List of Roman legions - Definition and Overview

This is a list of Roman legions. These are mainly legions of the Roman Empire; earlier legions were not permanent named organizations.

Comments added include life span of the legion, cause of disappearance (if relevant) and the original commander, meaning, the man who levied the legion.

Legio I

• Legio I - referred to once as "I Germanica" (German) – 48 BC to 70 AD (Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
• Legio I Adiutrix (helper) - 68 AD to (at least) 444 AD, Galba?
• Legio I Italica (Italian) - September 22 66 AD to (at least) 5th century, Nero
• Legio I Macriana liberatrix (liberator of Macer) – 68 to 69 AD, Lucius Clodius Macer, governor of Africa
• Legio I Minervia (protected by goddess Minerva) - 82 AD to (at least) 4th century, Domitian
• Legio I Parthica (Parthian) - 197 to early 6th century, Septimius Severus

Legio II

• Legio II Adiutrix Pia Fidelis (helper faithful and loyal) - 70 AD to (at least) 3rd century, Vespasian
• Legio II Augusta (levied by Augustus) - before 9 AD to at least 3rd century
  • Legio II Gallica (from Gallia) – established Arausio, modern Orange, France, possibly another cognomen for the Legio II Augusta
• Legio II Italica (Italian) - 165 to beginning of the 5th century, Marcus Aurelius
• Legio II Parthica (Parthian) – 197 AD until, at least half of 4th century, Lucius Septimius Severus
• Legio II Traiana fortis (Trajan strong legion) - 105 AD to (at least) 3rd century, Trajan
  • changed name in Legio II Germanica (German) - 3rd century to (at least) 5th century, Caracalla

Legio III

• Legio III Augusta (levied by Augustus) – 43 BC to (at least) late 4th century, Augustus
• Legio III Cyrenaica (from Cyrenaica) – probably around 36 BC to (at least) 5th century, Marcus Antonius
• Legio III Gallica (from Gallia) – around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar
• Legio III Italica (Italian) - 165 AD to at least early 4th century, Marcus Aurelius
• Legio III Parthica (Parthian) - around 197 AD to at least early 5th century, Lucius Septimius Severus

Legio IV

• Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian) - 48 BC to 70 AD (disbanded by Vespasian), Julius Caesar
  • reconstituted under the name of Legio IV Flavia Felix (lucky Flavian legion) - about 70 AD to before 400 AD, Vespasian
• Legio IV Scythica (from Scythia) - around 42 BC to at least early 5th century, Marcus Antonius

Legio V

• Legio V Alaudae (Larks) - 52 BC to 70 AD (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
• Legio V Macedonica (Macedonian) - 43 BC to after 400 AD, consul Caius Vibius Pansa and Augustus
  • Legio V Urbana, probably early name of the V Macedonica
  • Legio V Gallica, probably early name of the V Macedonica

Legio VI

• Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad) - 53 BC to after 250 AD, Julius Caesar
• Legio VI Victrix (Victorious) - 53 BC to late 4th century, Augustus
  • Legio VI Hispaniensis another name of the VI Victrix

Legio VII

• Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 58 BC to end of 4th century AD, Julius Caesar
• Legio VII Gemina (Twin) - October 68 AD to end of 4th century AD, Galba

Legio VIII

• Legio VIII Augusta (devout to Augustus), 59 BC to after 371 AD - Julius Caesar

Legio IX

• Legio IX Hispana (Spanish) - before 58 BC to before 160 AD, Julius Caesar

Legio X

• Legio X Fretensis (Of the sea streits) - 41/40 BC to at least 260 AD, Augustus
• Legio X Gemina (Twin) - 58 BC to early 5th century, Julius Caesar
  • Legio X Equestris (knight), early name of the Gemina

Legio XI

• Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 58 BC to early 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XII

• Legio XII Fulminata - 57 BC to (at least) 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XIII

• Legio XIII Gemina (Twin) - 57 BC to (at least) 5th century, Julius Caesar

Legio XIV

• Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix (Twin and Martial Victory) - Augustus

Legio XV

• Legio XV Apollinaris (devoted to the god Apollo) - 41/40 BC to 5th century - Augustus
• Legio XV Primigenia (tevoted to the goddess Fortuna) - 39 to 70 AD (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Caligula

Legio XVI

• Legio XVI Gallica (from Gallia) - 41/40 BC to 70 AD (Batavian rebellion) - Augustus
  • Legio XVI Flavia Firma (standfast Flavian legion) reconstitution of the XVI Gallica - 70 AD to 4th century - Vespasian

Legio XVII

• Legio XVII - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XVIII

• Legio XVIII - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XIX

• Legio XIX - 41 BC to 9 AD (Battle of Teutoburg Forest), Augustus

Legio XX

• Legio XX Valeria Victrix (Valorous and Victorious) - after 31 BC to late 3rd century, Augustus

Legio XXI

• Legio XXI Rapax (Predator) - 31 BC to 92 AD (destroyed in Pannonia), Augustus

Legio XXII

• Legio XXII Deiotariana (levied by Deiotarus) - 48 BC to about 133 (destroyed in the Jewish rebellion), Deiotarius
• Legio XXII Primigenia (devoted to goddess Fortuna) - 39 to 3rd century, Caligula

Legio XXX

• Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix (Victorious Ulpian legion) - 105 AD to early 5th century, Trajan

Later on, in the 4th century, the legions lose the role of backbone of the Roman armies in favour of the cavalry units; their new role is the one of static control of the borders of the empire, guarding the fortified garrisons in the zones most exposed to enemy invasion. Some of these new legions are known:

• Legio I
  • I Armeniaca
  • I Flavia Constantia
  • I Flavia Gallicana
  • I Flavia Martis
  • I Flavia Pacis
  • I Illyricorum
  • I Iovia
  • I Isaura Sagitaria
  • I Iulia Alpina
  • I Martia
  • I Maximiana
  • I Noricorum
  • I Pontica

• Legio II
  • II Armeniaca
  • II Britannica
  • II Flavia Constantia
  • II Flavia Virtutis
  • II Herculia
  • II Isaura
  • II Iulia Alpina

• Legio III
  • III Diocletiana
  • III Flavia Salutis
  • III Herculia
  • III Isaura
  • III Iulia Alpina

• Legio IIII
  • IIII Italica
  • IIII Martia
  • IIII Parthica

• Legio V
  • V Iovia
  • V Parthica

• Legio VI
  • VI Gallicana
  • VI Herculia
  • VI Hispana
  • VI Parthica

• Legio XII
  • XII Victrix

Reference

• Oxford Classical Dictionary

External link

• livius.org list of legions (http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/legions.htm)