by David Blixt
III AUGUSTA: Created in 43 BC by Octavian (Augustus) to protect Rome's grain supply, it stayed in Africa for the next three hundred years. A detachment may have been present in Alexandria in 66 as part of the forces gathered for Nero's planned Aetheopian invasion, but it didn't go with Titus to the Judean War, and probably went back to Africa. In 68 the legionary legate was Clodius Macer. But they don't appear to have been interested in making him Caesar when he declared, as he had to raise his own legion to try. After Macer's assassination, command went to Valerius Festus, a kinsman of Vitellius who amusingly declared for Vespasian. Their symbol was the Pegasus, the Capricorn, and the Lion.
III CYRENAICA: Created by Mark Antony in 35 BC while he was ruling the East. After the defeat at Actium, the legion defected to Octavian, and from then on was stationed in Aegypt along with the XXII Deiotariana at Nicopolis, just outside Alexandria. A detachment Corbulo's campaigns against the Parthians in 63, and another detachment of a thousand men joined Titus for the siege of Jerusalem in 70 (spoiler, I know. But you know it's coming, right?). The name comes from the region where Antony formed it, Cyrenaica, which is the part of today's Libya that contains the city of Benghazi. Their symbol is unknown.
III GALLICA: Recruited in Roman Gaul by Julius Caesar for his war against Pompey, it fought at Pharsalus. The legion then served under Antony in his disastrous Parthian expedition, and was stationed in Syria after the battle of Actium. In Nero's reign it took part in Corbulo's campaigns against the Parthians, but shortly before Nero's death it was relocated along the Danube to counter raids by the Rhoxolani. The legion retained its ties with the forces in Syria and some Syrian customs. Their symbol was the Bull (with a strong nod to Mithraism).
IV MACEDONICA: Raised in Italia by Julius Caesar after crossing the Rubicon. Stationed in Hispania in Augustus' reign. It was transferred to Upper Germany in 43, and was still there in 69, stationed in a double-camp with XXII Primigenia. Caecina was its legionary legate in 68, appointed by Galba before the charge of embezzlement. A detachment accompanied Caecina over the Alps, while the bulk of the legion was left behind in Germania Superior. Vespasian disbanded it shortly thereafter. Their symbol was the Bull and the Capricorn.
IV SCYTHICA: Originally called the Parthica, it was formed by Marc Antony for his invasion of Parthia. First stationed in Macedonia, it was moved to Syria in 58. It was disgraced in the fall of 62, when Vespasian's aristocratic cousin Lucius Caesennius Paetus surrendered to the Parthians. A vexillation of about 2,600 men accompanied Mucianus to Rome. This legion's symbol was a Capricorn.
V ALAUDAE: Levied by Julius Caesar in Gaul in 52 BC, they got their name from the high crest on their helmets, that made them look like larks, from the Gallic word alauda. It fought at both Pharsalus and Philippi, then was stationed in Germania Inferior. This legion formed the core of Fabius Valens' force. It fought at Bedriacum, took the lead in thwarting Caecina's attempt to change sides at Hostilia, and fought again at Cremona. The legion's symbol was an elephant.
V MACEDONICA: Formed by Augustus in 43 BC, it was stationed in Macedonia after the Battle of Actium until 6 AD, before moving to Oescus in the Balkans. Part of Corbulo's force against the Parthians. In 66 I place the Fifth alongside the Tenth, heading inland from Alexandria to set up a proposed invasion of Aethiopia, until it is retrieved by Titus for his father to use in the Judean War. Between 67 and 69 the legionary legate was Sextus Vettulenus Cerealis (not the Cerialis in this novel, but the man I refer to as 'Sextus' in S&S). A vexillation accompanied Mucianus on his expedition to Italy. The legion's symbols were the Bull and the Eagle.
VI FERRATA: Name means “ironclad”. Created by Julius Caesar sometime before 52 BC (some say as early as 65 BC, which makes no sense, as Caesar was in Rome serving as patrician aedile that year). But this legion was with Caesar after Pharsalus, during his time in Alexandria and the East. The legion seems to have stayed in the East, fighting at Philippi, then with Antony against the Parthians, and defeated by Octavian's forces at Actium. It stayed in the region, shuttling back and forth between Syria and Judea as needed for the next hundred years. It was with Corbulo against the Parthians, and in Syria at the start of the Judean War, though a vexillation was with Cestius Gallus when the Twelfth had its eagle stolen. This legion formed the heart of Mucianus' expeditionary force to Italia in 69. Its symbols were the Bull and the She-Wolf.
VI VICTRIX: Founded by Octavian in 41 BC, possibly out of veterans from the Sixth Ferrata. After chasing Sextus Pompey around Sicily, it was part of the victory over Mark Antony at Actium. After that, it was stationed in Hispania where it stayed. When he left his province, Galba left it behind, but took its legionary legate, Titus Vinius. Its symbol is unknown.
VII CLAUDIA PIA FIDELIS (or CLAUDIANA, sometimes called the VII MACEDONICA): Formed by Pompey during his governorship of Hispania in 65 BC, this legion was part of Caesar's original Gallic invasion force in 58, and fought all the way from the siege of the Nervii to Alesia to Pharsalus to Philippi to Actium. Augustus moved it to the Balkans, (hence the name Macedonica), and won its second name for refusing to commit treason against Claudius Caesar in 42 AD. When the III Scythica was moved to Syria, the VII Claudiana took its place on the Danube. In 69 they first sided with Otho, but arrived too late for the First Battle of Cremona. They then sided with Vespasian and fought under Antonius at the Second Battle of Cremona. This legion's symbols were the Bull and the Lion.
VII GALBIANA (later GEMINA): Formed by Galba in Hispania around April 68 it escorted the new Caesar to Rome and massacred the marines at the Milvian Bridge in October. A month or so later Galba sent it off to Pannonia under the command of Marcus Antonius Primus. Its symbol is unknown.
VIII AUGUSTA (originally GALLICA): Recruited by Pompey around 65 BC, they were with Caesar all through the Gallic campaign, but fought against him at Pharsalus. Disbanded after Caesar's return from the East, it was reformed by Octavian in 44 BC, just after Caesar's assassination, and formed the nucleus of his power – hence its name. It fought at Philippi and Actium. It was in Pannonia at the start of Tiberius' reign, and took part in the mutinies of 14. Apart from a vexillation sent to Britannia, it spent most of its years in Germania Inferior, then declared first for Otho, then for Vespasian. Its symbol was possibly the Eagle.
IX HISPANA: Possibly created by Pompey in 65, or by Caesar for the Gallic campaign. Caesar disbanded the legion, but Octavian reconstituted it to fight Sextus Pompeius and then Mark Antony before being stationed in Hispania, when it took its name. After the disaster of 9 AD, this legion was moved to Pannonia and took part in the mutinies of 14. After a four-year stint in Africa, it was one of the four legions Claudius used to invade Britannia. It suffered heavy losses in Boudicca's rebellion thanks to the rashness of its legate, Petillius Cerialis Rufus (our Cerialis, Vespasian's son-in-law), but it was still in the island in 69. A vexillation of around 2,600 men fought for Vitellius at Cremona, but after the loss the whole legion declared for Vespasian. Not sure of the symbol.
X FRETENSIS: Formed by Octavian between 41 and 40 BC, it fought against both Sextus Pompeius and Mark Antony. It was then transferred to the East, residing in either Judea or Syria as needed, and fought with Corbulo against the Parthians. In S&S I place the Tenth as part of the aborted Aethiopian expedition, recalled by Titus for the Judean War. Under Vespasian, the commander was Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, father of the emperor Trajan. The legion's symbols were a Bull, a Boar, a Ship, and the god Neptune (they had boarded enemy ships during Actium, hence the nautical references – the name means “sea strait”).
X GEMINA (formerly EQUESTRIS): Formed by Julius Caesar for the Gallic War where he used them as cavalry (hence the Equestris), they fought against the Nervii, invaded Britannia, fought at Pharsalus and Munda, and then pissed off Caesar during his Triumph by singing an insulting song about him. He disbanded the legion, but Octavian reconstituted it in 42 BC, fought at Philippi, then went with Antony to invade Parthia. They fought on the losing side at Actium, and lost
their original name when they rebelled against Octavian. He renamed it Gemina, possibly to signify its rebirth as its own twin, and stationed the legion in Hispania from 30 BC onward, moving elsewhere only briefly, always to return. The legionary symbol was the Bull.
XI CLAUDIA PIA FIDELIS (or CLAUDIANA): Yet another legion recruited by Caesar for the Gallic War, fighting the Nervii, at Alesia, then on to Dyrrachium and Pharsalus. Again, the disbanded legion was reconstituted by Octavian to fight at the battle of Philippi, then at Actium. After that it was stationed in the Balkans until the disaster of 9 AD, when it was moved to Dalmatia along the northern frontier. Like the other Legio Claudiana, this legion refused to take part in a revolt against Claudius Caesar, and helped thwart his overthrow. In 69 they sided with Otho, and were sent back to its station by Vitellius. It was slow to join Marcus Antonius Primus until the victory at Cremona. The legionary symbol was the Bull, and possibly the She-Wolf.
XII FULMINATA (originally VICTRIX, then ANTIQUA): Fulminata means 'armed with lightning'. Another legion recruited by Julius Caesar for the Gallic War that fought against the Nervii and took part in the siege of Alesia, then fought for Caesar at Pharsalus, where Caesar gave them the title Victrix. Antony renamed it Antiqua during his Parthian campaign, and stayed in the East ever after, stationed in Syria. Nothing is known of its history until the 60s, but in that decade it disgraced itself twice. It was one of two legions under Caesennius Paetus to surrender to the Parthians at Rhandeia in 62. And this is the legion slaughtered at the start of S&S, whose eagle was captured, the inciting incident to the whole Judean War. As they were being reconstituted under Vespasian, a vexillation of around 2,600 men accompanied Mucianus to Italy. Their symbol was, of course, a thunderbolt.
XIII GEMINA: Another of Caesar's Gallic legions. After being with him against the Nervii, at the sieges of both Gergovia and Alesia, this was the legion the he used to cross the Rubico river in 49 BC. It fought for him at Dyrrachium, Pharsalus, Thapsus, and Munda. Caesar disbanded it, but Octavian recalled them to fight Sextus Pompeius, and gained the name 'Twin' when it was reinforced with veterans to fight Antony at Actium. It resided in Pannonia until the disaster in 9 AD, when it was moved to Germania Superior. After Otho summoned it to his aid in 69, the advance detachment fought under Sabinus at Ad Castores before being part of the defeat of the First Battle of Cremona. Vitellius kept them in northern Italia doing the humiliating work of building amphitheaters at Placentia and Cremona, then ordered them back to Poetovio. There Antonius Primus mobilized it once more. The legionary legate in 69 was Vedius Aquila, and the historian Suetonius' father was one of the tribunes (I don't mention him because I don't want confusion with Suetonius Paulinus. I swear, these Romans and their names!). The legionary symbol was the Lion.
XIV GEMINA MARTIA VICTRIX: Created by Caesar from the remains of two other legions, hence the name 'Twin'. They were viewed as an unlucky legion, and were often the rearguard of a general's action. The legion was stationed in Germania Superior from 9 onward, and one story is it won its title of Victrix for loyal service in Germanicus' retaliatory raid against the Marsi and the Chatti. Another gives says it earned its Martia Victrix for the suppression of Boudicca's revolt under Suetonius Paulinus. In Italia in 68, Nero might easily have used it to march to quash Vindex. Galba moved it to Dalmatia, and a vexillation fought for Otho at the First Battle of Cremona. The legionary symbol was the Capricorn, and possibly crossed lightning bolts.
XV APOLLINARIS: Originally recruited by Octavian in 41 BC, it fought for him against Sextus Pompieus and Mark Antony. In 6 BC they were part of a large campaign by Tiberius that was derailed by a revolt in Pannonia. It stayed there until 63 AD when it was sent to guard the Syrian frontier after Paetus surrendered to the Parthians. In fall of 66 it helped suppress an uprising in Alexandria, ravaging the Jewish Quarter of the city. It was picked up by Titus and made his personal legion for the first half of the Judean War. A vexillation went with Mucianus to Italy. The legionary symbol was Apollo.
XV PRIMIGENIA: One of the two legions created by Caligula in 39, it was stationed in Germania Inferior. Siding with Vitellius, a vexillation accompanied Valens on his march to Rome. Their name means they associated themselves with Fortuna, and her love of the firstborn.
XVI GALLICA: Originally recruited by Octavian, the legion was first stationed in Germania Superior, then Inferior during Claudius' reign. Siding with Vitellius, a vexillation accompanied Valens on his march to Rome and fought at the First Battle of Cremona. The legionary symbol was the Lion.
XX VALERIA VICTRIX: Created by Augustus sometime after 31 BC, it was originally stationed in Hispania, then moved to Germania Inferior before being used for Claudius' invasion of Britannia. It was still there in 69, winning its title Valeria Victrix for its part in the suppression of Boudicca's revolt. A vexillation of around 2,600 men it sent to Vitellius joined him only after the First Battle of Cremona, and fought at the Second – the worst of all worlds. The remaining men proved the most reluctant of the troops stationed in Britannia to abandon Vitellius for Vespasian. The legionary symbol was the Boar.
XXI RAPAX: Rapax means 'predator'. Created by Augustus around 31 BC, it was first sent to Hispania, then stationed in Germania Inferior. It was one of the prime movers in the mutinies of 14, and so was relocated to Germania Superior. Siding with Vitellius, it formed the core of Caecina's column, and fought at both battles of Cremona. The legionary symbol was the Capricorn.
XXII DEIOTARIANA: A force originally raised and trained in the Roman manner by King Deiotarus of Galatia, it fought under Pompey in the Third Mithridatic War. A double-sized legion, it was badly mauled by the forces of Pontus and joined Caesar when he attacked Pontus in 47 BC. When Galatia was integrated into official Rome in 25 BC, the army was made a regular legion. Stationed at Nicopolis, outside Alexandria, it served under Corbulo in 63, and a vexillation of 1,000 men joined Titus for the siege of Jerusalem in 70.
XXII PRIMIGENIA: The other legion created by Caligula in 39. From the start, it guarded the Rhine border in Germania Superior. Supporting Vitellius in 69, the legion sent a vexillation with Caecina in his march over the Alps, and fought the First Battle of Cremona. The rest of the legion escorted Vitellius to Italy, marched with Caecina to Hostilia, and fought at Cremona. Dedicated to the goddess Fortuna Primigenia, the legionary symbols were the Capricorn and Hercules.
More David Blixt Novels
The Star-Cross'd Series
THE MASTER OF VERONA
VOICE OF THE FALCONER
FORTUNE'S FOOL
THE PRINCE'S DOOM
VARNISHED FACES
The Colossus Series
COLOSSUS: STONE & STEEL
COLOSSUS: THE FOUR EMPERORS
COLOSSUS: WAIL OF THE FALLEN
HER MAJESTY'S WILL
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