List of Roman Legions - Late Republican Legions

Late Republican Legions

Until the Marian reforms of 107 BC, the Republican legions were formed by compulsory levy of Roman citizens (who met a minimum property qualification) and raised whenever it was necessary. Usually they were authorized by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded.

Gaius Marius' reforms transformed legions into standing units, which could remain in being for several years, or even decades. This became necessary to garrison the Republic's now far-flung territories. Legionaries started large-scale recruiting of volunteer soldiers enlisted for a minimum term of six years and a fixed salary, although conscription was still practiced. The property requirements, already much reduced, seem to have been abolished by Marius, so that the bulk of recruits were henceforth from the landless proletariat, who would be most attracted to the paid employment offered by the legions.

In the last century of the Republic, proconsuls governing frontier provinces became increasingly powerful. Their command of standing legions in distant and arduous military campaigns resulted in the allegiance of those units transferring from the Roman state to themselves. These imperatores (lit: victorious generals, from the title imperator they were hailed with by their troops) frequently fell out with each other and started civil wars to seize control of the state. e.g. Sulla, Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Mark Antony and Octavian (later Augustus, the first Emperor himself). In this context, the imperatores raised many legions that were not authorised by the Senate, sometimes having to use their own resources (generally extorted from the provinces they controlled). As civil wars were resolved, many of these "private" units would be disbanded, only for more to be raised to fight the next civil war. By the time Augustus emerged as sole ruler in 30BC, over 50 legions were in existence, many of which were disbanded.

The legions included in the following list had a long enough history to be somehow remarkable. Most of them were levied by Julius Caesar and later included into Octavian's army, some of them were levied by Mark Antony.

• Legio I Germanica (Germanic): 48 BC–70 (Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
• Legio II Sabina (Sabine): 43 BC to circa 9 AD, early name of the Legio II Augusta
• Legio III Cyrenaica (from Cyrenaica): probably around 36 BC to (at least) 5th century, Mark Antony
• Legio III Gallica (from Gallia): around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull)
• Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian): 48 BC–70 (disbanded by Vespasian), Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, capricorn)
• Legio IV Scythica (from Scythia): around 42 BC to at least early 5th century, Mark Antony (emblem: capricorn)
• Legio V Alaudae (Larks): 52 BC–70 (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar (emblem: elephant)
• Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad): 52 BC to after 250, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, wolf and Romulus and Remus); twin legion of Legio VI Victrix
• Legio VI Victrix (Victorious): 41 BC to after 402 Octavian (emblem: bull)
• Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis: 51 BC–44 BC, Julius Caesar; disbanded and re-formed by Vespasian as Legio VII Gemina
• Legio VIII Augusta: 59 BC–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio VIII Augusta
• Legio IX Hispana Triumphalis (Triumphant): 59 BC–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio IX Hispana
• Legio X Fretensis (of the sea strait), also known as X Equestris (Mounted): before 58 BC–45 BC, Julius Caesar's personal legion.
  • Legio X Veneria (devoted to the goddess Venus): another name of X Equestris.
  • Legio X Equestris levied by Augustus in 41/40 BC
• Legio XI: 58 BC–45 BC, Julius Caesar (emblem: Neptune), disbanded, reconstituted by Augustus
• Legio XII Victrix (Victorious): 57 BC–45, Julius Caesar
  • Legio XII Antiqua (Ancient): reconstituted by Lepidus in 43 BC, named by Mark Antony, included in Augustus army as Legio XII Fulminata
• Legio XIII Gemina: 57 BC–45 BC: Julius Caesar, later (41 BC) reconstituted as Legio XIII Gemina by Augustus
• Legio XVIII Libyca (from Libya): disbanded 31 BC, Mark Antony
• Legio XXX Classica (Naval): 48 BC–41 BC, Julius Caesar