Legio IX Hispaniensis was probably levied by Julius Caesar before 58 BC, for his Gallic wars. The legion disappeared during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century, probably destroyed.
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{legio_x_gemina_pia} Legio X Gemina (Equestris) Pia VI Fidelis VI
{legio_x_gemina_pia_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio X Gemina, the twin legion, was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. There are still records of the X Gemina in Vienna in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol was a bull. Early on in its history, the legion was called X Equestris (mounted), because Caesar once used the legionaries as cavalry.\n\nIn the Gallic wars, X Equestris played an important role in Caesar's military success and for this reason is sometimes said to be his favorite. In Caesar's campaigns they were present at the battle against the Nervians, the invasions of Britain, and the siege of Gergovia. They remained faithful to Caesar in the civil war against Pompey, being present in the battles of Pharsalus (49 BC) and Munda (45 BC). In 45 BC Caesar disbanded the legion, giving the veterans farmlands near Narbonne.\n\nThe legion was reconstituted in 42 BC and fought for Augustus (then Octavian) against the murderers of Caesar. After this, they followed Mark Antony in his campaign against Parthia and were defeated with him at Actium. Augustus then took control of the legion and settled the veterans in Patras. The legion rebelled and lost its cognomen Equestris as punishment. Reinforcements were added from other legions, and the Tenth was renamed Gemina.\n\nThe newly formed X Gemina was relocated to Hispania Tarraconensis, where Augustus was preparing a campaign against the Cantabrians. They stayed in Hispania for many years and their veterans were among the first inhabitants of modern Zaragoza.\n\nLater, as part of the army of Germania Inferior, X Gemina fought against the rebellion of the governor, L. Antonius Saturninus, against Emperor Domitian. For this reason, the Tenth received the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana, "faithful and loyal to Domitian", with the reference to the Emperor dropped at his death. In 103, it was moved to Aquincum and later to Vindobona (modern Vienna), in Pannonia Superior, which would be the legion's camp until the 5th century.\n\nDuring the 3rd century, the legion fought for several emperors, who awarded the legion with titles showing the fidelity of the legion and the favour gained by the Emperor himself. For its support of Emperor Gallienus against Postumus, the Gemina was awarded the title Pia VI Fidelis VI, "six times faithful, six times loyal".\n\nAt the time in which Notitia Dignitatum was written (4th century), a 'first detachment' of Decima Gemina was under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, and was a comitatensis unit. Another detachment was still in Vindobona, under the command of the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis.
{legio_x_gemina_pia_descr_short}
Legio X Gemina was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. There are still records of the X Gemina in Vienna in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol was a bull.
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{legio_xi_cpfidelis} Legio XI Clavdia VI Pia VI Fidelis
{legio_xi_cpfidelis_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) dates back to the two legions (the other was the XIIth) recruited by Julius Caesar to invade Gallia in 58 BC, and it existed at least until early 5th century, guarding lower Danube in Durostorum (modern Silistra, Bulgaria).\n\nThe emblem of this legion is not recorded; it could have been, as were all Caesar's legions, the bull, possibly the she-wolf lactating the twins.\n\nThe XIth and XIIth legions were levied by Caesar for his Helvetii campaign in 58 BC. The legion fought in the Battle against the Nervians, and probably fought at the Siege of Alesia too. During the civil war, the Eleventh legion fought for Caesar at the Battle of Dyrrhachium and at Pharsalus. The legion was disbanded in 45 BC, and its veterans were offered lands at Bojano, which received the name of Bovianum Undecumanorum, "Bovianum of the members of the eleventh". Following Augustus' rise to power the XIth was reconstituted in 42 BC by him (at the time known as Octavian), to fight in the civil war against the assassins of Caesar. The XIth fought in the Battle of Philippi, and then was sent back to Italy to quell a revolt at Perugia. It was probably involved with the fight against Sextus Pompeius, who had seized Sicilia.\n\nIn 32 BC, the XIth fought for Octavian against Mark Antony, in the civil war which ended with the Battle of Actium and Octavian's victory. The Eleventh was sent to the Balkans, but after a major defeat at the Battle of Teutoburg Forest (AD 9), Augustus redistributed the legions on the Northern frontier, sending the XIth to Burnum, Dalmatia (modern Kistanje), together with the VIIth.\n\nIn 42, the governor of Dalmatia, Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus, revolted against Emperor Claudius. The Eleventh and the Seventh sided with the Emperor, and put down Scribonianus' rebellion. Claudius awarded each of the two loyal legions with the title Claudia Pia Fidelis. In the Year of the Four Emperors (69), the XI, the VII (which had moved from Burnum in 58) and XIV Gemina sided with Otho. A subunit of the Eleventh moved to participate in the Battle of Cremona between Otho and his opponent Vitellius, but arrived late on the battlefield, and was sent back to Dalmatia by the victorious Vitellius. When the commander of the Eastern army, Vespasian, claimed the purple, the XIth sided with him, fighting in the Second Battle of Bedriacum, which marked the beginning of the rule of Emperor Vespasian. The following year, 70, Claudia was led by Cerialis to quell the Batavian rebellion; after the rebellion was put down, the Claudia was moved to Vindonissa, in the province of Germania Superior, to replace XXI Rapax, while IV Flavia Felix moved to Burnum.\n\nTowards the end of the 1st century, Claudia fought on the eastern bank of the Rhine (73/74); it also took part in Domitian's campaign against the Chatti in 83.\n\nDuring the clash between Emperor Gallienus and the Emperor of the Gallic Empire Postumus, XI Claudia fought for the former, receiving the titles Pia V Fidelis V and Pia VI Fidelis VI ("Five/Six times faithful and loyal"). While still camped in Durostorum, some vexillationes of the Eleventh fought around the Empire: in 295, a mobile subunit is in Egypt, while in 298 another is in Mauretania.
{legio_xi_cpfidelis_descr_short}
Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) was a Roman legion. XI Claudia dates back to the two legions (the other was the XIIth) recruited by Julius Caesar to invade Gallia in 58 BC, and it existed at least until early 5th century.
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{legio_xiii_gemina} Legio XIII Gemina
{legio_xiii_gemina_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio XIII, the 13th Legion (after 31 BC known as Legio XIII Gemina, the twin legion), is one of the more historically noteworthy Roman legions, as it was one of Julius Caesar's armies used in Gaul, and also for his civil war. It was the legion he famously crossed the Rubicon with on January 10, 49 BC. After Caesar's victory, the legion was retired and its veterans settled, in 45 BC. In 41 BC Legio XIII was reactivated by Augustus as a standing army. The Antonine Itinerary (collected during the early Principate) has Legio XIII stationed in Babylon in Egypt, a strategic fortress on the Nile at the traditional border between Lower Egypt and Middle Egypt. After 134 years as an active legion, XIII Gemina was made a garrison army in the province of Dacia (modern Romania) by Domitian, in 89, although vexillationes from the legion were still used in active campaigns. The legion was relocated when the Dacia province was evacuated, and restationed in Dacia by Aureliana. It is unknown when the legion was finally disbanded, but it is mentioned in Roman records as late as the early 5th century; The Notitia Dignitatum (c.400) mentions a "13th twin legion", although it has it stationed in Babylon. In the year of the four emperors (69), XIII Gemina supported first Otho and then Vitellius, two of the defeated emperors, fighting in the two Battles of Bedriacum. In 89 Domitian transferred the legion to Dacia (in Apulum, modern Alba Iulia, Romania) to garrison the province from their camp in Vienna. They remained in this camp until the 5th century, according to Notitia Dignitatum, although some vexillationes participated in several foreign campaigns. The symbol of the legion was the lion. May have become an Eastern Empire Legion.
{legio_xiii_gemina_descr_short}
Legio XIII, the 13th Legion (after 31 BC known as Legio XIII Gemina, the twin legion), is one of the more historically noteworthy Roman legions, as it was one of Julius Caesar's armies used in Gaul, and also for his civil war.
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{legio_i_minervia} Legio I Minervia Pia Fidelis Domitiana
{legio_i_minervia_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nHardy\n\nLegio I Minervia was levied by emperor Domitian in 82, for the campaign against the Germanic tribe of the Chatti. Its cognomen is related to the goddess Minerva, the legion's protector. There are still records of the I Minervia in the Rhine border in the middle of the 4th century. The legion's emblem is an image of goddess Minerva.\n\nLegio I Minervia's camp was in the city of Bonna (modern Bonn), in the province of Germania Inferior. In 89, they suppressed a revolt of the governor of Germania Superior. Due to this, Domitian gave them the cognomen Pia Fidelis Domitiana (loyal and faithful to Domitian) to acknowledge their support.\n\nBetween 101 and 106, the legion fought in the Dacian Wars of emperor Trajan, commanded by Hadrian, the future emperor. The legion's emblem Minerva figure appears on the column of Trajan in Rome, along with symbols of other legions. After this war, I Minervia returned to its home city of Bonna. Together with XXX Ulpia Victrix, stationed close by in Castra Vetera II (modern Xanten), they worked in numerous military and building activities, even extracting stone from quarries.\n\nDuring the civil wars of the late 2nd and 3rd century, I Minervia supported Septimius Severus, then Elagabalus, then Alexander Severus of the Gallic Empire, that existed between 260 and 274.\n\nAround 353, Bonna was destroyed by the Franks, and I Minervia disappears from history. However, there is no reference to its destruction.
{legio_i_minervia_descr_short}
Legio I Minervia was levied by emperor Domitian in 82, for the campaign against the Germanic tribe of the Chatti.
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{legio_i_adiutrix} Legio I Adivtrix Pia Fidelis Bis Constans
{legio_i_adiutrix_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio I Adiutrix ("assistant"), was a Roman legion formed in 68, possibly by Galba under orders of Nero. The last record mentioning the Adiutrix is in 444, when it was stationed at Brigetio, in the Roman province of Pannonia. The emblem of the legion was a capricorn, used along with the winged horse Pegasus.\n\nThe legion probably originated from the I Classis, a legion levied by Nero among the mariners of the Classis Misenensis, but was later completed by Galba. The legion was stationed near Rome. In the confusing Year of the four emperors, the legion fought in Otho's army in the Battle of Bedriacum, where this emperor was defeated by Vitellius. The victorious Vitellius ordered the legion transferred to Spain, but by the year 70 it was fighting in the Batavian rebellion.\n\nThe city of Moguntiacum (Mainz) is the legion's first known base camp, shared with Legio XIV Gemina, where they attended mainly building activities. In 83, they fought the Germanic wars against the Chatti, a German tribe living across the Rhine, under the command of Emperor Domitian. After that they were transferred to the Danubian army stationed in the Roman province of Pannonia, to fight the Dacians.\n\nFollowing the murder of Domitian in 96, the Adiutrix, along with the Danubian army, played an important role in Roman politics, forcing Nerva to adopt Trajan as his successor. When Trajan became emperor, he gave the legion the cognomen Pia Fidelis ("loyal and faithful") to acknowledge their support. Between 101 and 106, under the new emperor's command, I Adiutrix, along with IV Flavia Felix and XIII Gemina, conquered Dacia and occupied the newly formed province. Trajan also used his Pia Fidelis in the campaign against Parthia (115-117), but they were sent back to Pannonia by his successor emperor Hadrian, with base in Brigetio.\n\nDuring the next decades, I Adiutrix remained in the Danube frontier. Under Marcus Aurelius, I Adiutrix fought the war against Marcomanni. Between 171 and 175, the commander was Pertinax, emperor for a brief period in 193. When Septimius Severus became emperor, I Adiutrix was among his supporters, following him in the march for Rome.\n\nIn the next decades, the main base was again Pannonia, but they played a part in several Parthian wars, namely the campaigns of 195 and 197-198 of Septimius Severus, 215-217 led by Caracalla and 244 by Gordian III.\n\nThe legion received the cognomen Pia Fidelis Bis ("twice loyal and faithful") and Constans ("reliable"), sometime in the 3rd century.
{legio_i_adiutrix_descr_short}
Recruited from sailors at Misenum by Nero starting in 66 AD
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{legio_iii_cyrenaica} Legio III Cyrenaica
{legio_iii_cyrenaica_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio III Cyrenaica, (from Cyrenaica, a Roman province), was probably levied by Mark Antony around 36 BC when he was governor of Cyrenaica.\n\n There are still records of the legion in Syria in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol is unknown.\n\nThe first historical appearance of the legion is during the campaign of Emperor Caesar Augustus to conquer Egypt in 30 BC. III Cyrenaica would remain in Egypt and, in AD 35 was in Alexandria, sharing camp with XXII Deiotariana. The main task of both legions was keep the province safe and to maintain peace and order between the different ethnic and religious groups present in Alexandria.\n\nIn the internal turmoil of the Roman Empire, III Cyrenaica tended to follow defeated candidates for the throne like Avidius Cassius (vs. Marcus Aurelius in 175) and Pescennius Niger (vs. Septimius Severus in 192).\n\nThe legion, or subunits of it, probably participated in the following campaigns:\n\n25 BC against Arabia Felix, modern Yemen, and 23 BC against Nubia\n\n63 AD against the Parthian Empire for the control over Armenia\n\n66-70 and 132-136 retaliations for Jewish rebellions\n\n162-166 against the Parthian Empire, commanded by Lucius Verus\n\n215-217 against the Parthian Empire, commanded by Caracalla\n\nAfter the rebellion of Zenobia in 267-272, III Cyrenaica was transferred to an unclear location, although the legion was in Bostra (Syria) at the beginning of the 5th century. It is likely this legion was absorbed into the Eastern Empire.
{legio_iii_cyrenaica_descr_short}
Legio III Cyrenaica, (from Cyrenaica, a Roman province), was a Roman legion probably levied by Mark Antony around 36 BC, when he was governor of Cyrenaica. There are still records of the legion in Syria in the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol is unknown.
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{legio_xxi_rapax} Legio XXI Rapax (Predator)
{legio_xxi_rapax_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nThis legion was probably founded after 31BC by Emperor Augustus, who may have integrated older units into this new legion and added new recruits from northern Italy. Its first assignment may have been in Hispania Taraconensis, where it took part in Augustus' campaigns against the Cantabrians, which lasted from 25-13 BC. However, the legion's stay in Hispania is nothing but a hypothesis. We have more certainty about its stay in Raetia, which was annexed in 15 by Augustus' son-in-law Tiberius (the future emperor). Its base was probably at Regina Castra, modern Regensburg.\n\nIn 6AD, Tiberius was to lead at least eight legions (VIII Augusta from Pannonia, XV Apollinaris and XX Valeria Victrix from Illyricum, XXI Rapax from Raetia, XIII Gemina, XIV Gemina and XVI Gallica from Germania Superior and an unknown unit) against king Maroboduus of the Marcomanni in Czechia. At the same time, I Germanica, V Alaudae, XVII, XVIII and XIX were to move against Maroboduus along the Elbe. It was to be the most grandiose operation that was ever conducted by a Roman army, but a rebellion in Pannonia obstructed its execution. XXI Rapax was involved in its suppression. After the disaster of Varus in the Teutoburg Forest (September 9AD), where Legions XVII, XVIII and XIX were destroyed, the legion was redeployed in the province of Germania Inferior. It shared its base at Xanten with V Alaudae, keeping an eye on the nearby tribes of the Cugerni and Batavians, and guarding the confluence of the Rhine and Lippe. Both units took part in the Germanic campaigns of Germanicus in the first years of the reign of Tiberius.\n\nIn 21, a mixed subunit of XXI Rapax and XX Valeria Victrix, commanded by an officer from I Germanica, was sent out to suppress the rebellion of the Turoni in Gaul, who had revolted against the heavy Roman taxation under a nobleman named Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus. Almost twenty years later, the Twenty-first was employed during the Germanic war of Caligula. The details, however, are not fully understood. After Claudius' invasion of Britain in 43, XXI Rapax was redeployed in Germania Superior, which was now undergarrisoned. After a possible (but not proved) brief stay at Strasbourg, our unit was transferred to Vindonissa (modern Windisch in Switzerland), where it succeeded XIII Gemina. Here, it defended the passes across the Alps against a possible Germanic invasion of Italy.\n\nIn 47, the soldiers rebuilt the fortress, which had been constructed out of wood, from natural stone and bricks. At Ruperswyl, they built kilns, where tiles and pottery were produced - not only for Windisch, but also for other military settlements in this area.\n\nIn the civil war after the suicide of the Emperor Nero (June, 68), the Twenty-first sided with Vitellius, the commander of the army of Germania Inferior. In fact, the twenty-first legion was the most important element in the army of Vitellius' General Caecina. It crossed the Alps during the winter, defeated the army of Otho at Cremona, marched on Rome and was victorious (69). However, before the year was out, Vitellius' army had been defeated by the troops of another pretender, Vespasian, who was to reign until 79. It took several months before the new emperor could send a strong army to recover the Rhineland, which had been overrun by rebellious Batavians. The expeditionary force was commanded by Vespasian's relative Quintus Petillius Cerialis, and XXI Rapax was one of its units. It fought at Trier and must have been present during the battle of Xanten. After the reconquest, the Twenty-first was replaced at Windisch by XI Claudia and initially garrisoned at Bonn in Germania Inferior, but sent back to Superior in 83 when Vespasian's son, the emperor Domitian, launched a war against the Chatti in Baden-Württemberg. Bonn was occupied by the recently founded I Minervia.\n\nFrom now on, Mainz was the legionary base of XXI Rapax and XIV Gemina. When in 89 the governor of Germania Superior, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, revolted against the lawful Emperor Domitian, the two legions supported him. However, the insurrection was suppressed by the legions of Germania Inferior and the two rebellious units were immediately separated - the Twenty-first being sent to Pannonia, where war against the tribes of the Middle Danube -the Suebians and Iazyges - was imminent. Here, the Twenty-first was destroyed in 92 by the Sarmatians.\n\nThe legionary symbol of XXI Rapax was the Capricorn, which was often used by units that had been founded by the Emperor Augustus.
{legio_xxi_rapax_descr_short}
This legion was probably founded after 31BC by Emperor Augustus, who may have integrated older units into this new legion and added new recruits from northern Italy.
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{legioiv_flavia_felix} Legio IV Flavia Felix
{legioiv_flavia_felix_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio IV Flavia Felix (serene Flavian legion), was levied by Vespasian in 70, from the ashes of the Legio IV Macedonica. The legion was active in Moesia Superior well into the first half of the 4th century. The legion symbol was a lion.\n\nDuring the Batavian rebellion, the IV Macedonica fought for Vespasian, but the emperor distrusted his men, probably because they had supported Vitellius two years before. Therefore the IV Macedonica was disbanded, and a new Fourth legion, called Flavian Felix was levied by the emperor, who gave the legio his nomen, Flavia. Since the symbol of the legion is a lion, it was probably levied in July/August 70.\n\nIV Flavia Felix was camped in Burnum, Dalmatia (modern Kistanje), where it replaced XI Claudia. After the Dacian invasion of 86, Domitian moved the legion to Moesia Superior, in Singidunum, although there is some evidence of the presence of this legion, of one of its vexillationes in Viminacium, base of VII Claudia. In 88 the Fourth participated in the retaliation invasion of Dacia; it also participated in the Dacian Wars of Trajan, ending with the victory at the Battle of Tapae. It fought again across the Danube in 165, under emperor Lucius Verus in his campaign against the Parthian Empire.\n\nAfter the death of Pertinax, the IV Flavia Felix supported Septimius Severus against usurpers Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus.\n\nEven if the legion fought in one of the several wars against the Sassanids, it stayed in Moesia Superior until the first half of the 4th century.
{legioiv_flavia_felix_descr_short}
Legio IV Flavia Felix (serene Flavian legion), was levied by Vespasian in 70, from the ashes of Legio IV Macedonica. The legion was active in Moesia Superior well into the first half of the 4th century.
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{legio_xvi_flavia_firma} Legio XVI Flavia Firma
{legio_xvi_flavia_firma_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions\n\nIts name means 'Flavian's Firm Legion". The symbol of the sixteenth Flavian legion was the lion. The former legion XVI Gallica, which had been disgraced by its conduct during the Batavian revolt (69-70), was reconstituted by the Emperor Vespasian under the name XVI Flavia Firma and transferred to the eastern provinces. This transfer was some sort of punishment, because the soldiers of XVI Gallica were from Gaul in the west. Yet the men must have been happy that they were not dishonourably discharged. The Sixteenth took part in the emperor Trajan's war against the Parthian empire (114-117), and was redeployed at Samosata by Trajan's successor Hadrian (117-138). It was a quiet period and it comes as no surprise to find only evidence for civil activities, like the building of a tunnel near Seleucia in Syria. The Greek author Lucian, who was born in Samosata, describes the defeat of a Roman army in eastern Cappadocia in 161 at the hands of the Parthians. Perhaps IX Hispana was destroyed there. We know that XVI Flavia Firma was among the troops used by the Emperor Lucius Verus when he retaliated and conquered Mesopotamia (the northern part of modern Iraq).\n\nThe Sixteenth must also have taken part in the two campaigns of Lucius Septimius Severus (194 and 197-198), which culminated in the capture of the Parthian capital Ctesiphon and the creation of a province Mesopotamia. Later, XVI Flavia Firma must have joined the eastern campaign of Severus' son Caracalla, who died in 217 in nearby Harran.\n\nOne of the consequence of the creation of Mesopotamia was another reorganization of the Upper Euphrates area, which was no longer a threatened frontier zone. After all, two legions, I Parthica and III Parthica, were stationed farther to the east in the area between Euphrates and Tigris. During the reorganization of the old frontier zone, soldiers of the Sixteenth, from now on a strategic reserve, built a bridge across the river Chabinas, the modern Cendere Suya. This bridge is still in use and leads to the splendid mountain sanctuary at Nemrud dagi.\n\nThe sixteenth legion was still in this area during the reign of Severus Alexander and must have taken part in his campaign against the new Sassanid Empire. The Sassanids had invaded the Roman empire in 230 and had installed an Emperor in Emessa, but Severus Alexander was able to restore order and invade Mesopotamia. In 244, the Romans again invaded Iraq, but their Emperor Gordian III died and was succeeded by Philippus Arabs, who owed his throne to the Sassanid king Shapur I. Even worse was to come. In 256 Shapur captured Satala (the fortress of XV Apollinaris), and two years later he sacked Trapezus. When the Roman Emperor Valerian tried to restore order and invaded Mesopotamia, he was defeated and captured. Captive Roman soldiers were ordered to build a bridge at modern Shushtar. These Roman defeats are commemorated on several Sassanid monuments. However, under the emperors Odaenathus of Palmyra (261-267) and Diocletian (284-305), the Romans restored their control, and in 298, a peace treaty was concluded in which the Persians had to give up territories in northern Mesopotamia. The sixteenth legion must have played a role during these campaigns, but we have almost no information about them.\n\nIn the fourth century, the Sixteenth was still guarding the Euphrates, but had been transferred to Sura, which was downstream from Samosata. It is possible (but unknown) that XVI Flavia became an Eastern Empire legion after the fall of the west, as many did.
{legio_xvi_flavia_firma_descr_short}
Its name means 'Flavian's Firm Legion". The symbol of the sixteenth Flavian legion was the lion.
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{legio_xv_apollinaris} Legio XV Apollinaris
{legio_xv_apollinaris_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions\n\nLegio XV Apollinaris (Apollinaris means devoted to Apollo) was recruited by Octavian in 41/40 BC. The emblem of this legion was probably a picture of Apollo, or of one of his holy animals.\n\nThe XV Apollinaris is sometimes confused with two other legions named the XVth: An earlier unit which was commanded by Julius Caesar and met its end in North Africa in 49 BC, and a later XVth that was present at the Battle of Philippi on the side of the Second Triumvirate and then sent east. The genuine XV Apollinaris was raised in order to end the occupation of Sicily by Sextus Pompeius, who was threatening Rome's grain supply. After the Battle of Actium, the legion was sent to garrison Illyricum, where it probably remained until 6 BC, though it might have seen action in the Cantabrian Wars. In 6 BC, the Apollinaris legion was part of the huge campaign by Emperor Tiberius against the Marcomanni that was obstructed by a revolt in Pannonia. The XVth saw a good deal of fighting in the suppression of the revolt. By AD 9 the legion was headquartered in Pannonia, in the town of Carnuntum. There the unit stayed until sent to Syria and possibly Armenia by Nero in 61 or 62, these territories newly conquered from the Parthians. After the conclusion of the war with Parthia, the legion was sent to Alexandria but soon found itself engaged in the fierce fighting of the First Jewish Revolt, capturing the towns of Jotapata and Gamla.\n\nNotably, it was the XVth that captured the Jewish general later to become famous as the historian Josephus. During this period the legion was commanded by Titus, who would later become Emperor.\n\nAt the beginning of the 5th century, the legion reappears in history: it is still quartered at Satala and Ancyra, and is under the command of the Dux Armeniae. An inscription possibly relating to this legion was found in a cave in eastern Uzbekistan. It probably became an Eastern Empire Legion.
{legio_xv_apollinaris_descr_short}
Possibly formed by Caesar in 53 BC, but more likely founded by Octavian in 41 BC to be used against Sextus Pompeius in Sicily.
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{legio_v_macedonica} Legio V Macedonica VII Pia VII Fidelis
{legio_v_macedonica_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio V was one of the original twenty-eight legions raised by Octavian. There are two fifth legions recorded: the V Gallica and the V Urbana. It is possible that these both were early names for the V Macedonica. The legion probably participated in the Battle of Actium (31 BC). It later moved to Macedonia, where it stayed from 30 BC to AD 6, gaining its cognomen, before moving to Oescus (Moesia).\n\nThe Fifth was probably still in the East when the Great Jewish Revolt in Iudaea Province began in 66. Nero gave V Macedonica, the X Fretensis and the XV Apollinaris to Titus Flavius Vespasianus to counter the revolt. In 67, in Galilee, the city of Sepphoris surrendered peacefully to the Roman army, and later the V Macedonica conquered Mount Gerizim, the chief sanctuary of the Samaritans.\n\nAt the beginning of the reign of Commodus, the V Macedonica and the XIII Gemina defeated once again the Sarmatians, under the later usurpers Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus. The Fifth later supported Septimius Severus, in his fight for the purple. Then in 185 or 187, the legion was awarded of the title Pia Constans ("Faithful and reliable") or Pia Fidelis ("Faithful and loyal"), after defeating a mercenary army in Dacia.\n\nWhile staying in Potaissa for most of the 3rd century, V Macedonica fought several times, earning honours. Valerian gave the Fifth the name III Pia III Fidelis; his son, Gallienus gave the legion the title VII Pia VII Fidelis, with the 4th, 5th and 6th titles awarded probably when the legion was used as a mobile cavalry unit against usurpers Ingenuus and Regalianus (260, Moesia). A vexillatio fought against Victorinus (Gaul, 269-271). The legion returned to Oescus in 274, after Aurelian had retired from Dacia. It guarded the province in later centuries, becoming a Comitatensis unit under the Magister Militum per Orientis. It became part of the Byzantine army in 475. The cavalry unit created by Gallienus was definitively detached by Diocletian, and become part of his Comitatus. This unit was sent to Mesopotamia, where it successfully fought against the Sassanid Empire in 296, and then to Memphis, where it had to stay until its entering into the Eastern Empire army (c475). By far one of the most long lasting cohesive army units ever known.
{legio_v_macedonica_descr_short}
Legio V was one of the original twenty-eight legions raised by Octavian. Entered Eastern Empire Army in 475.
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{legio_iv_scythica} Legio IV Scythica Parthica
{legio_iv_scythica_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio IV Scythica was levied by Mark Antony around 42 BC, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence her other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in Syria in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was a capricorn.\n\nIn its first years, the whereabouts of IV Scythica are uncertain, although it is probable that they took part on Antony's campaign against the Parthians. The name suggests that they fought against the Scythians. After the battle of Actium and Antony's suicide, Octavian transferred IV Scythica to the Danube province of Moesia. The legion is reported to take part in civilian tasks, such as the building and keeping of roads. In his youth, future emperor Vespasian served in this legion.\n\nCampaigns in the East:\n\nIn the East, the king Vologeses I had invaded Armenia (58), a client kingdom of Rome. Nero ordered Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, the new legatus of Cappadocia, to manage the matter, and Corbulo brought the IV Scythica from Moesia, and with III Gallica and VI Ferrata defeated the Parthians, restoring Tigranes on Armenia's throne. In 62, IV Scythica and XII Fulminata, commanded by the new legatus of Cappadocia, Lucius Caesennius Paetus, were defeated by the Parthians at the battle of Rhandeia and forced to surrender. The legions were covered with shame and removed from the war theatre to Zeugma. This city would be the base camp of IV Scythica for the next century.\n\nIn the Year of the Four Emperors (69), the legion, like the rest of the Eastern army, sided with Vespasian from day one. Despite the demonstrated loyalty, the IV Scythica was not involved in actual fighting because they were not considered a high quality legion. This has to do with another defeat suffered years earlier in the Jewish rebellion. In the 2nd century they participated in the control of another Jewish rebellion, this time with more success. IV Scythica participated in all campaigns of the 2nd century against the Parthian Empire. Between 181 and 183, the commander of the Eastern legions was Septimius Severus, who became emperor relying on his legion's power. The legion disappears from all sources after 219, when their commander, Gellius Maximus, rebelled against Elagabalus and proclaimed himself emperor, only to be defeated by Elagabalus. However, in the early 5th century, IV Scythica was reported still in Syria.
{legio_iv_scythica_descr_short}
Legio IV Scythica was a Roman legion levied by Mark Antony around 42 BC, for his campaign against the Parthian Empire, hence her other cognomen, Parthica. The legion was still active in Syria in the early 5th century. The legion's symbol was a capricorn.
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{legio_x_fretensis} Legio X Fretensis
{legio_x_fretensis_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions (Legion of the sea straights)\n\nFounded in 41 BC by Octavian to be used in Sicily against Sextus Pompey.\n\nLegio X Fretensis (Of the sea straits) was levied by Augustus in 41/40 BC to fight during the period of civil war that started the dissolution of the Roman Republic. X Fretensis is recorded to exist at least until 410AD. X Fretensis symbols were the bull, the holy animal of the goddess Venus (mythical ancestor of the gens Julia), a ship (probably a reference to the battles of Naulochus and-or Actium), the god Neptune, and a boar. The symbol of Taurus may also mean that it was organized between 20 April and 20 May.\n\nX Fretensis was centrally involved in the first Jewish War (66-73), under the supreme command of Vespasian.\n\nIn 66, the X Fretensis and V Macedonica went to Alexandria for an invasion of Ethiopia planned by Nero. However, the two legions were needed in Iudaea to suppress a revolt. After spending the winter in Ptolemais Ace (modern Acre, Israel), X Fretensis and V Macedonica relocated in the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima (67-68). This was due to the large number of legions being mobilized in Ptolemais, under Marcus Ulpius Traianus, future governor of Syria and father of the emperor Trajan. During that same winter, the Caesarea camp of Xth and Vth hosted Vespasian, who was forced the following year, to go to Rome to seize power. Vespasian's son, Titus ended the revolt. When Tarichacae and Gamala were conquered, the X Fretensis moved to Scythopolis (modern Bet She'an), just west of Jordan River. In the summer of 68, X Fretensis destroyed the monastery of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are believed to have originated. Its winter camp was at Jericho.\n\nHerodium one of the fortresses of the Jewish revolt conquered by the X Fretensis.\n\nBy 70, the rebellion in all of Iudaea had been crushed, except for Jerusalem and a few fortresses, including Masada. In that year X Fretensis, in conjunction with V Macedonica, XII Fulminata, and XV Apollinaris, began the siege of Jerusalem, stronghold of the rebellion. The Xth camped on the Mount of Olives. During the siege, Legio X gained fame in the effective use of their various war machines. It was noted that they were able to hurl stones that weighted a talent (about 25 kg) a distance of two furlongs (400 m) or further. The projectiles of their ballistae caused heavy damage to the ramparts. The siege of Jerusalem lasted five months and the besieged population experienced all the terrible rigors of starvation. Finally, the combined assaults of the legions succeeded in taking the city, which was then subjected to destruction.\n\nDuring the spring of 71, Titus set sail for Rome. A new military governor was then appointed from Rome, Lucilius Bassus, whose assigned task was to undertake the "mopping-up" operations in Iudaea. Naturally, he used X Fretensis to oppose the few remaining fortresses that still resisted. As part of this, X Fretensis took Herodium, and then crossed the Jordan to capture the fortress of Machaerus on the shore of the Dead Sea. Due to illness, Bassus did not live to complete his mission. Lucius Flavius Silva replaced him, and moved against the last Jewish stronghold, Masada, in the autumn of 72. He used Legio X, auxiliary troops, and thousands of Jewish prisoners. After his orders for surrender were rejected, Silva established several base camps and a wall of circumvolution completely around the fortress. When the Romans finally broke through the walls of this citadel, they discovered that the Jewish defenders had chosen death with a mass suicide.\n\nAfter the conclusion of the Jewish revolt, Legio X was garrisoned at Jerusalem. Their main camp was positioned on the Western Hill, located in the southern half of the old city, now levelled of all former buildings. At the time, Legio X was the sole legion assigned to maintain the peace in Iudaea, and was directly under the command of the governor of the province, who was also legatus of the legion.\n\nLater, the legion moved to Aila (close to modern Aqaba),probably during Diocletian's reforms, and is recorded as still camping there at the time of the redaction of Notitia Dignitatum, in 410AD.\n\nProbably became an Eastern Empire Legion after 475, and therefore joins V Macedonica as one of the longest lasting military units in history.
{legio_x_fretensis_descr_short}
Founded in 41 BC by Octavian to be used in Sicily against Sextus Pompey.
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{legio_xxii_deiotariana} Legio XXII Deiotariana
{legio_xxii_deiotariana_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions\n\nThe legion was levied by Deiotarus, king of the Celtic tribe of the Tolistobogii, who lived in Galatia, modern Turkey. Deiotarus became an ally of the Roman Republic general Pompey in 63 BC, who named him king of all the Celtic tribes of Turkey, which were collectively known as Galatians (hence the name Galatia for the region). Deiotarus levied an army and trained it with Roman help; the army, in 48 BC, was composed of 12,000 infantrymen and 2,000 horsemen. Cicero writes that the army was divided into to thirty cohortes, which were roughly equivalent to three Roman legions of the time. This army supported the Romans in their wars against king Mithridates VI of Pontus, and contributed to Roman victory in the Third Mithridatic War.\n\nAfter a heavy defeat against king Pharnaces II of Pontus near Nicopolis, the survivor soldiers of Deiotarius' army formed a single legion, which marched besides Julius Caesar during his victorious campaign against Pontus, and fought with him in the battle of Zela (47 BC).\n\nWhen the Roman Empire integrated the Galatian kingdom, this legion, which had been trained by the Romans and had fought under Roman commanders, became part of the Roman army; since Caesar Augustus had already 21 legions, the legion received the number XXII. Augustus sent the Twenty-second to camp in Nicopolis (next Alexandria, in Aegyptus) together with III Cyrenaica. These two legions had the role of garrisoning the Egyptian province from threats both within and without, given the multi-ethnical nature of Alexandria.\n\nUnder Trajan, XXII was officially known as 'Deiotariana', even if this was its unofficial name since Claudian times. The last record of XXII Deiotariana is from 119. In 145, when a list of all existing legions was made, XXII Deiotariana was not listed. It is likely that XXII Deiotariana was destroyed during the Jewish rebellion of Simon bar Kochba (132-136).
{legio_xxii_deiotariana_descr_short}
Founded in 48 BC by the Allied client King of Galatia, Deiotarus based on the Roman model.
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{legio_xii_fulminata} Legio XII Fvlminata
{legio_xii_fulminata_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nOne of the original 28 Augustan Legions (The Lightning Legion)\n\nLegio XII Fulminata (wielder of the thunderbolt), also known as Paterna, Victrix, Antiqua, Certa Constans, and Galliena, was levied by Julius Caesar in 58 BC and accompanied him during the Gallic wars until 49 BC. The unit was still guarding the Euphrates River crossing near Melitene at the beginning of the 5th century. The legion's emblem was a thunderbolt (fulmen).\n\nThe Twelfth Legion, as it is perhaps better known, fought in the battle against the Nervians, and probably also in the siege of Alesia. The Twelfth fought at the battle of Pharsalus (48 BC), when Caesar defeated Pompey. After Caesar won the civil war, the legion was named Victrix, and enlisted in 43 BC by Lepidus and Mark Anthony. Mark Anthony led the Twelfth, renamed XII Antiqua (of consolidated quality) during his campaign against the Parthian Empire. During the latest part of Augustus' principality, XII Fulminata served in Syria, camping at Raphana.\n\nIn 66, after a Zealot revolt had destroyed the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, the XII Fulminata, with vexillationes of IV Scythica and VI Ferrata, was sent to retaliate, but it was sent back by Gaius Cestius Gallus, legatus of Syria, when he saw that the legion was weak. On its way back, XII Fulminata was ambushed and defeated by Eleazar ben Simon at Beit-Horon, and lost its aquila (Eagle). However, XII Fulminata fought well in the last part of the war, and supported its commander T. Flavius Vespasian in his successful bid for the imperial throne. At the end of the war, XII Fulminata and XVI Flavia Firma were sent to guard the Euphrates border, camping at Melitene.\n\nAfter these episodes, the records of the Fulminata are scarce. The Palmyrene Empire was reconquered by Aurelian; Emperor Diocletian defeated the Sassanids and moved the frontier to Northern Mesopotamia. The Twelfth, which probably took part in these campaigns, is recorded guarding the frontier of the Euphrates in Melitene, at the beginning of the 5th century (Notitia Dignitatum). It may have become an Eastern Empire legion.
{legio_xii_fulminata_descr_short}
(The Lightning Legion)Likely founded by Caesar in 58 BC for his campaign against the Helvetians.
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{legio_vi_victrix} Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis Constans Hispaniensis Britannica
{legio_vi_victrix_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nThe sixth legion was founded by Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) in 41 BC, as a copy of the Caesarian sixth legion, which was in the army of his rival Marc Antony. The new legion saw its first action during the siege of Perugia in the same year. In 31, the Sixth was present during the battle of Actium against Marc Antony. After 30, it was stationed in Hispania Tarraconensis, where it took part in Augustus' campaigns against the Cantabrians, which lasted from 25-13 BC. This was a very large war: among the other troops involved were I Germanica, II Augusta, IV Macedonica, V Alaudae, IX Hispana, X Gemina (which seems to have shared its base, perhaps near Braga, with our unit), XX Valeria Victrix, and another legion, perhaps VIII Augusta.\n\nVI Victrix was to stay in Hispania for almost a century and received the surname Hispaniensis. Soldiers of this unit and X Gemina were among the first settlers of Zaragoza.\n\nWhen in 89 the governor of Germania Superior, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, revolted against the emperor Domitian, the army of Germania Inferior (I Minervia, VI Victrix, X Gemina, XXII Primigenia) hurried to the south, to Mainz, and defeated the rebel. Every legion was awarded the title Pia Fidelis Domitiana ('faithful and loyal to Domitian'). When this emperor was killed in 96, the last element of this honorific title was dropped.\n\nIn 121, the emperor Hadrian visited Germania Inferior, where he ordered the construction of the Lower Rhine limes, which is better known as Hadrian's wall. The legion's new base was York, close to Hadrian's wall. In the years between 155 and 158, a widespread revolt occurred in northern Britain, requiring heavy fighting by the British legions. They suffered heavily, and reinforcements had to be brought in from the two Germanic provinces. At first, the Romans remained master of the area between Hadrian's wall and the Antonine wall, but at the beginning of the reign of Marcus Aurelius, it was abandoned. Hadrian's wall once again marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. During this time, it received the honorific title Britannica. From now on, the full name of the legion was VI Victrix Pia Fidelis Britannica.\n\nDuring this century, VI Victrix remained at York, and shared the fate of Britain. When this province was part of the Gallic Empire, it supported the Gallic emperors (260-274); when Britain became independent, it supported usurpers like Carausius and Allectus (286-297). After 297, the province was again incorporated into the Roman empire, and the soldiers served crown-prince (later emperor) Constantius I Chlorus. When he died in 306 in York, soldiers of the Sixth proclaimed his son emperor: Constantine the Great (306-337). For this reason VI Victrix was indeed a notable Legion!!\n\nIn the last third of the fourth century, Roman rule in Britain was increasingly threatened, and order had to be restored several times. VI Victrix must have suffered defeats. Yet, the legion still existed in the late fourth century. It may have been withdrawn to the continent in 402 by Stilicho, the supreme commander of the Roman forces in western Europe during the reign of Honorius.\n\nIts legionary symbol probably was a bull.
{legio_vi_victrix_descr_short}
The sixth legion was founded by Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) in 41 BC, as a copy of the Caesarian sixth legion, which was in the army of his rival Marc Antony. Soldiers of the Sixth proclaimed Constantine the Great (306-337) Emperor.
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{legio_xiv_gemina_martia_victrix} Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix Pia VI Fidelis VI
{legio_xiv_gemina_martia_victrix_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix was levied by Octavian after 41 BC. The cognomen Gemina (twin, in Latin) suggests that the legion resulted from fusion of two previous ones, one of them possibly being the XIVth that fought in the Battle of Alesia. Martia Victrix (martial victory) were cognomens added by Nero following the victory over Queen Boudicca. The emblem of the legion was the Capricorn and the Black Eagle.\n\nStationed in Moguntiacum, Germania Superior, since, 9, XIV Gemina Martia Victrix was one of four legions used by Aulus Plautius and Claudius in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43, and took part in the defeat of Queen Boudicca in 60 or 61. In 68 it was stationed in Gallia Narbonensis.\n\nIn 89 the governor of Germania Superior, Lucius Antonius Saturninus, rebelled against Domitian, with the support of the XIVth and of the XXI Rapax, but the revolt was suppressed.\n\nWhen the XXIst was lost, in 92, XIV Gemina was sent to Pannonia to replace it, camping in Vindobona. After a war with the Sarmatians and Trajan's Dacian Wars (101-106), the legion was moved to Carnuntum, where it stayed for three centuries. Some subunits of the XIVth fought in the wars against the Mauri, under Antoninus Pius, and the legion participated in the Parthian campaign of Emperor Lucius Verus. During his war against the Marcomanni, Emperor Marcus Aurelius based his headquarters in Carnuntum.\n\nIn 193, after the death of Pertinax, the commander of the XIVth, Septimius Severus, was acclaimed emperor by the Pannonian legions, and above all by his own. The XIV Gemina fought for its emperor in his march to Rome to attack usurper Didius Julianus (193), contributed to the defeat of the usurper Pescennius Niger (194), and probably fought in the Parthian campaign that ended with the sack of the capital of the empire, Ctesiphon (198).\n\nIn the turmoil following the defeat of Valerian, XIV Gemina supported usurper Regalianus against Emperor Gallienus (260), then Gallienus against Postumus of the Gallic empire (earning the title VI Pia VI Fidelis ("six times faithful, six times loyal"), and, after Gallienus death, Gallic Emperor Victorinus (269-271).\n\nAt the beginning of the 5th century, XIV Gemina still stayed at Carnuntum. It probably dissolved with the collapse of the Danube frontier in the 430s, although the Notitia Dignitatum lists a 'Quartodecimani Comitatensis' unit under the Magister Militum per Thracias; it is possible that this unit was XIV Gemina, and that it moved east to the surviving Empire after the fall of the West.
{legio_xiv_gemina_martia_victrix_descr_short}
Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix was levied by Octavian after 41 BC. The cognomen Gemina (twin, in Latin) suggests that the legion resulted from fusion of two previous ones, one of them possibly being the XIVth that fought in the Battle of Alesia.
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{legio_xx_valeria_victrix} Legio XX Valeria Victrix
{legio_xx_valeria_victrix_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nValiant and Victorious\n\nLegio XX Valeria Victrix was probably raised by Augustus some time after 31 BC. It served in Hispania, Illyricum, and Germania before participating in the invasion of Britannia in 43, where it remained and was active until at least the beginning of the 4th century. The emblem of the legion was a boar.\n\nThe Valeria part of Legio XX cognomen is difficult to understand: it might be related to the concept of military value; other's suggest a relationship with the Valeria gens, or with the black eagle.\n\nXX Valeria Victrix was part of the great army that campaigned against the Cantabrians in Hispania Tarraconensis from 25 to 13 BC. The legion then moved to Illyricum, and is recorded in the army of Tiberius operating against the Marcomanni in AD 6. In one battle the legion cut through the enemy lines, was surrounded, and cut its way out again. After the disaster of Varus in AD 9, XX Valeria Victrix moved to Germania Inferior and was based at Oppidum Ubiorum (Cologne), then moved to Novaesium (Neuss) some time during Tiberius' reign.\n\nThis legion was one of the four with which Claudius invaded Britain in 43, after which it encamped at Camulodunum (Colchester), with some units at Kingsholm in Gloucester. In 60 or 61 it helped put down the revolt of queen Boudica; it is possible that the Twentieth legion was awarded its Valeria Victrix (Valiant and Victorious) cognomen as a consequence of its contribution in this war. In the year of the four emperors, the legion sided with Vitellius, some units going with him to Rome. In 78-84, it was part of Gnaeus Julius Agricola's campaigns in northern Britain and Scotland, and built the base at Inchtuthil that they occupied until returning south in 88 and occupying Castra Devana (Chester), where it remained for at least two centuries.\n\nIt is evident that Valeria Victrix was one of the legions involved with the construction of Hadrian's Wall, and the discovery of stone altars commemorating their work in Caledonia suggests that they had some role in the building of the Antonine Wall. During the reign of the usurper emperors Carausius and Allectus (286-293 and 293-296) XX Valeria Victrix was still active; no records, however, are present in the 4th century. This legion has been much studied; at least 250 members of the legion have been identified in surviving inscriptions.
{legio_xx_valeria_victrix_descr_short}
Formed by Augustus, likely after the Battle of Actium (31 BC) possibly incorporating veterans of other legions.
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{legio_xxii_primigenia} Legio XXII Primigenia
{legio_xxii_primigenia_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nLegio XXII Primigenia was levied by emperor Caligula in 39, for his campaigns in Germania. There are still records of XXII Primigenia in Moguntiacum (modern Mainz) at the end of the 3rd century. The legion's symbols were a Capricorn and the demigod Hercules. XXII Primigenia was first stationed in Moguntiacum in the Roman province of Germania Superior, guarding the Rhine border as part of the limes. Along with the rest of the Germanic army, the legion supported Vitellius in the Year of the four emperors (69). During the Batavian rebellion, XXII Primigenia, commanded by Gaius Dillius Vocula, was the only Germanic legion that survived attacks of the rebels and stayed in its camp, defending Moguntiacum. They remained in Moguntiacum until at least the 3rd century. Later emperor Hadrian was tribunus militum of the XXIIth in 97-98. The Rhine settlement was their main camp, but subunits of the legion participated in the building of the Antonine wall in Scotland (2nd century) and in the campaigns against the Sassanid Empire (around 235). They were still in Moguntiacum during the attack of the tribe of the Alamanni in 235, and were responsible for the lynching of Emperor Alexander Severus, when he tried to negotiate with the enemy, and the subsequent election of Maximinus Thrax as new emperor. In 268, the Primigenia probably fought under Gallienus at the Battle of Naissus, winning a victory over the Goths. The following year, Laelianus, the commander of the 22nd, became emperor of the Gallic empire.
{legio_xxii_primigenia_descr_short}
Founded by Gaius (Caligula) in 39 AD for his campaigns in Germania along with its twin legion XV Primigenia.
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{roman_early_praetorian} Early Praetorian Legion I
{roman_early_praetorian_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nElite\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nThe Praetorians were 'elite Legionaries', recruited mainly from within Italy's central regions, but sometimes from the provinces, and mostly the bravest and best of the other legions.\n\nEquipment and armour were basically the same as other legions, except for specially decorated breastplates, excellent for parades and state functions. Insignia of the "Moon and Stars" and the "Scorpion" were particularly associated with the Praetorians. Thus, each guardsman possessed two suits of armour, one for Roman duty and one for the field (lorica).\n\nOriginally, praetorians were chosen to guard the 'praetorium' - the tent of the legate of the legion while in the field. These men came to act as bodyguards for all important generals, before being made into specific formations that were considered useful in politics as well as war. It was Augustus who established the Praetorian Guard as both a bodyguard and for useful intimidation in Rome. Although its name has become synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination, it could be argued that for the first two centuries of its existence the Praetorian Guard was, on the whole, a positive force in the Roman state. During this time it mostly removed (or allowed to be removed) cruel, weak and unpopular emperors while generally supporting just, strong and popular ones. By protecting these monarchs, thus extending their reigns, and also by keeping the disorders of the mobs of Rome and the intrigues of the Senate in line, the Guard helped give the empire much needed stability that led to the period known as the 'Pax Romana'.\n\nOnly after the reign of Marcus Aurelius (who they murdered), when this period is generally considered to have ended, the guard began to deteriorate into the ruthless, mercenary and meddling force for which it has become infamous. However, during the Severan dynasty and afterwards during the crises of the 3rd century, the legions, the Senate and the emperors, along with the rest of Roman government were falling into decadence as well.
{roman_early_praetorian_descr_short}
A Praetorian Legion is made up of elite legionaries, recruited because of their superb soldiering skills and political loyalties.
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{roman_late_praetorian} Late Praetorian Legion
{roman_late_praetorian_descr}
Primary Armour = Metal\nElite\nDisciplined\nHardy\n\nThe Praetorians were 'elite Legionaries', recruited mainly from within Italy's central regions, but sometimes from the provinces, and mostly the bravest and best of the other legions.\n\nEquipment and armour were basically the same as other legions, except for specially decorated breastplates, excellent for parades and state functions. Insignia of the "Moon and Stars" and the "Scorpion" were particularly associated with the Praetorians. Thus, each guardsman possessed two suits of armour, one for Roman duty and one for the field (lorica).\n\nOriginally, praetorians were chosen to guard the 'praetorium' - the tent of the legate of the legion while in the field. These men came to act as bodyguards for all important generals, before being made into specific formations that were considered useful in politics as well as war. It was Augustus who established the Praetorian Guard as both a bodyguard and for useful intimidation in Rome. Although its name has become synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination, it could be argued that for the first two centuries of its existence the Praetorian Guard was, on the whole, a positive force in the Roman state. During this time it mostly removed (or allowed to be removed) cruel, weak and unpopular emperors while generally supporting just, strong and popular ones. By protecting these monarchs, thus extending their reigns, and also by keeping the disorders of the mobs of Rome and the intrigues of the Senate in line, the Guard helped give the empire much needed stability that led to the period known as the 'Pax Romana'.\n\nOnly after the reign of Marcus Aurelius (who they murdered), when this period is generally considered to have ended, the guard began to deteriorate into the ruthless, mercenary and meddling force for which it has become infamous. However, during the Severan dynasty and afterwards during the crises of the 3rd century, the legions, the Senate and the emperors, along with the rest of Roman government were falling into decadence as well.
{roman_late_praetorian_descr_short}
A Praetorian Legion is made up of elite legionaries, recruited because of their superb soldiering skills and political loyalties.
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