List of Roman Legions - Early Empire Legions

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)
Roman legions of the early Empire (units founded between 59 BC and 250 AD)
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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