Early Empire Legions
Code for Roman provinces in the table:
- AEG Aegyptus (Egypt)
- AFR Africa (Tunisia/Western Libya)
- AQ Aquitania (SW France)
- AR Arabia Petraea (Jordan/Sinai)
- BRIT Britannia (England/Wales)
- CAP Cappadocia (Central/Eastern Turkey)
- DC Dacia (Romania/Serbia)
- DLM Dalmatia (Croatia/Bosnia/Serbia)
- GAL Galatia (Central Turkey)
- GI Germania Inferior (Netherlands/Rhineland)
- GS Germania Superior (Alsace-Lorraine/Rhineland)
- HISP Hispania Tarraconensis (Central Spain)
- IT Italia (Italy)
- JUD Judaea (Palestine)
- MAUR Mauretania (Western Maghreb)
- MCD Macedonia (Southern Balkans)
- MI Moesia Inferior (Romania/Bulgaria)
- MS Moesia Superior (Serbia)
- NR Noricum (Austria)
- PAN Pannonia (Croatia/Slovenia)
- RT Raetia (Switzerland)
- SYR Syria (Syria/Lebanon)
| Legion no. and title |
Main legionary base |
Emblem | Date founded/ founder |
Date disband |
Castra legionaria (legion bases) * = main base. Start date 31BC if unspecified |
Notes |
| I Adiutrix | Szöny, Hungary | Capricorn | 68 Nero | 444 | 70-86 Moguntiacum (GS); 86-mid 5th C Brigetio* (PAN) | "1st Auxiliary". Was I classica (raised from marines) |
| I Germanica | Bonn, Germany | Bull | 48 BC Caesar | 70 DD | to 16 BC HISP; c5 BC-70 AD Bonna* (GI) | Disbanded for cowardice in Batavi revolt |
| I Italica | Svishtov, Bulgaria | Boar | 66 Nero | post 400 | 70-early 5th C Novae* (MI) | prima Italica:raised for aborted Caucasus war |
| I Macriana | 68 Macer | 69 DD | (Raised for mutiny against Nero by Macer, gov of AFR) | liberatrix: "Liberator 1st". Disbanded by Galba | ||
| I Minervia | Bonn, Germany | Minerva | 82 Domitian | post 300 | 82-4th C Bonna* (GI) | "Minerva-revering 1st" |
| I Parthica | Sinjar, Iraq | Centaur | 197 S. Severus | post 400 | 197-early 5th C Nisibis* (SYR) | Raised for Parthian campaign 197 |
| II Adiutrix | Budapest, Hungary | Capricorn | 70 Vespasian | 269+ | 70-87 BRIT; 87-106 MS; 106-min269 Aquincum* (PAN) | "2nd Auxiliary." Ex-naval legion. |
| II Augusta | Caerleon, Wales | Capricorn | pre 9 Augustus | post 300 | to c9 AD HISP; 43-74 BRIT; 74-min255 Isca Augusta* (BRIT) | Failed to engage Boudicca 60. c395 at Rutupiae (BRIT) |
| II Italica | Enns, Austria | She-Wolf | 165 M Aurelius | post 400 | 180-c400 Lauriacum* (NR) | Wolf-suckling twins Rome's national emblem |
| II Parthica | Albano Laziale, Italy | Centaur | 197 S. Severus | post 350 | 197-218 Castra Albana* (IT); 218-34 SYR; 238-c300 C. Albana | 4th C recorded at Bezabde (SYR) |
| II Traiana | Alexandria, Egypt | Hercules | 105 Trajan | post 400 | 125-5th C Nicopolis* (AEG) | secunda fortis "Trajan's valliant 2nd" |
| III Augusta | Batna, Algeria | Pegasus | 43 BC Augustus | post 350 | to 20 AD AFR; 20-75 Ammaedara 74-350+ Lambaesis* (MAUR) | Decimated for cowardice in Mauri war (18 AD) |
| III Cyrenaica | Busra, Syria | 36 BC M Antony | post 400 | to 35 AD Thebes 35-125 Alexandria AEG; 125-5th C Bostra* AR | "3rd from Cyrene" | |
| III Gallica | Abila, Jordan | Two Bulls | 49 BC Caesar | post 300 | 31 BC-4th C Raphana* (SYR) | tertia Gallica: "3rd from Gaul" |
| III Italica | Regensburg, Germany | Stork | 165 M Aurelius | post 300 | 165-4th C Castra Regina* (RT) | Raised for war on Marcomanni |
| III Parthica | Ra's al-'Ayn, Syria | Bull | 197 S. Severus | post 400 | 197-4th C Resaena* (SYR) | Raised for Parthian campaign 197 |
| Legion no and title |
Main legionary base |
Emblem | Date founded/ founder |
Date disband |
Castra legionaria (legion bases) * = main base. Start date 31BC if unspecified |
Notes |
| IV Flavia Felix | Belgrade, Serbia | Lion | 70 Vespasian | pre 400 | 86-4th C Singidunum* (MS) | Vespasian's lucky 4th. Reformed IV Macedon |
| IV Macedonica | Mainz, Germany | Bull | 48 BC Caesar | 70 DD | to 43 AD HISP; 43-70 Moguntiacum* (GS) | Disbanded for cowardice in Batavi revolt |
| IV Scythica | Gaziantep, Turkey | Capricorn | 42 BC M Antony | post 400 | to 58 AD MS; 68-5th C Zeugma* (SYR) | quarta scythica: "Scythian-conquering 4th" |
| V Alaudae | Xanten, Germany | Elephant | 52 BC Caesar | 87 XX | to 19 BC HISP; c10 BC-70 AD Castra Vetera* (GI) | "Larks 5th" Feathers in helmet? XX by Dacians |
| V Macedonica | Turda, Romania | Eagle | 43 BC Augustus | post 500 | 6-101 Oescus, 107-61 Troesmis (MI); 166-274 Potaissa* (DC) | quinta macedonica: "5th from Macedonia" |
| VI Ferrata | Galilee, Israel | She-Wolf | 58BC Caesar | 250+ UF | to 71AD Raphana (SYR); 135-250+ Caparcotna* (JUD) | "Ironclad 6th". XX at Battle of Edessa 260? |
| VI Hispana | post 212 | 250+ UF | unknown | Only 1 record. XX at Battle of Abrittus 251? | ||
| VI Victrix | York, England | Bull | 41 BC Augustus | post 400 | to 70 AD Leon (HISP); 71-122 GI; 122-c400 Eburacum* (BRIT) | "Victorious 6th" built Hadrian's Wall 122-32 |
| VII Claudia | Kostolac, Serbia | Bull | 58 BC Caesar | c.400 | to 9 AD GAL; 9-58 DLM; 58-c400 Viminacium* (MS) | septima Claudia: title for crushing mutiny 42 |
| VII Gemina | León, Spain | 68 Galba | c.400 | 75-c400 Castra Legionis* (HISP) | Raised in Hispania by Galba for march on Rome | |
| VIII Augusta | Strasbourg, France | Bull | 59 BC Caesar | post 371 | 9-44 Poetovio PAN; 44-70 Novae MI; 70-371+ Argentorate* GS | octava Augusta: |
| IX Hispana | York, England | Bull | 41 BC Augustus | 120+ UF | to 13 BC HISP; 9-43 PAN?; 71-c120 Eburacum* (BRIT) | nona Hispana: XX in 2nd Jewish War c132? |
| X Fretensis | Jerusalem | Boar | 40 BC Augustus | post 400 | to 25 BC JUD; 25 BC-66 AD SYR; 73-c400+ Hierosolyma* | fretum = Strait of Otranto, Naulochus 36 BC |
| X Gemina | Vienna, Austria | Bull | 42 BC Lepidus | post 400 | to 71 HISP; 71-103 Noviomagus GI; 103-c400 Vindobona* PAN | Was X equestris, Caesar's "mounted" legion |
| XI Claudia | Silistra, Bulgaria | Neptune | 42 BC Augustus | post 400 | to 71 AD DLM; 71-104 Vindonissa RT; 104-c400 Durostorum* MI | undecima Claudia: honoured by Claudius |
| XII Fulminata | Malatya, Turkey | Thdrbolt | 43 BC Lepidus | post 400 | to 14 AD AEG; 14-71 Raphana (SYR); 71-c400 Melitene* (CAP) | Thunderbolt 12th lost aquila in 1st Jewish War |
| Legion no and title |
Main legion base |
Emblem | Date founded/ founder |
Date disband |
Castra legionaria (legion bases) * = main base. Start date 31 BC if unspecified |
Notes |
| XIII Gemina | Alba Iulia, Romania | Lion | 57 BC Caesar | post 400 | 45-106 Poetovio PAN 106-270 Apulum* DC 270-400 MI | "Twinned 13th". Crossed Rubicon with Caesar 49 BC |
| XIV Gemina | Petronell, Austria | Capricorn | 41 BC Augustus | post 400 | 9-43 GS; 43-70 BRIT; 70-92 GS; 106-c400 Carnuntum* | Defeated Boudica's Britons at Watling Street (60 AD) |
| XV Apollinaris | Saddagh, Turkey | Apollo | 41 BC Augustus | post 400 | 9-61 NR 61-73 SYR 73-117 NR; 117-c400 Satala* CAP | "Apollo-revering 15th". Fought in First Jewish War |
| XV Primigenia | Xanten, Germany | Fortuna | 39 Caligula | 70 XX | 39-43 Moguntiacum (GS); 43-70 Castra Vetera* (GI) | Primigenia goddess of Fate. XX in Batavi revolt |
| XVI Flavia Firma | Samsat, Turkey | Lion | 70 Vespasian | post 300 | 70-117 Satala (CAP); 117-300+ Samosata* SYR | "Vespasian's steadfast 16th". Reformed XVI Gallica |
| XVI Gallica | Mainz, Germany | Lion | 41 BC Augustus | 70 DD | to 43AD Moguntiacum* (GS); 43-70 Novaesium* (GI) | Disbanded for cowardice in Batavi revolt |
| XVII | Xanten, Germany | 41 BC Augustus | 9 XX | to 15 BC AQ?; 15 BC-9 AD Castra Vetera* (GI) | Destroyed in Teutoburg Forest, lost aquila standard, never rebuilt | |
| XVIII | Xanten, Germany | 41 BC Augustus | 9 XX | to 15 BC AQ?; 15 BC-9 AD Castra Vetera* (GI) | Destroyed in Teutoburg Forest, lost aquila standard, never rebuilt | |
| XIX | Xanten, Germany | 41 BC Augustus | 9 XX | to 15 BC unknown; 15 BC-9 AD somewhere in GI | Destroyed in Teutoburg Forest, lost aquila standard, never rebuilt | |
| XX Valeria Vict. | Chester, England | Boar | 31 BC Augustus | 250+ UF | to 9 AD DLM; 9-43 GI; 43-75 BRIT; 75-250+ Deva* BRIT | vigesima named for Messalla? XX in Allectus' fall 296? |
| XXI Rapax | Windisch, Switzerland | Capricorn | 31 BC Augustus | 92 XX | 9-43 GI; 43-70 Vindonissa* (RT); 70-89 GI; 89-92 PAN | "Devourer 21st". XX by Roxolani Sarmatian tribe PAN |
| XXII Deiotariana | Alexandria, Egypt | 48 BC | 132 XX | to c8 BC GAL; 8 BC-123 AD+ Alexandria* (AEG) | GAL king "Deiotarus's 22nd". XX in 2nd Jewish War | |
| XXII Primigenia | Mainz, Germany | Hercules | 39 Caligula | post 300 | 39-c300 Moguntiacum* (GS) | Raised for Caligula's German war |
| XXX Ulpia Victrix | Xanten, Germany | Jupiter | 105 Trajan | post 400 | 105-22 DC; 122-c400 Castra Vetera* (GI) | "Trajan's victorious 30th" (M Ulpius Traianus) |
Read more about this topic: List Of Roman Legions
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