The history of the various Imperial Legions has been written many times, both collectively and individually. It is quite easy to establish for the period before the 2nd century thanks to the stories of Tacitus and other historians of this era. It is much more difficult to collect accurate information for the subsequent period. Our only, or almost only, source is the inscriptions, especially those that mention campaigns or military insignia, and the legionary coins of Septimius Severus and some of his successors.

To this must be added the study of the various camps whose ruins still exist throughout the Roman Empire. I will here state the facts relating to each legion, strictly limiting myself to what is necessary. The reader can find the rest in the works indicated in the notes.

Legio I Adjutrix. Symbols: Capricorn, Pegasus.

In all likelihood, the legion was created by Nero in 68 shortly before his death; it was formed from naval soldiers, probably from the fleet at Misenum. His nickname Adjutrix("Helper") indicates separate part, created at a difficult moment to assist regular troops. It was saved; we find mention of him under 68 AD. in the military certificate. At the time of Nero's death he was in Rome with some troops from Germany. He immediately sided with Otho. He fought fiercely for him at Bedriak, "ferox et novi decoris avida"(“furious and greedy for new rewards”), but was nevertheless defeated. When the war ended, Vitellius sent him to Spain "ut pace et otio mitesceret"("to be pacified by peace and leisure"). This combination did not work out: as soon as he had the opportunity to side with the new aspirant Vespasian, he did not hesitate, and his accession carried away the other two Spanish legions, VI Victrix And X Gemina. Some authors believed, with good reason, that in next year he took part in the war against Civilis and the Batavians; others believe, on the contrary, that he did not leave Spain until 88. This year, under the emperor Domitian, the rebellion of Antony Saturninus broke out. The legion, whose legate was then undoubtedly Trajan, was sent to the Rhine to fight the rebels. There he remained, taking up camp in Mainz. It was from there that he set out or sent his separate units to Domitian’s war against the Chatti and to Nerva’s campaign against the Germans and Suevi. He probably also took part in Trajan's Dacian War. According to M. Jünemann, he left Germany at the very beginning of the campaign, then, between two campaigns, he was stationed in Apul, from where he returned after the end of the second war and the transformation of Dacia into a province. He did not stay there long. When in 114 the legion XV Apollinaris went with Trajan to Asia, I Adjutrix was sent to Pannonia in his place and settled in Bregezion, in the upper province. Very numerous epigraphic evidence of his stay was found there. There he camped until the end of the Empire. Like all legions from Pannonia, it had to participate in the struggle that was fought on the Danube in the second half of the 2nd century and the first half of the 3rd century; we have evidence or reason to assume his participation only in the following: the German campaign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus; war against the Marcomanni; war against the Germans and Hutts; the Parthian campaign of Septimius Severus; Maximin's war against the Dacians. It is present on the coins of Emperor Septimius Severus and Emperor Gallienus. It still existed in the 5th century and continued to occupy a camp at Bregezion. He bears the nickname on monuments Pia Fidelis, which I had not yet received in 98. Consequently, it is impossible to accept the point of view that he received it as a result of the rebellion of Antony Saturninus; unknown and for what occasion it was named iterum Pia Fidelis(“twice sacred and faithful”). At the beginning of the 3rd century one inscription gives him the title Constans("constant") .

Legio I Germanica.

The origin of this military unit is poorly known: M. Mommsen accepted the hypothesis that this legion existed during the era of the reorganization of the Roman army by Augustus; that the latter disbanded it later, after the defeat of Varus, but immediately after that he recreated it, as Vespasian later did, for example, with the legions IV Macedonica and XVI Gallica. Tacitus says simply that he received his standards from Tiberius. At the end of the reign of Augustus he was camped in lower Germany with the legions V, XX and XXI, at Ubii, where Caecina had collected them for an expedition against the Germans. It was there that he was overtaken by the news of the death of the ruler. He immediately rebelled. From the story of Tacitus it follows that in this era the legion’s camp was located in Ara Ubiorum (“Altars of the Murders”, modern Cologne). In 15, he took part in a campaign against the Hutts and against the Bructeri. The following year he led a new military campaign in Germany and participated in the Battle of Idistaviso. Historians do not mention his name again until 68; during this era his camp was in Bonn. He was the first to recognize Vitellius and his example led to the annexation of all other legions of Lower Germany. Half of the personnel went to Italy under the command of legate Fabius Valens and entered the Battle of Cremona. It is unknown what happened to them afterwards; it is possible that they were scattered in Illyricum along with other troops of Vitellius. As for the other half of the legion, which remained in Germany, its fate was no better: obliged to resist the uprising of Civilis, they began by allowing themselves to be defeated by the rebel Batavians, then marched, led by Gordeonius, their commander, against Civilis, and Mainz led by Vocula. After the murder of the latter, they joined the Gallic Empire and declared allegiance to the usurper: a short-lived allegiance, however, since almost immediately overcome by remorse, they retreated to the Mediomatrics and there joined the army of Petilius Cerialis, with which they marched against him whom they hailed as Emperor just a few days ago. But such demoralized troops destroy themselves in advance; in the battle of Trier they showed themselves worse than ever. This legion has disappeared from staffing army after Vespasian's reorganization.

Legio I Italica. Symbols: boar, bull.

Created by Nero on September 20, 67; At first it was a garrison in the city of Lyon. Vitellius took him with him on a campaign to Italy; he distinguished himself at the Battle of Bedriak. In the next company, he was present at the Battle of Cremona and was defeated along with the XXI Legion Rapax. At the end of the war he was sent to Moesia and remained in this province until the end of the Empire. One of the inscriptions tells us that he took part in the war in Dacia, no doubt under Trajan, another - that under Marcus Aurelius his separate unit was sent on a campaign, no doubt, to the war against the Marcomanni, the third - that in the same era he provided a garrison for Chersonese Tauride.

In the 1st century his camp was in Durostorum, in the 2nd century, perhaps under Hadrian, he occupied Novae. It also seems that part of his troops, at least for some time, occupied the camp at Troesmis. At the time of the "Rossing of Ranks" he still occupied a camp in Nova, with separate units throughout the rest of the province.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus and Gallienus.

Legio I Macriana.

When the legate of the III Augustan Legion, Clodius Macrus, at the end of Nero's reign tried to rebel against the central government and create an independent kingdom in Africa, he recruited a new legion and, following the example of the generals of the late Republic, who gave the troops under their command their own numbering, not accepting taking into account their position in the Roman army as a whole, he called it Legio I Macriana Liberatrix(Fig. 4434). It is known from the coins of Clodius Macra.

Attempts have been made to interpret this legion as a conversion of the legion of III Augustus; but it is much easier to accept the literal understanding of the text of Tacitus: " In Africa legio cohortesque delectae a Clodio Macro"that legion Macriana was recruited Clodius Macrom and therefore distinct from the legion of III Augustus. After the death of the pretender, this new legion was disbanded by Galba. Vitellius, who needed to complete the legion in Africa or other troops, again called his personnel under the banner and merged them into the already existing cadre units.

Legio I Minervia. Symbols: Minerva, Aries.

Created by Domitian no later than 88, perhaps in 87. He was immediately involved in suppressing the rebellion of Antony Saturninus. He then took part in two Dacian wars; during this era, his legate was the future Emperor Hadrian. The soldiers of this legion imaginifer, carrying a badge in the form of a ram, are depicted on Trajan's Column. At the end of the second campaign he returned to Lower Germany, where he took up camp at Bonn. He took part in the Parthian campaign of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus and in the struggle of Septimius Severus against Pescennius Niger.

Minervii indicated in the "List of ranks" as forming a legion comitatensis in Illyricum.

At first the legion had nicknames Flavia Pia Fidelis Domitiana: he received them as a reward for his loyalty during the rebellion of Antony Saturninus. After Domitian's death he retained only his titles Pia Fidelis(“pious and faithful”).

Legio I Parthica.

Established by Septimius Severus at the moment when the war against the Parthians broke out. His camp was in Mesopotamia. In 360, under Emperor Julian, he took part in the campaign against Shapur, defended the city of Singara and was captured. At the time of the "Painting" he was still in Mesopotamia, in Nisiben.

Legio II Adjutrix. Symbols: Boar, Pegasus.

Organized in 70 from the soldiers of the Ravenna fleet who took the side of Vespasian, it was armed by Antony Primus. By order of Mutian, he was immediately sent against the rebel Civilis; he spent the entire war under the command of Petilius Cerialis; after the end of the campaign in 71, according to M. Gundel, he was sent, it seems, to Britain, in the eastern part of which traces of his presence were found, in Lindum (modern Lincoln). Then he is found on the Danube; He definitely arrived there in the era of Domitian: we have the tomb of one of his centurions, who died during the war of this emperor against the Dacians. He also took part in Domitian's campaign against the Suevi and Sarmatians. At the beginning of the 2nd century, according to Ptolemy, his camp was in Akuminka (at the confluence of the Tisza and Danube); then he settled in Aquinca (near Budapest), it is difficult to determine exactly when, approximately in the middle of the 2nd century. Under Marcus Aurelius, he took part in the war against the Parthians. He easily supported the candidacy of Septimius Severus and recognized him as emperor in 193. Under Caracalla, he sent a separate unit to Asia for the Parthian War. He also played a role in Maximin's war against the Dacians. During the era of the "Royalty of Ranks", his camp was still at Aquinca, but the troops were distributed among various other points in the province of Valeria: Aliska, Florentia, Contra Tautantum, Kirpi, Lussonium.

From the first times of its existence, the legion received the title Pia Fidelis: he already wears it on his military certificate in March 70; later he received, for unknown reasons, the title iterum Pia Fidelis(“twice pious and faithful”). Under Claudius Gotha he had the title Constans("constant").

Legio II Augusta. Symbol: Capricorn.

Naturally, this is the legion of Augustus; he was identified with the second legion that Caesar had in Spain; he moved from there to Germany, according to some, or to Egypt, according to others; but these are only assumptions that do not have proper justification. All that is truly known is that at the time of Augustus's death he was in Upper Germany; he took part in the campaign of Germanicus in the year 15, during which he buried the soldiers of Varus. During this trip he lost his luggage and almost died in a storm. Few epigraphic traces of his stay in Germany have been preserved. He crossed over to Britain under the Emperor Claudius and took part in the battles that led to the conquest of that island; at this time the future emperor Vespasian was his legate. He almost immediately settled in a camp at Isk (Caerleon, southwest Britain), which he subsequently occupied and where he left numerous traces of his stay. During the civil wars after the death of Nero, the legion provided Vitellius with a force of 2,600 men against Vespasian; he distinguished himself in the battle of Cremona, where he formed the center of the Vitellian army, but the rest of the legion, which was in Britain, did not hesitate to speak out for Vespasian. Another unit may have been sent to the German borders in 70. Very little is known about his history before Diocletian: it can only be said that he did not leave Britain and his life was inextricably linked with the life of this province. At the end of the 2nd century his camp was still at Isca. He took the side of Carausius, on whose coins his name appears. The "Roll of Honor" (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) shows us it still located in Britain, with rear depots in the town of Rutupia (Richborough).

Legio II Italica. Symbols: she-wolf feeding twins, Capricorn.

Founded by Marcus Aurelius before 170, it was first known as II Pia. M. Mommsen suggests that his first place of residence was Pannonia, where the war against the Marcomanni required large quantity troops. A little later he was appointed to garrison the province of Norik, which he occupied throughout the Empire. The inscriptions mentioning him there are very numerous. Two epitaphs of legionnaires are known II Italica, who died during the campaign in Dacia: unfortunately, the dating of these texts is uncertain.

The legion's camp, according to the Antoninus Guide, was in Lauriacus (Linz); Inscriptions and tiles with the stamp of the legion have been found throughout the province. At the time of the "Painting" it was divided into many parts, one stationed in Lavriak, another in Lentia, the third in Joviak, a separate detachment was in Africa.

He received, before 211, the nickname Pia Fidelis. On two inscriptions it has the name legio secunda Divitensium Italica, the exact meaning of which eludes us; it is probable, however, that some part of the legion was stationed at this era in Divitia (Deutz).

It is present on the coins of Gallienus.

Legio II Parthica. Symbol: Centaur.

This is the brainchild of Septimius Severus, like two others with the same name. Unlike all previous ones, it was established in Rome itself, on Mount Albano. Caracalla took part of it with him to Asia. He participated in various military conspiracies that led successively to the accession of Macrinus and Elagabalus to the throne. When he declared himself on the side of the latter, his seat was in Apamea. Returning to his camp in Albano, he remained there until the era of Constantine, however, taking part in various military campaigns outside Italy. Then he settled in the East. Under Julian, he camped in Mesopotamia, where he suffered a serious defeat at Singara. We find it again, in the era of the "Painting of Officials", in Cephes in Mesopotamia.

Already during the reign of Septimius Severus he bore the name Pia Fidelis Aeterna. His name appears on the coins of Gallienus (he bears the names on them V, VI And VII Pia, V, VI And VII Fidelis) and Karavzia.

Legio II Trajana. Symbol: Hercules.

Founded by Trajan after the XXX Ulpius Legion, around 108, when Legion III Cyrenaica was sent to Arabia. He was assigned to garrison duty in Egypt. We first find mention of him in an inscription dated February 5, 109. Almost immediately he was sent, or at least a subdivision of him, to reinforce the expeditionary army sent by Trajan against the Parthians. A few years later, under Hadrian, he took part in the war in Judea; then, perhaps, in the Parthian War of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Finally, in 213, Caracalla took him with him on a campaign against the Germans. He was, however, quite busy maintaining peace in Egypt and protecting the country from both external and internal enemies.

The legion's camp in the 2nd and 3rd centuries was in Alexandria. During the "Mural" era it was divided between many small camps: Parambolos and Upper Apollo are mentioned.

On inscriptions and papyri he bears the nickname Fortis(ισχυρά ): it can be read already on the inscription of 109, either it was received before this date for some feat, or it was given at the time of formation as a happy omen. He was also given the nickname Germanica, according to M. Tromsdorff, in connection with Caracalla’s war against the Germans in 214. As for the nickname Pia Fidelis, attributed to him on the Victorinus coins and never found in the inscriptions, it is completely unknown what it may be connected with.

His name appears on the coins Numeriana, Carina and Victorinus.

Legio III Augusta.

Legion III Augusta- Legion of Augustus. M. Mommsen considers it established by Caesar during the civil wars. During the reorganization of the imperial army, Octavian retained the three legions numbered III that were available at the time of his rise to power (III Augusta, III Cyrenaica, III Gallica), and distinguished them by different nicknames. In all likelihood, it was first located in Africa; there he remained until the death of Augustus; under Tiberius he fought fiercely with Tacfarinate. At the end of Nero's reign it was commanded by the legate Clodius Macrus. Under the influence of his respected leader, he rebelled against the central government, but after the violent death of Macra he returned to his duty. He participated in all the wars that took place in Africa during the first three centuries of our era. Some of the events most important to its history are known. When Vespasian was proclaimed emperor, the legate Valerius Festus, a relative of Vitellius, while outwardly remaining loyal to the latter, secretly went over to the side of the new contender. As soon as he learned of Vitellius's defeat at Cremona, he ordered the murder of the African proconsul Piso, punished the legionnaires whom he suspected of being loyal to Vitellius, and led his troops against the Garamantes. Under Domitian, the legion made a campaign against the Nasamoni. In 128, at the consulate of Torquatus and Libo, as a recently discovered inscription proves, Emperor Hadrian paid him a visit at Lambesa, who ordered him to carry out maneuvers in his presence; and on July 1, an honorary review took place, at which the emperor addressed him with a welcoming speech, famous to this day. During the 2nd century he sent separate detachments to various parts of the Roman world. Thus, he took part in the war of Lucius Verus against Vologeses and in the campaign of Marcus Aurelius against the Quadi and Marcomanni. When the African Septimius Severus came to power, the legion from Africa could not help but support its fellow countryman. It is very likely that the legion fought actively in the ranks of his army against Pescennius Niger; on the occasion of these events he received the title Pia Vindex, which he bears on monuments from 194 or 195. During the reign of Septimius Severus, simultaneously with the construction of huge public buildings in Lambesa and the rest of Africa, the ruins of which still exist today, he sent a separate unit on the Mesopotamian campaign. In 216, another unit took part in Caracalla's war against the Parthians and spoke in favor of Elagabalus, the conqueror of Macrinus. The revolution that Emperor Gordian made in state affairs did not affect the legion, however, he did not submit to the new state of affairs and sided with Maximin, Gordian's successful rival. When Maximin was eventually removed and replaced by Gordian III, the legion paid dearly for its behavior: it was disbanded and its name was removed from all monuments on which it had previously been engraved. The soldiers were transferred, no doubt, to the legions of Germany; they were among the troops collected at Raetia by Valerian; in order to arouse their zeal, they were promised a return to their former camp if they delivered Valerian from his rival Aemilian. The death of the latter, which happened in 253, led to the restoration of the legion: at the end of October it again took possession of the camp at Lambesa and his lands; he also returned his old nicknames, which can be found on one of the inscriptions: Legio III Aug. iterum Pia, iterum Vindex(“twice protector”). They were added, no one knows in what era, Constans And Perpetua; they also find a nickname Pia Fidelis starting with Diocletian. The last trace of his presence at the foot of Ores (modern eastern Algeria) is found on two stone monuments erected in honor of Emperor Maximian and Caesar Constantius. However, subsequently he still remained in Africa, which is confirmed by the mention in the “List of Officials” Tertioaugustani among the legions comitatenses under the command of the Commander of Africa.

In the 1st century his camp was in Tevesta (modern Tebesa). He abandoned this point during the Flavian era, or perhaps only under Trajan, and moved west to the area of ​​Henshela. Around 123, he settled on the western tip of Ores, in Lambeza, where the ruins of a monumental camp remained, extremely rich in all kinds of antiquities (see above, Fig. 4408).

Naturally, he sent separate units to all places where legionnaires were needed either for official needs or for the defense of the country.

Legio III Cyrenaica.

Belonged, no doubt, to the army of Lepidus and was then retained during the reorganization of the legions by Augustus. It got its name from the fact that it camped for a time in Cyrenaica, before settling in Egypt during the Augustan era. It is not known exactly where his camp was during this first period of his existence. Under Caligula he established himself in Alexandria, together with Legion XXII, from where he sent separate units to various points in the province. In 63, he pacified the rebel Jews in Alexandria, then helped Corbulo in his second campaign against the Parthians. Six years later, as soon as he had sworn an oath of allegiance to Vespasian, he had to send a detachment of 1,000 men under the command of Liternius Fronto and the prefect of Egypt, Titus Julius Alexander, to Judea, in the army of Titus. He distinguished himself during the siege of Jerusalem. He then returned to Egypt. 107/108 marked important events in the history of the legion. In 106 A. Cornelius Palma subjugated the regions of Bostra and Petra in Arabia; he needed to organize a permanent occupation of the new province: he sent Legion III there Cyrenaica. These events were certainly carried out after 107 or, at the earliest, at the end of that year, since on 4 August 107 Legion III was still in Alexandria. Bostra was assigned to him as a camp site. A little later (114-115) he sent a detachment to fight the Jewish uprising that had just broken out. When this military operation ended, it seems he was given the task of traveling with II Trajana to Mesopotamia on some kind of campaign. He had to provide other separate detachments: in 132, when the Jews rebelled again under Hadrian, perhaps under Antoninus Pius, during the great uprising of the Moors, probably also during the Marcomannic War. During the struggle between Septimius Severus and his rivals, the legion acted, like all legions of the East, against the former. Under Caracalla, he took part in the emperor's expedition against the Parthians. The "painting" shows us him still in Bostra.

A papyrus from the Fayum, dating from the third year of Nero's reign, gives Legion III its nickname Claudia.

Legio III Gallica. Symbol: Ox (Taurus).

This is Antony's legion with which he fought against the Parthians. Probably during this era he was assigned to garrison Syria. His history is completely unknown until 58, when he was called to serve under Corbulo in his campaign against the Armenians. He took part in the conquest of Artaxata and Tigranocerta and in other attacks that forced Tiridates to sue for peace. During the reign of Nero he moved to Moesia, but his rear units may have remained in Syria. There he distinguished himself against the Roxolans. When civil war broke out, he supported Otho and marched to his aid; however, he joined his troops in Aquileia only after the Battle of Bedriacum. Despite the defeat of their beloved emperor, the warriors of this legion could not decide to submit to Vitellius. Therefore, at the first news of the appearance of Vespasian, who was proclaimed emperor by the legions of the East, they unanimously welcomed him and decisively spoke out against his enemy, drawing with him all the troops of Moesia. Under the leadership of legate Dillius Aponianus, the legion set out on a campaign; at Cremona he occupied the right wing and made a significant contribution to the victory. One of his soldiers, G. Volusius, was the first to rush into the city. After the victory and death of Vitellius, he was sent to Capua, where he settled into winter quarters (Dec. 69). Mucianus, jealous of the power and influence of Arrius Varus, to whom the legion was especially devoted, sent him to Syria at the beginning of 70. He was there at the time when Pliny the Younger commanded it as a tribune. It is believed that under Hadrian he settled in Phenicia; he was permanently located there under Marcus Aurelius; he remained there afterwards.

Under Elagabalus, his legate, Verus or Severus, had claims to the imperial title and involved his soldiers in rebellion; he failed and was put to death. As for the legion, it was deleted from the lists of legions and its name was removed from the monuments. Part of his personnel was then exiled to Africa, where they were introduced into the III Augustov Legion. A few years later he was rehabilitated. He is found under Aurelian involved in the war against Zenobia and plundering the Temple of the Sun during the defeat of Palmyra. It seems that in the era of Licinius he sent a separate unit (vexillation) to Egypt, which acted together with a detachment from Legion I Illyrica.

The "List of Honorable Positions" (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) names the place for his camp as Danaba, between Damascus and Palmyra.

On one inscription from Spain he bears the nickname Felix. According to a recent discovery, his name appeared on Victorinus coins.

Legio III Italica. Symbol: Stork.

Created by Marcus Aurelius on the occasion of the war against the Marcomanni, between 166 and 170. At first he had the name III Concordia, just like the legion II Italica was called II Pia. He garrisoned Raetia: his camp was in Regina (Regensburg), from where he sent troops to the Danube border.

Very little is known about its history; one inscription shows us him returning from a campaign against the Boers; but neither the reason nor the date of this campaign are known. During the "Painting" era, it was divided into a certain number of parts under the command of prefects. Non-combatant units were transferred from Regina to Vallatum (Mansching), other units were stationed in Submuntorium, between Vimania and Cassiliac, in Cambidun (Kempten), in Vöthe and in Therioli (Tyrol).

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus and Gallienus.

Legio III Parthica.

Created by Septimius Severus simultaneously with two other legions with the same nickname (I and II) and stationed in Mesopotamia. His name is found on the coins of Sidon under Elagabalus and on coins from Resen under Alexander Severus and Decius Trajan. No details are known about this.

Following the assumption of M.O. Sika, at the time of the "Painting" he was camped at Apadna in Osroene.

Legio IIII Flavia. Symbol: Leo.

It replaced Legion IV Macedonica, abolished by Vespasian, and was stationed permanently in Upper Moesia. Some have thought, from the numerous inscriptions relating to this legion discovered in Pannonia, that it was first sent to that province. Apparently, he took part in Domitian’s war against the Sarmatians, perhaps in the campaign of this ruler against the Dacians and in the campaign of Marcus Aurelius against the Germans. Very little is known about its history. Throughout Moesia, especially in Viminatia (approx. Požarevac in Serbia) and Singidun (Belgrade) and even in Dacia, inscriptions and tiles bearing his name are found mentioning him. But it is impossible to indicate exactly where his camp was. It is possible that he was in Singidun. One of the divisions of the legion accompanied Emperor Diocletian in 295 on his campaign to Egypt.

He had a nickname Felix, which is already found on one of the inscriptions of Trajan’s reign.

In the era Notitia Dignitatum he was definitely in Singidun. His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus, Gallienus, Victorinus and Carausius.

Legio IIII Macedonica. Symbol: Ox, Capricorn.

The legion was formed, no doubt, by M. Brutus in Macedonia, which is why it received the nickname Macedonica. He participated in the Battle of Philippi. Augustus, before the reorganization of the army, sent him to Spain, where he left some traces of his presence. His camp must have been somewhere in the vicinity of Burgos. It was from there that he was sent to Mauretania to occupy that country after the death of Ptolemy. A little later, under Claudius, when the legions of Germany were weakened in order to strengthen the expeditionary force in Britain, the legion crossed to the Rhine border and settled in Mainz; there he was under Galba. He reluctantly recognized this emperor. It soon became clear that his subordination was purely external; he rebelled and tore the images of Galba from his badges. Having supported Vitellius, half of the legion, led by Caecina, went to Italy. It is unknown whether she took part in the Battle of Bedriac, but her presence is certain at Cremona, where she was defeated. She left her luggage on the battlefield: iron shackles of military chests abandoned during the retreat were found. The other half, remaining in Germany, left Mainz, led by Hordeonius Flaccus, to march against Civilis. Its history from then on coincides with the history of Legion I Germanica which is described above. She also recognized the Gallic Empire, then returned to her duty and participated in the last operations under the leadership of Petilius Cerial.

Vespasian, during the reorganization of the army, crossed him out of the lists of the legions.

Legio IIII Scythica.

It is unknown where Augustus stationed the IV Scythian Legion; some speculate that he was camped in Syria, but without sufficient evidence. We can only say that in 33-34 he was stationed in Moesia with the V Macedonian Legion, a detail confirmed by one of the Athenian inscriptions. In 62, he was in Syria, where he was part of the troops that Pet led against the Parthians. It is known how unsuccessful this campaign was. It was necessary to fight during the retreat, and the legion was withdrawn to Syria because parum habilis praelio videbatur("seemed insufficiently fit for battle") . During the Jewish revolt in 67, he was required to provide a detachment of 2,000 men, who went with the governor of Syria, Cestius, and was forced to participate in a shameful retreat. This new failure did nothing to improve his reputation; nevertheless, he was called by Trajan to campaign under his command against the Parthians. When the Jews rebelled again under Hadrian, he did not leave the country; his legate was entrusted with the administration of the province in the absence of the governor, Publicius Marcellus. Under Marcus Aurelius, the future emperor Septimius Severus was his legate. During the reign of Elagabalus, another of his legates, Gellius Maximus, rebelled against the ruler; but his enterprise failed and he was put to death. The name of the legion was not erased from the monuments as a result of this adventure, as happened with Legion III Gallica in a similar situation, probably because he did not take an active part in his leader's attempt. Nothing else is known about his history. Dion reports that in his time the legion's camp was in Syria, but does not indicate the exact location. During the "Mural" era, his seat was Oresa.

Legio V Alaudae("larks") .

Formed by Caesar during the Gallic War from the inhabitants of Transalpine Gaul, to whom he then gave Roman citizenship. He distinguished himself during the war in Africa and especially against Yuba's elephants, so Caesar gave him permission to depict an elephant on his badges. He also took part in the Battle of Munda. When the war ended, Caesar sent him with five other legions to Macedonia, where they were to wait for him to lead them against the Parthians. Then this legion went over to Anthony, whose side he took with all the ardor. From the time of the battle of Mutina until the time of Augustus he was encamped in Spain; this ruler sent him to Germany, where in 738 from the founding of Rome (16 BC) he lost his eagle in a campaign against the Germans. At the time of the death of this emperor his camp was at Vetera; he was one of the first to rebel. When the rebellion was pacified, Germanicus led it against the Germans. He also participated in other expeditions of Germanicus and in the campaign of L. Apronius in 28 against the Frisians: his behavior was remarkable. After Nero's death he recognized Galba, but reluctantly, and soon after that Vitellius. He went at once with his legate Fabius Valens to Italy, crossed Gaul with many incidents of every kind, and finally joined the army of Caecina. He fought at Bedriak, then came to Rome. He took part in the Battle of Cremona.

Non-combatant units of the legion remained in Germany, in Vetere. There the soldiers were besieged by Civil and forced to surrender; as a condition, they were forced to recognize the Gallic Empire, which they complied with. At this price they could leave the camp. But they had barely walked five miles when the Germans who served as their escort attacked them with threats. It is unknown what happened to the legion next. Some believe that he was crossed out by Vespasian from the army lists; others - that he disappeared as a result of a heavy defeat in 87 during the war with the Dacians, or in 92 in a campaign against the Sarmatians.

It is this legion that is designated on the inscriptions of the beginning of the Empire under the name legio V Gallica.

Legio V Macedonica. Symbol: Ox.

Probably formed by Brutus; took part in the battle of Philippi, where his nickname came from, like other legions Macedonicae. Augustus sent him to Moesia: in 33-34. he paved a strategic road through this country together with the IV Scythian Legion. Ten years later he took part in the operations that led to the transformation of Thrace into a Roman province. He remained in Europe until 62, when he was sent to Syria under the command of Caesennius Paetus, governor of Armenia; he was garrisoned in Pontus (in the north of Asia Minor). A little later, the war against the Jews began; The legion was sent to Alexandria and Titus received orders from Vespasian to lead him along with the X Legion to the battlefield. He successively stormed the cities of Gadara, Yotapata, Tarichia, Gamala and for three years waged continuous military operations against the Jews, right up to the establishment, together with other Roman troops, of the siege of Jerusalem. He played an important role in it: it was he who captured the tower of Anthony and thereby ensured the capture of the city. The epitaph of one of his centurions has reached us, who received military honors on this occasion. After this victory, the legion followed Titus to Egypt and even to the Euphrates, not without possibly leaving a separate detachment in their old camp at Emmaus. From there he returned to Moesia. We find him again engaged in a series of battles against the Dacians under Domitian, then again under Trajan; against the Parthians in the era of L. Verus and in the campaign under the command of M. Statius Priscus; finally, against the Marcomanni under Marcus Aurelius.

From Hadrian to Marcus Aurelius, the camp of the V Macedonian Legion was in Tresmis (on the lower Danube opposite modern Braila). There were found traces of his presence at just this time, inscriptions or bricks with a stamp. This is also indicated by laterculus legionum from the Vatican Museum. When Septimius Severus wanted to increase the garrisons of Dacia, the legion was transferred to Torda (Potaissa), where it remained for part of the 3rd century. After the province was abandoned under Aurelian, he returned to Lower Moesia. Antoninus's guide places his camp at Esca, which is confirmed by epigraphic inscriptions. At the time of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395), part of the legion was still occupied by Escus, other parts were in Cebrum, Varinian, Sucidava, not counting the detachment located in Egypt, in Memphis.

Various nicknames attributed to this legion are known: Pia, Pia Fidelis, Pia Constans; none of them predates the reign of Septimius Severus.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus and Gallienus. According to some authors, this legion is the same as V Urbana, present on the inscriptions of Atesta (modern Este, Venice province).

Legio VI Ferrata("Iron").

This is Antony's legion. He was always camped in Syria. After the death of Germanicus in 19, Piso, expelled from Syria, sent his friend Domitius Celer to calm the minds of the soldiers. He considered himself obliged to win over the camp of this legion to his side, but was warned by the legate Pacuvius, who was able to keep the legion in obedience. Piso retreated to a small fortress in Cilicia, where a legate from Syria defeated him: Legion VI Ferrata was part of the expeditionary forces. Only in 59 there is a new mention of this legion. At this time, Corbulo opposed the Armenians and Parthians. During this period, the history of the legion coincides with the history of III Gallica. When peace came, he did not enjoy the rest for long. The year 67 was marked by a terrible uprising of the Jews; squad from Legion VI Ferrata became part of the army of Cestius; his legate was killed during the defeat of this general. After Vespasian's speech, he went with Mucian to Italy; but the fate of the Empire was decided at Cremona before he reached his destination. At this time the Dacians took advantage of the civil war to threaten the borders, he was tasked with containing them, and his firmness forced his enemies to respect the interests of Rome. After this, he rejoined his rear units in Syria. In the fourth year of Vespasian's reign, Caesennius Petus led him to Commagene and subjugated this country with his forces. During the era of Trajan, he took part in the campaign of this emperor against the Parthians. In 145/150 he sent a separate detachment (vexillation) to Africa to support the army of Mauretania, which was constrained by the rebel Moors and which was unable to resist them. Finally, he fought against the Armenians and Parthians under Marcus Aurelius and L. Vera.

It is not known exactly where his camp was located: at the beginning of the Empire they were called Raphanei or Apamea. It is possible that after the Second Jewish War he settled in Palestine. That's where they put him laterculus legionum Vatican, epigraphic text and historian Dion. M. von Rochden dates this movement to the period 109/140.

This is where the history of the legion ends: The list of honorary positions (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) no longer speaks of it.

He had a nickname Fidelis Constans, which appears in the inscriptions.

Legio VI Victrix("Victorious"). Symbol: Ox.

He belonged to Caesar's army, then served in the army of the triumvirs and took part in the Battle of Philippi, hence his nickname Macedonica, which he wore for some time. During the reorganization of the army under Augustus, the legion received the nickname from him Victrix. It was located in Spain: in 749 from the founding of Rome (5 BC) centuriones leg VI ex Hispania honored one of their tribunes with an inscription. The legion remained there until the time of Nero: in 66 he took part in the war against the Asturs. Several Spanish inscriptions date from this era. M. Hübner thinks that his camp was perhaps near Asturica. This was the first legion to recognize Galba as emperor: he did not, however, take him with him to Italy. When Vitellius was victorious, the legion immediately sided with Vespasian along with the other Spanish legions. A short time later, when the war between Civilis and the Romans began, he was called to Germany to help the army of Petilius Cerial and fought in the Battle of Vetera, which decided the outcome of events.

When peace came again, he remained in Germany, in that very Wind; Inscriptions mentioning him found in Germany date back to this period. Under Hadrian he moved to Britain, where he replaced Legion IX Hispana, destroyed by the Brigantes: he remained there throughout the entire period of the Empire, taking part in campaigns against the Britons on the island and on the continent. His camp was at Eburak (modern York), as we are told by Ptolemy, the Antoninus Guide and numerous inscriptions or stamped tiles. At the time of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) he was still in England.

He had a nickname Pia Fidelis at least since the time of Trajan. It is believed that he owed this honor to the loyalty he showed during the rebellion of Antony Saturninus in 89. It is possible that he bore, during and because of his stay in Spain, the nickname Hispana, which can be read on the bricks.

Legio VII Claudia. Symbol: Ox.

This is another of the legions that took part in the Battle of Philippi and received the nickname as a result Macedonica. He wears it on several inscriptions predating the reign of Claudius. During this era his camp was in Illyricum. When in 42 A.D. Furius Camillus Scribonianus, proconsul of Dalmatia, rebelled against the emperor at the instigation of Annius Vinician, he wanted to secure the support of the VII and IX legions under his command. Their obedience to their superior lasted only four days; on the fifth they returned to their duty and killed the rebel governor. To reward them, Claudius gave them the nickname Claudia Pia Fidelis.

We have several inscriptions relating to the stay of this legion in Dalmatia, which, however, do not tell us anything about the history of this unit. Perhaps he was sent to Moesia by Nero during the preparation of his campaign against the Albanians. In any case, he was in this country in 69. When Galba died, the legion, which was on the side of Otho, sent 2000 people to support him. They arrived too late to participate in the Battle of Bedriak. Its subsequent fate is the same as that of Legion III Gallica(described above); he earned honors for his participation in the Battle of Cremona. No details are known about its later history. The authors and inscriptions are almost silent. They only know that in the era of Diocletian he sent a separate detachment to Egypt with the emperor (295).

His camp was in Viminacia (c. modern Pozarevac in Serbia). At the time of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395), one of the legion's prefectures was still located there, the other in Cuppi.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus, Gallienus and Carausius.

Legio VII Gemina("Gemini").

When Galba entered the fight with Nero, he had only one Legion VI in Spain Victrix. Therefore, wishing to increase his troops, he recruited another legion in this country, the VIIth, which for this reason is sometimes called Galbiana. The day of its creation is precisely known: January 11, 68. It is not known why it bears the name Gemina, perhaps because it was formed by the merger of two already existing divisions. For some time he was in Pannonia. It was from there that, on the orders of Otho, he headed to Italy. He took part in the Battle of Bedriak, then returned to Pannonia. There he sided with Vespasian and soon returned to hostilities. He took part in the Battle of Cremona, where he showed the greatest courage. He did not return to Pannonia, crossing instead to Spain. There he was to remain until the end of the Empire. He only occasionally fought outside this country. We find it, however, in Germany in the reign of Hadrian; in the same era, his separate detachment (vexillation) made a campaign in Britain; finally, he seems to have sent a detachment to Numidia, it is unknown, in any year, or on any occasion.

It is unknown where his camp was located at the time of its creation. Since the time of Vespasian it has definitely occupied a place in Asturias, whose name comes from the word Legio(modern Leon). The oldest find found there relating to this legion dates back to Nerva. In 172 he was sent for some time to Italica, at least the main part of him; this movement was caused by the invasions of the Moors, which made necessary the occupation of the territories adjacent to the Tingitan region; but when the danger was over, he returned entirely to his old camp. The list of honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) still places one of the legion's prefectures there. The other was in the East. In addition, there are questions Septimani seniors, who belonged, perhaps, to the same troops, and of which some were in Spain, others in the Tingitan region.

Under Vespasian the legion received the nickname Felix, we don’t know for what reason; starting with Caracalla, he is given a nickname on monuments Gemina Pia Felix("Gemini Pious Happy"). In one rhyming inscription he is called legio Hibera.

Legio VIII Augusta.. Symbol: Ox.

No doubt one of Caesar's legions; it is known from one medallion that in 723 from the founding of Rome (31 BC) he occupied Cyrenaica under the command of Pinarius Carpus; from there he crossed into Syria, where his veterans settled in Beirut. It seems that during this era he bore the nickname Gallica. Under Augustus, after a short stay in Dalmatia, he established himself in Pannonia, in Petovia (modern Ptuj in Slovenia). He was among the legions that rebelled after the death of Augustus; but he was the first to return to his duties. His unit was sent to Britain under Emperor Claudius with the task of facilitating the conquest of the island. By 46 he was transferred to Moesia to take part in the struggle that ended with the transformation of Thrace into a Roman province. For these achievements he received the title bis Augusta("twice Augustov"). He was still in Moesia under Otho. Sent to Italy with two other legions from Moesia, III Gallica and VII Claudia, he arrived too late to take part in the Battle of Bedriak. He joined Otho's forces only after his defeat, at Aquileia. The news of Otho's death brought such excitement to the soldiers of this legion that they immediately spoke out for Vespasian and wrote a letter to the legions of Pannonia to follow their example. Moreover, they came under the command of Anthony Prima and took part in the Battle of Cremona and in the assault on the city. The legion did not return to Moesia: Mucian placed it in 70 in Upper Germany. At first, he occupied only those positions in Gaul that allowed him to control the cities that submitted to the Gallic empire; only later, when Gaul was pacified, did he occupy a camp at Strasbourg. Part of the legion took part in Hadrian's campaign in Britain and in the wars that marked the rise to power of Septimius Severus. The legion is mentioned on the coins of Septimius Severus, Carausius and Gallienus. It is believed that around 185 he received the nickname Pia Fidelis. One of the inscriptions from the time of Septimius Severus gives him names Pia Fidelis Constans Commoda.

The list of honorary positions (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) names Octavani Palatine Legion of Italy.

Legio IX Hispana.

A legion possibly formed by Caesar and, in any case, present at the Battle of Philippi, hence its original nickname Macedonica.

He also had a nickname Triumphalis, reminiscent of the triumphal entry of the triumvirs into Rome in 43. He subsequently took the title Hispaniensis or Hispana, which has become a permanent epithet. Under Augustus he was in Pannonia with the legions VIII and XV; After the death of this ruler, he rebelled, like others: all the details of this rebellion are known. In 20, Africa was torn apart by the Takfarinat uprising and the fight against it required the hasty dispatch of reinforcements: Legion IX Hispana went there from Pannonia. He remained there for four years and returned to his province in 24, however, before the war in Africa was over. He probably did not remain there long and, under Claudius, was sent to Britain. There, in 61, he took part in a campaign against the Britons and was completely defeated, so that his staff had to be replenished with 2,000 legionnaires borrowed from the troops in Germany. In 69 he provided reinforcements to Vitellius's army; he was defeated along with other supporters of this emperor at Cremona. Under Domitian vexillarii The legion took part in the German campaign, either in the war of 83 against the Chatti, or in the campaign against the Suevi and Sarmatians in 88. It disappeared at the beginning of the reign of Hadrian, exterminated by the Brigantes.

His camp may have been first near Calleva (modern Silchester) and then at Linda (modern Lincoln); under Agricola, he settled in the new capital of the province, Eburak (modern York), where he remained until his disappearance.

Legio X Fretensis. Symbol: Bull, boar (galley).

According to Mommsen, he fought in the Sicilian War against Sextus Pompey and received his name Fretensis from the fact that his camp was located on the coast for many years Fretum Siculum: This is why some of the carved monuments belonging to this legion bear the image of Neptune or a galley. Under Augustus he was sent to Syria. Under Tiberius, in 18, his camp was in Cyrrhus. Until 59, its history coincides with the history of VI Ferrata legion. This year Corbulo led him against the Parthians and Armenians, from where he returned to Kirra. After suppressing the Jewish uprising in Alexandria, uniting with Legion V Macedonica, he had to measure his strength with them again in their own country, Judea. And in fact, Titus took him in 67 to his father Vespasian; Trajan, the future emperor, was then legate of the legion. He took part in most of the significant operations of this war (the capture of Jaffa, Tiberias, Tarichaea, Gamala), until Titus led him to besiege Jerusalem; he pitched his camp on the Mount of Olives. He began by retreating twice before Jewish attacks; but he soon recovered and showed conspicuous valor in the assault on that city. Several of his officers, and especially his legate Larcius Lepidus, received military insignia as a result of this war. When the siege ended, the legion remained encamped at the gates of Jerusalem. From there he carried out several more operations, under the command of Lucilius Bassus against the city of Machera and under the command of Flavius ​​Silva against Masada. But his place of permanent deployment always remained Jerusalem, as evidenced by bricks with his stamp found in the vicinity of this city, and inscriptions of the 2nd and 3rd centuries from there. It was from Judea that a detachment of this legion headed, during the reign of Trajan, against the Parthians. Naturally, he took a large part in Emperor Hadrian's war against the Jews; on one of the inscriptions the name of one of his centurions, who received honorary awards as a result of the victory, has reached us.

Dio Cassius places it in Palestine. He was still there at the time of the List of Honorable Offices (Notitia Dignitatum, 395); his camp was at Ayla (Eilat, on the Red Sea).

His name appears on Victorinus coins.

Legio X Gemina("Gemini"). Symbol: Ox.

A legion which may have been Caesar's X Legion, but which, in any case, belonged to the army of Lepidus or Antony, although it is impossible to determine which of them it served. Its nickname suggests that it was formed by the merger of two legions into one.

At the time of its reorganization under Augustus it was located in Spain, where it remained for a century. In 69, according to Tacitus, he was almost sent to Mauretania to fight the uprising of the procurator Lucceus Albinus; but the death of this governor made his intervention unnecessary. After the battle of Cremona, he, like the other legions of Spain, immediately recognized Vespasian. The exact place where he was throughout this period is unknown; perhaps he shared the same camp with Legion VI Victrix. In 70 he was called to Germany to serve under the command of Cerialus and was stationed in Lower Germany. There his name appears on inscriptions dating from the late 1st or early 2nd century. It seems that his camp was first at Arenac (modern Arnhem); but soon moved to Noviomag (modern Nijmegen, Netherlands), where it replaced the II Legion. Numerous evidence of his presence, inscriptions and stamped bricks were found there. Apart from his participation in the battles led by Cerial, it is impossible to say that during his stay in Germany he took part in any campaigns on the Rhine frontier or elsewhere. During Trajan's Dacian Wars he was still in this province. From there he moved to Pannonia, under Trajan, and settled in a camp in Vindobona (modern Vienna), left by the XIII Legion Gemina. He remained there until the end of the Empire. From there he sent troops to the Parthian War L. Vera in Asia and to the war with the Marcomanni. He later defended Gallienus' position. It is also known that he behaved valiantly during the Gothic War of Emperor Claudius.

The List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) shows us Legion X Gemina divided into three parts: rear units in Vindobona, liburnarii(ship soldiers) in Arrabona and the detachment that became legio comitatensis, in the East.

This legion received the nickname Pia Fidelis as a reward for loyalty shown during the rebellion of Antony Saturninus in 89.

His name does not appear on the coins of Septimius Severus; M. Ritterling believes, however, that he was among the first to welcome the new emperor and fight for him: this lack of documentary evidence is just an accident.

Legio XI Claudia. Symbol: Neptune.

Recruited by Caesar for the war against the Gauls; he takes part in the civil war, then joins Octavian's army. After Action, his veterans settled in Ateste (modern Este).

Under the first emperors it stood in Dalmatia. His camp was in Burna, but separate detachments were located throughout the country. At first he sent part of his troops to help Otho, and soon the whole army came to him; it is believed, although Tacitus does not say this, that he took part in the battle of Bedriacus. After this defeat, he returned to his province to join Vespasian's party and again set out on a campaign in Italy. He was sent to Germany to confront Civilis and his Batavians. Then or a little later he settled in a camp in Vindonissa (modern Vindisch in northern Switzerland). He was still in Germany during the era of Trajan. Probably in connection with the Dacian Wars, he received an order to move to the Danube. He left traces of his stay in Brigetia, Carnuntum and Aquincus. In 155, under Antoninus Pius, he settled in Upper Moesia. His camp, as M. Mommsen says, was already in this era in Durostor (modern Ruse in Bulgaria), where the Antonine Guide places him. It does not appear that he took part in many campaigns outside this province. However, his name is present, next to the name of Legion V Macedonica, on one inscription found near Jerusalem; The date of this monument has not been established. It also seems that he sent a separate detachment to Mauretania in a difficult era, perhaps quite late. Finally, in 295, under Diocletian, he took part in that emperor’s campaign in Egypt.

At the time of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) the legion was still encamped at Durostor; in addition, his troops were in Transmarica, some in the East (Palatine Legion) and in Spain.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus and Gallienus.

He got a nickname Claudia Pia Fidelis, no doubt, from Claudius in 42, on the occasion of the revolt of Camillus Scribonian, which he did not want to support.

Legio XII Fulminata("Fulminant").

It is unknown where this legion was in the era of Augustus. Grotefend and Style place him in the provinces of Syria, with very great plausibility. Borghesi places it in Germany; Pfitzner is in Egypt. In any case, it is more than likely that he has been there for a very long time. In 62, he fought with Corbulo on the Euphrates, but in the same year this commander sent him to Syria as unable to serve. A little later, a Jewish uprising broke out; Cestius Gallus, the legate of Syria, gave him orders to go with him against the rebels. It is known that the expedition began with success and ended in disaster. The legion's reputation was so bad that Vespasian did not use it when he in turn began his war against the Jews: he remained quietly in his camp at Raphanea. Only when Titus took command of the troops and felt the need to increase the expeditionary army did he turn to the XII Legion, “impatient,” says Josephus, “to avenge the shame it had suffered under Cestius.” We know very little about his role during the siege of Jerusalem. After the capture of the city, he received a new assignment: Titus sent him to Melitene, on the Euphrates. It was from there that he went on a campaign against the Alans under Hadrian and against the Quads under Marcus Aurelius, if you believe the story of Xyphilinus. It is known how much the question “about the miracle of the Lightning Legion” divided and still divides scientists. He remained on the banks of the Euphrates during the time of Dion, during the era of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) and until Justinian.

Nickname Fulminata(in Greek Κεραυνοφόρος ) was given to this legion a very long time ago, definitely before the year 65. On one inscription from the beginning of the 3rd century one can read the nickname Certa Constans.

Legio XIII Gemina("Gemini"). Symbol: Leo.

According to M. Mommsen, it was created by Augustus in 759 from the founding of Rome (6 AD), as well as 7 other legions with numbers from XIII to XX, on the occasion of the war in Pannonia. Name Gemina indicates the merging of two or many legions into one. According to M. Schulze, it dates back, like Legion XIV, to 739 from the founding of Rome = 15 BC, and its task was the defense of Germany.

At first his camp was at Mainz; then, a few years after the campaign in Britain, he moved to Vindonissa (about 50). Later, it is unknown in what era, the legion moved to Pannonia. It was from there that he went to the aid of Otho against Vitellius, under the command of his legate Vedius Aquila. Defeated at the Battle of Bedriac, it was used to build amphitheaters in Cremona and Bononia. As soon as he returned to Pannonia, he again moved to Italy to support Vespasian, and contributed to the victory at Cremona. From there he returned to Pannonia. His camp, according to Tacitus, was located in Petovia during this era. The inscriptions confirm this statement.

In 84 he took part in Domitian's war against the Suevi and Sarmatians. On this occasion, according to M. Schulze, his camp was moved to Vindobona (modern Vienna), where it remained until the era of Trajan. At this time, the legion moved from Pannonia to Dacia. When hostilities began against Decebalus, the emperor gave him the order to set out on a campaign; after the victory, he remained in the conquered country and occupied Apul on Marisia (c. modern Alba Iulia on the Mures River). In this and in many other places in Dacia, traces of his passage or stay have been found. After the loss of Dacia, he moved to the right bank of the Danube and settled in an area called Dacia Ripensis. In the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) he is found distributed among the various small camps, Egeta, Transdrobeta, Burgum Novum, Zerni, Ratiaria. Another detachment of the legion was in Egypt, another in Thrace.

It is impossible to determine the time when he received the nickname Pia Fidelis; it appears on inscriptions from Hadrian onwards, perhaps even earlier on stamped bricks.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus, Gallienus and Victorinus.

Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix("Gemini Mars Victorious"). Symbol: Capricorn.

This is another legion created by Augustus. Under this ruler he camped in Upper Germany. In the time of Claudius, in 43, he was transferred to Britain; There he distinguished himself in 62 under the command of Suetonius Paulinus. Thanks to this campaign, his reputation was such that Nero, while preparing a campaign against Albani chose him to be included in his expeditionary force. So he came to the continent. At the moment when Otho armed himself against Vitellius, he was in Dalmatia: Otho called him to Italy. He took part in the Battle of Bedriak. But, although defeated, he did not want to submit to the new emperor without second thoughts, and he sent him to Britain. His return was marked by serious strife with the Batavian cohorts assigned to him. Naturally, he ardently joined the party of Vespasian, who wrote him a letter to ensure his loyalty. In 70 he again crossed into Gaul to increase the forces of Petilius Cerial; he fought at Vetera and made a significant contribution to the success of the battle. The very next day he received orders to gain a foothold in Upper Germany. His first quarters in Britain were in Camulodunum (modern Colchester), and in Germany he settled in Mainz. From there he moved to Upper Pannonia at the end of the 1st century, or, according to others, in connection with the Dacian Wars, and took up camp at Carnunt (opposite modern Bratislava), where he remained throughout the Empire. By mistake, Ptolemy placed him in ad Flexum. It seems that he was not often called upon to participate in foreign wars: Only one text mentions one of his soldiers dying Patria, in bello, no doubt, in the era of Caracalla. But he was to act more than once against the barbarians on the Danube. One of his legates received military insignia in connection with the war against the Marcomanni, in 180.

During the era of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum), his camp was in Carnunt and a separate detachment in Arrabon (c. modern Győr); part of the legion was in the East ( legio comitatensis).

He bears the name on monuments Martia Victrix, which he received, no doubt, for his successes in Britain in 62.

His name appears on the coins of Septimius Severus (Fig. 4435) and Victorinus.

Rice. 4435 – coin of Septimius Severus

Legio XV Apollinaris.

Created by Augustus, probably in 759 from the founding of Rome (6 AD), on the occasion of the war in Pannonia. After his death he camped in Pannonia with the Legions VIII Augusta and IX Hispana and rebelled with them. It is not known where exactly the place of his camp was: some think that in Emona (modern Ljubljana), where very old inscriptions relating to this legion were found; others, with much greater grounds, that in Carnunt. In 63, Marius Celsus led him to the East to participate in the war that Corbulo was preparing against the Parthians. In 67, under the leadership of Titus, it was directed against the Jews. In this war he played a significant role: he captured Yotopata, took Gamala by storm and participated in the siege of Jerusalem. When the war was over, he accompanied Titus to Alexandria and returned with him to Pannonia; on this occasion a camp was rebuilt for him at Carnunt. However, he did not stay there long; he returned to the East, probably on the occasion of Trajan's Parthian War; under Hadrian he formed, with Legion XII Fulminata, a garrison of Cappadocia, his camp being in Sattal. During the era of Hadrian he fought against the Alans, under Commodus - against the Armenians. He must have supported Pescennius Niger against Septimius Severus, like the other legions of the East, since he is absent from the coins of the latter. At the time of the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) he still occupied his camp at Sattal.

On an inscription dating back to the time of Septimius Severus and Caracalla, he bears the name Pia Fidelis. It is unknown at what exact time it was received.

Legio XV Primigenia("First Born") .

Created by Claudius to replace the Legions of the Rhine, which formed the army of occupation that held newly conquered Britain. His name refers to the creation through the bifurcation of the Legion XV Apollinaris, which at this point received a new eagle, while retaining the previous name of the legion. When Nero died, he was in Lower Germany. On the Kalends of January 69, he, like the other troops of Germania Inferior, reluctantly recognized Galba, but soon after came out in favor of Vitellius. Half the legion went to Italy with Fabius Valens; She shared the fate of Vitellius’s other troops at Bedriac and Cremona. The other half, remaining in Germany with Legion V Alaudae, was involved in the fighting against Civilis and suffered the same fate. The legion disappeared during Vespasian's reorganization of the army.

Legio XVI Flavia.

Instead of Legion XVI Gallica Vespasian created legio XVI Flavia. He probably immediately sent him to Cappadocia. The legion took part in Trajan's Parthian War. Later he moved to Syria, as evidenced by the place he occupies on the Maffaean Pillar, the testimony of Dion and the inscriptions. The location of his camp in this province is unknown.

The list of honorary offices (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) reports that by the beginning of the 5th century he was in Sura, in Syria Eufratensis

On several inscriptions the legion bears the title Flavia Firma; it appears on documents from the time of Emperor Trajan. One of the texts from the times of Antoninus Pius calls him Flavia Fidelis.

Legio XVI Gallica

The legion, which was established under Augustus in Upper Germany and was stationed in Mainz. In 69, on the contrary, he had occupied Germania Inferior, perhaps since the reign of Claudius, when he exchanged places with Legion XXI Rapax. On the Kalends of January 69, he took the oath to Galba, but soon went over to the side of Vitellius. Most of the legion went with this emperor to Italy. She fought alongside his supporters at Bedriac, but was then defeated at Cremona by Vespasian's army. The remaining troops remaining in Germany were camped in Novesia (modern Neuss). By order of Vocula they marched against Civilis, to whom they soon surrendered; but, overcome by remorse, they took refuge with the Mediomatriki, where they were reunited with Cerial. They took part in the Battle of Trier and were shamefully defeated there. Vespasian removed this legion from the army lists during the reorganization of 70.

On one inscription he bears the nickname Gallica; everywhere else it is designated only by its number.

Legio XVII, XVIII, XIX.

Legions that died during the defeat of Var. Nothing is known about them except that, as a reminder of this misfortune, their numbers were permanently removed from the series of legion numbers. During the time of Augustus their camps were in Lower Germany. The XVII Legion is not mentioned anywhere else; The XVIII Legion is known from three inscriptions, one of which comes from a camp in Vetere; The XIX Legion is mentioned by Tacitus.

Legio XX Valeria Victrix. Symbol: Boar.

Organized during the Pannonian War and finally formed by Tiberius. In 6 AD he was in Illyricum. There, under the command of Valery Messalin, he was first defeated, but then carried out a terrible massacre of his enemies. Messalin received consular honors on this occasion. After the defeat of Varus, he was sent to Lower Germany, where he was at the time of the death of Augustus in a camp in the Altars of Murder (Ara Ubiorum, Slavic Cologne). He took part in the uprising of the Rhine legions and then in the campaigns of Germanicus against the Germans. Under Claudius he received orders to cross to Britain. There he fought successfully in 60 under the command of Suetonius Paulinus. In 69, he sent a detachment to Vitellius, like other legions of Britain, took part in the Battle of Cremona and was defeated there. After the battle he returned to the rear of his legion in Britain. The XX Legion remained in this country until the end of the Empire. His first camp, no doubt, was at Chester; they definitely find him there, along with II Adjutrix, in the time of the Flavians, and from the beginning of the 2nd century he occupied this camp alone. Ptolemy places it there, as well as the Antoninus Guide, and a certain number of inscriptions relating to this legion are found there. Naturally, it was used in all kinds of work on vallum and in the provinces. When Gallienus strengthened the garrisons of the Rhine to resist the Germans, troops from the legions of Britain were sent to Gaul. The soldiers of the XX Legion were sent to the camp in Mainz. This explains why it appears on Gallienus's coins.

He had names Valeria Victrix.M. Domaszewski believes that the first of them was nothing more than a Latin translation of the Sabine name Nero, the family name of Tiberius ("Tiberius Claudius Nero"), as the true founder of the legion; others see in these two epithets honorary nicknames assigned to the legion as a result of its victories in Illyricum.

This legion is present on Victorinus coins. It is noteworthy that it is not found on the coins of Karausius.

The list of honorary positions (Notitia Dignitatum, 395) does not mention this military unit.

Legio XXI Rapax("Swift") . Symbol: Capricorn.

Legion formed by Augustus following the defeat of Varus. At the time of the death of this ruler, he was camped in Vetere (c. modern Xanten). He was at the head of the military uprising that broke out at that time and which I have already often mentioned. Then he took part in Germanicus's campaigns in Germany. When Nero died, he was located at Vindonissa in Upper Germany (modern Windisch in Switzerland). He followed Vitellius to Italy and fought at Bedriac. Defeated at Cremona, he returned to his camp, but then almost immediately set out on a campaign against Civilis. It was thanks to his valor that the Romans were victorious at Trier and were able to defeat the uprising. After this brilliant victory he remained on the Rhine and was stationed in Mainz. We don't know what happened to him then. It definitely no longer existed at the time it was engraved. laterculus legionum Vatican Museum; some place his disappearance in 89 and associate it with the uprising of Antony Saturninus, others with the war against the Sarmatians in 92, and finally, others are of the opinion that he was deleted from the army lists during the reign of Trajan or even at the beginning of the reign of Hadrian, but cannot explain the reason for this disfavor.

Nickname Rapax(“unstoppable”) was given to him because of his courage and zeal in battle.

Legio XXII Dejotariana.

This legion was first formed, it seems, by the tetrarch of Galatia, Deiotarus, in imitation of the Roman troops. When Galatia became a Roman province in 25 BC, it was not dissolved and continued to exist as an auxiliary unit; after the defeat of Varus and the death of the troops under his command, he was inscribed with number XXII in the list of imperial legions. At first he had no nickname; however, there was no need for it until it was divided in two under Claudius and the creation of the legion XXII Primigenia. Nickname Dejotariana It was officially assigned to him only during the reign of Trajan.

Augustus placed him in Egypt, in Alexandria. Like III Cyrenaica, he took part in suppressing the rebellion of the Jews under Nero; in 63 he provided a contingent for Corbulo's campaign against the Parthians; he was the first to recognize Vespasian; then he sent a detachment of 1000 people with Titus Julius Alexander to the siege of Jerusalem, where he distinguished himself. He disappeared from the army lists at the beginning of the 2nd century during Trajan's Parthian War, according to some, or during Hadrian's campaign against the Jews, according to others, who seem to be right. It is known that this struggle was difficult and cost the Romans great losses: Avo vestro Hadriano imperium obtinente, says Frontin, quantum militum a Judaeis caesum. He may have been identified on one inscription by the name XXII Cyrenaica.

Legio XXII Primigenia. Symbol: Capricorn.

Created by Claudius as a result of the conquest of Britain and by dividing the legion in two Dejotariana. He was sent to Upper Germany to replace another legion intended to occupy the newly subjugated island. His camp was in Mainz. On the Kalends of January 69, he did not want to take the oath to Galba, but only to the Senate and the Roman people. Two days later he greeted Emperor Vitellius and half of his personnel went with Caecina to Italy. This part of the legion shared the fate and final defeat of Vitellius' troops. The other half, remaining in Germany, led by Gordeonius Flaccus against the rebellious Civilis. First she relieved the siege of Mainz, then, after the death of her legate Vocula, she recognized the Gallic Empire; but she soon returned to fulfill her duty and helped Petilius Cerial turn the tide of the fight against the rebels in her favor. She then returned to Mainz, where the legion remained throughout the Empire; there are innumerable inscriptions relating to these troops, found either in the camp at Mainz, or on the limes (fortified border), or in other places. Some of them even provide information about the history of the legion. From them it is clear that he sent a separate detachment to Britain in the era of Hadrian, where there are traces of his stay in Ambloglann, on vallum this emperor. When Septimius Severus ascended the throne, he took the side of this new sovereign and set out on a campaign against his rivals. After the defeat of Albinus, he returned to his camp, but was almost immediately called upon to defend Trier, which was besieged by the enemy. It is possible that he also took part in Caracalla’s campaign against the Germans. During the reign of Gordian, part of the legion, together with auxiliary troops and separate detachments of other legions, was no doubt sent to Africa to replace the disbanded Legion III Augusta.

He owes his nickname Pia Fidelis loyalty, proven during the revolt of Antony Saturninus in 89.

His name appears on the coins of Gallienus, Victorinus and Carausius.

Legio XXX Ulpia. Symbol: Neptune; Capricorn.

Created by Trajan at the beginning of his reign, perhaps in 98, it was first camped, it is believed, in Pannonia, then moved to Inferior Germany due to the disappearance of Legion IX Hispana, about 120. During the Ptolemaic era he occupied a camp at Vetera, where numerous traces of his presence have been discovered. Without a doubt, he took part in Trajan's Dacian War, and certainly in the war of Septimius Severus against his rivals, which explains the presence of the name of this legion on the coins of Septimius Severus; and, much later, in the campaign of Constantine II against Shapur.

He maintained his camp at Vetera throughout the Empire. He is found in the List of Honors (Notitia Dignitatum) among the legions pseudocomitatenses Gaul.

He had a nickname Victrix, received, no doubt, for the successes achieved in the Dacian War; nickname Pia Fidelis, assigned to him on some inscriptions of the 3rd century, was granted by Septimius Severus.

His name appears on the coins of not only Septimius Severus, but also Gallienus, Victorinus and Carausius.

In order to be able to capture at a glance the changes that occurred in the number of legions from Augustus to Diocletian, the formation and dissolution of individual legions made by the emperors of the first three centuries, I have compiled the above table.

Publication:
Le Dictionnaire des Antiquités Grecques et Romaines de Daremberg et Saglio, Tome 3, vol. 2, pp. 1047-1093; XLegio © 2001

Legion It was the main tactical unit and the largest of the Roman army, consisting mainly of ciężkozbrojnej infantry. The name literally means "consumption". In the initial period of the Roman Empire, it meant a whole legion of an army, which was assigned to all people under arms. For many centuries, legions could only be used by Roman citizens, but with the development of the empire, people began to act not fully zromanizowanych. Lehi, because he also accepted the installation of this unit was modernized several times in different times Roman state.

Monarchy period

The Roman army of the early period of the kingdom was very close to the Greek army in terms of effectiveness and armament. The fighting style was similar, as they often used phalanxes. However, the clear weakness of hoplite formation forced the Romans to look for new solutions. Changes happened gradually. He began to expose the legion a year, which was the entire army of the state. The legion included light infantry and cavalry, whose role was later replaced by Allied troops.

The original Roman army consisted of landowners. Roman population divided into three Tribus, Aims for issue 3000 (1000 from each Tribus) Hikers ( peditates), supplemented by a branch of 300 riders (100 of each Tribus.) Each division that is registered in Tribus divided into 10 centuries by 100 military personnel. So the legion at the beginning of the monarchy had 3,300 troops (3,000 infantry and 300 cavalry). Infantry commander tribunus militum While driving tribunus celerum.

However, it looked aimed at increasing the combat power of Rome. According to legend, carried out a major reform by the king of Rome, Servius Tullius in the sixth century BC, he made the distribution of the population of Rome into 5 classes of property. The first class was equipped with a spear, sword, helmet, armor, and a round shield ( Clipeus), The second and third have weaker armor than the first, the fourth could not have armor, just a small shield, spear and javelin are enough, the fifth and last class of fuel branches. The Roman army had hitherto consisted of only one legion, but their number had doubled. The infantry consisted of 6,000 men, divided into 60 centuries. The Ride of Rome was set at 600 horsemen, divided over six centuries. But in order to increase the number of Servius Tullius horsemen, it was decided to add 1200 additional horsemen to the formation. The cavalry legion was 1,800 men, divided into 60 small units turmae, 30 riders each. In conclusion, at the end of the monarchy, the Roman legion consisted of 7,800 soldiers (6,000 infantry and 1,800 cavalry).

Early Republic period

With the establishment of the republic to reform the Roman army, but not yet adapted to jednowładztwa. 2 consuls are appointed by the state, and responsibility for guarding the border requires two separate armies. For this purpose the current one legion was divided into two, where each was appointed one of two consuls. Having only two legions allowed the consuls in the fourth century BC to conduct modest but effective military operations in areas not too far from the capital. But with the beginning of the expansion of the Apennine Peninsula at the beginning of the fourth century BC, it was decided to increase the consular armies by two legions. During this campaign, the legions were also further strengthening the dishes that the Romans demanded from their allies.

Roman Horse - ekwita.

Compulsory military service for men aged 17 to 60 years. Men aged 17 to 45 years ( iuniores) Sent to the front. Men over 46 years of age ( seniors) Served in cities and were the main reserve for the army. Release from service ( Mission honest), and then after serving 20 expeditions on foot or on horseback 10. At the beginning of the republic, military service was not rewarded in the form of wages and was perceived as a civic duty.

The turning point came in 331 BC, when the army took over martial law with initial responsibility for the command of the legion. In addition to the existing compact ones, the front line was abandoned, for example, the Greeks used it and the focus was on manipularnym systems, Which is to divide the army into maniples, with fewer tactical units, which allowed for more flexibility in the army. The processing of each consisted of two centuries. Century had 60 soldiers, who together gave 120 men to the maniples (excluding their Triarii What, in the maniples there were 60 and 30 centuries there was a person). Legion, usually 15 manipulated hastati, 10 manipulated principles And Triarii, 1200 welitów ( velites), and 300 cavalry ( horsemen.) Strength is legion Thus, at that time there were about 5,000 soldiers. Manipułu There are two centurions on the head. Firstly, a first century commander named Preliminary and was the highest officer in the maniple. Secondly, the commander was recalled centuries rear.

The Republican Army was created to fight in three ranks in a checkerboard formation. This installation next to each manipulation made it possible to quickly withdraw troops for the weary ranks of colleagues in the following directions. This also allows you to avoid lines that are very lekkozbrojnym welitom ( velites) After wystrzelaniu all the ammunition. In the first episode of Steel, a young and less experienced soldier hastati. In the second they became older, better armed, Principles And more recently, the oldest and most experienced, Triarii. Legionnaires were divided into classes depending on experience and age. The first to start fighting hastati Then if they attack a failed attack Principles. If the first two series of attacks failed to fight, they were sent Triarii. Wings of infantry protected by cavalry ( horsemen), which often helped the infantry at decisive moments of the battle.
Ride is called from the 18th century from the wealthiest citizens. Together they created a tactical unit ( ala.) Any ala divisible by 10 turnae, 30 horsemen each, which in turn consisted of 3 decuriae, 10 horses.

Period since the end of the republic

Gaius Marius carried out in 107-102 BC. military reform(Separate units), as well as the installation of a fully professional and professional army. The legions received an image that has survived to this day and will always be associated with it. These are highly skilled, heavily armored legionnaires.

The reform allowed conscription into the army, even of the poorest strata, which certainly increased the size of the army. Three different types of heavy infantry were replaced by one unit, based in some sense Principles. All soldiers were equally armed: sword (Gladius) shield (shield), Armor ( Lorika Natasha or Lorica segmentata ) helmet and spears ( Pilum .)

Allied forces were greatly reduced, allowing military integration. The roles of the Allied forces constituted a new unit called Auxilia. It was introduced among special units such as engineers, scouts, artillerymen, artisans, servants, mercenaries, and troops and local allied militia. These people were organized into larger units: light cavalry, light infantry or welitów and workers. A department was created consisting of reconnaissance 1910 light cavalry ( speculators). Anyone who is not previously a novice of Roman citizenship must receive them from the start of service.

Definitely reform the legion structure. The Legion was divided into smaller tactical units cohort (cohorts.) A legion was usually between 6 and 10 cohorts, each consisting of 7:55 centuries. The century was led by a centurion, accompanied by Optio, Soldiers are able to read and write. This age is called Sotnik Primus pilus.

In order to increase the speed of the army's march and the Legionella's independence from the camp, each soldier had to carry in addition her equipment and food for 15 days. Thus, eliminate the huge company stores that carry mules for the army, which will certainly slow down the march. Apparently a legion of soldiers carried a burden of about 37 kg on their shoulders.

A legion period varied from 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers. However, taking into account that the legion had employees, engineers and other auxiliary služby do walki can issue nawet mężczyzn 6000. However, after numerous campaigns of the Roman legion in the first century BC MIAL średnio 3500 legionnaires.

Early Empire

Several war and civil war campaigns were carried out in I BC. led to an unprecedented increase in the number of legions. After defeating BC at 31 years old Battle of Actium Mark Antony August he commanded about 50 legions. His first step after coming to power was to reduce this number by half, to 25, and resolve any financial issues, i.e. later żołdów and wages. In addition, the abundance of reptiles increased noticeably auxiliaries Who, in the legion since then they had as many as legionnaires. Finally, the successive descendants of Augustus were under his command in 1930 also qualifying and consecrating the legions. Each legion of 4,000 to 6,000 men was supported by the same number of auxiliary troops. In the room the Romans called " "Pax Romana" The best legion ranged from 8,000 to 12,000 soldiers and were usually located on the border or in areas of inflammation. It so happened that some of the legions reached 15,000, 16,000 soldiers.

The legions, also during the fall of the republic, began to play an increasingly important role in politics over time. Legionnaires dostrzegający their strength, not only the military, began to have an increasing influence on the fate of the country by choosing emperors. There is even a mention of Emperor Vespasian choosing their armies and generally holding an event called " Year of the Four Emperors"68 AD"

The legion was under the command of a legate ( Legate or Legatus.) He has been a commander for 30 years, and has usually sat on the Senate benches for 3 years. Under his command there were 6 military tribune Where there are five officials, as well as one important character in the Senate. Other important figures in the legion are the service doctor, the engineer officer and the camp commander ( praefectus castrorum.)

In the second century AD, Emperor Hadrian called special infantry units lekkozbrojnej ( Numerus) And while driving ( cunei.) Wards Numerus recruited soldiers from newly conquered lands. To protect against unexpected complications in the form of a riot, Hadrian ordered them to be sent away from their homeland. The soldiers continued their homes and methods of warfare, they argued, however, the Roman officers. In addition, Hadrian created an imperial adjutant of the cavalry ( horsemen singulares imperatoris), Number of riders per 500 men selected from the auxiliary troops.
In the second half of the third century AD, during the Galiena period, governments created new formations. It was a reserve army consisting exclusively of horsemen ( horsemen), who soon became the commander of the most powerful man in the country.

Late Empire period

At the end of the empire, the number of legions of Roman troops and their numbers increased significantly. This is mainly due to unrest on the borders, the vast territory and many civil wars in the explosive state. Clear changes in the structure of the legion occurred during the reign of Diocletian, at the end of the third century AD. It was then that the so-called legions moved. legiones palatinae. It consisted of 1000 soldiers along with the horse. The first legion of its kind: Lanciarii, Jovi, Herculiani And Divitenses.

The process of spreading small arms and less significant ones began with the legions of Constantine II. He then created two new building types: Comitatenses And pseudocomitatenses. It is worth noting how newly created in 325 AD. Constantine the Great block Auxilia Palatine. As reported by a source in the fourth century AD, under the leadership of the emperor: 25 legiones palatinae, 47 legiones pseudocomitatenses, 70 legiones Comitatenses and 111 Auxilia Palatine.

However, by far the most important change During the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, the army was divided into corresponding formations: Limitan, candidati and these comitanses. Limitan scattered on the border, them main task there was a denial of the enemy attack. Comitanses, Most of the positive barbarians were the main part of the army and had to support the troops defending the borders. Candidati In turn, there were the imperial guard. Modernization of the army and structural changes of the legion will help the soldiers in defense of the great empire. However, a small number of Roman conscripts were willing to serve and accept and butnych unruly barbarians led to a reduction in the armed forces of the army and legion.

Legion (lat. legio, gender legionis, from legio - collecting, recruiting) - the main organizational unit in the army Ancient Rome.

The legion consisted of 5-6 thousand, in later periods - up to 8 thousand infantry and several hundred horsemen. Every legion had its own number and name. According to surviving written sources, approximately 50 different legions have been identified, although it is believed that their number in each historical period did not exceed twenty-eight, but this could be increased if necessary.

The legion was headed by a military tribune during the Republic period, and by a legate during the Empire period.

Story

Initially, during the era of the Roman kingdom, the entire Roman army was called a legion, which was a slave-owning militia of about 3 thousand infantry and 300 horsemen from wealthy citizens, gathered only during war or for military training.

It was tribal militia, proportionally formed from the composition main genera (curiae) according to the decimal principle - each gender exhibited 100 infantry - centuries and 10 horsemen - a total of 3300 people , every a militia detachment of 1000 people was commanded by a tribune (from tribe - tribe ).

Legion of Servius Tullius (6th century BC)

The organization of the legion was based on universal conscription for citizens, property qualification and age division - more senior legionaries were in reserves and garrisons, the high command - two military tribunes.

The main tactical formation of a legion is a phalanx of heavily armed infantry, with cavalry on the flanks and light infantry outside the phalanx formation.

The armament of the 1st and 2nd rows consisted of wealthier legionnaires, armed with a sword, spear, darts, dressed in bronze armor, helmet, round shield, greaves; the next 6 rows of the phalanx had lighter weapons.

Legion of the Roman Republic period

In the early period of the Roman Republic, the country was led by two consuls, the Roman army - the legion was divided into two separate legions, each of which was subordinate to one of the consuls.

In the early years of the Roman Republic, military operations consisted mainly of armed raids by forces legion.

As the wars waged by the Roman Republic became more frequent and nature of planned combat operations . In the 4th century BC. e. each consul was already subordinate to two legions, and their total number increased to four. If it was necessary to conduct a military campaign, additional legions were recruited.

From 331 BC. e. At the head of each legion stood a military tribune. The internal structure of the legion became more complex, the battle formation was changed from the classical phalanx to manipular, and at the same time the tactics of combat use of the legions were improved.

From the beginning of the 4th century BC. e. The soldiers were given a small salary. The legion began to number 3000 heavy infantry (principles, hastati, triarii), 1200 light infantry (velites) and 300 cavalry men.

Legion organization IV century BC e. — 4200 infantry in 30 maniples - tactical departments 60-120 warriors each , consisting of 2 centuries, consolidated into 10 cohorts , And 300 horsemen in 10 tours.

Legion battle tactics : transition from a phalanx to a manipular formation with a clear division into 3 lines and manipular units in a row with intervals. The combat formation of the legion consisted of 3 lines of 10 maniples each.

Hastati - 1200 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 60 people - 1 row;
Principles - 1200 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 60 people - 2nd row;
Triarii - 600 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 30 people - 3rd row;
Light Infantry - velites, out of formation - 1200 people;
Cavalry on the flanks.
By the beginning of the 2nd Punic War (218 BC-201 BC), the number of infantry was increased to 5000-5200 people by increasing the number of individual centuries.

They were attached to the legion units of the allied forces (alas, from allae - wings), located on the flanks under the command of prefects - performing the functions of tribunes of units of the allied forces of the legion. Auxiliary units - auxiliaries, later became part of the army.

Universal conscription led to the ruin of the free peasantry and therefore conscription was abolished, soldiers' salaries were increased, and The Roman army became a professional mercenary army.

IN Republic era The legion included the following units:

Cavalry (horses) . Heavy cavalry was originally the most prestigious branch of the military, where wealthy Roman youth could demonstrate their valor and skill, thereby laying the foundations for their future political career. The cavalryman himself bought weapons and equipment e - round shield, helmet, armor, sword and spears. The legion numbered approximately 300 cavalrymen, divided into curios - divisions 30 people each under the command of a decurion . In addition to the heavy cavalry, there was also light cavalry , which was recruited from poor citizens and young rich citizens who were not old enough to become hastati or horsemen.

Light infantry (velites). Velites, armed with darts and swords, did not have a strictly defined place and purpose in the battle order. They were used where there was a need.

Heavy infantry . The main combat unit of the legion. It consisted of citizen legionnaires who could afford to purchase equipment, which included a bronze helmet, shield, armor and a short suit. spear - dart - pilum, Gladius is a short sword. Before reforms Gaius Marius, who abolished the division of infantry into classes, which turned legions into a professional army, heavy infantry was subdivided , in accordance with the combat experience of legionnaires into three lines of battle formation :

Hastati (hastatus) - the youngest - 1st row
Principles - warriors in their prime (25-35 years old) - 2nd row
Triarii (triarius) - veterans - in the last row; in battle they were used only in the most desperate situations.
Each of the three lines was divided into tactical units - maniples of 60-120 warriors, making up 2 centuries under the command of the senior of two centurions (centurion II rank). Nominally, the century consisted of 100 warriors, but in reality it could number up to 60 people, especially in the triarii maniples.

In battle, maniples were usually located in a checkerboard pattern - quincunx. The maniples of the principles covered the gap between the hastati, and those were covered by the maniples of the triarii.

Late Republic Legion

Organization of the legion after the reform of Gaius Marius - cohorts replace maniples as the main tactical unit of the legion. The cohort consists of 6 centuries. There were also specialized cohorts, such as firefighters.

The legion consisted of approximately 4,800 legionnaires and a significant number of support staff, servants and slaves. A legion could consist of up to 6,000 warriors, although at times their number was reduced to 1,000 in order to deprive wayward commanders of support. The legions of Julius Caesar numbered approximately 3300 - 3600 people.

Each legion was assigned auxiliary troops of almost the same size - this included numerous specialists - sappers, scouts, doctors, standard bearers, secretaries, personnel of throwing weapons and siege towers, various service units and units of non-citizens - light cavalry, light infantry, weapons workshop workers. They were granted Roman citizenship upon dismissal from military service.

Political role of the legions

During the era of the late Roman Republic and Empire, legions began to play a serious political role. It is no coincidence that Augustus, after the severe defeat of the Romans in the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD), cried out, clutching his head, - "Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions". Legions are a military force that ensures the future emperor seizes and maintains power in Rome - or, conversely, a force capable of depriving him of power. Trying to weaken possible threat the use of the military power of the legions by pretenders to power in Rome, provincial governors were forbidden to leave their province along with the troops under their command. Julius Caesar crossed into 42 BC e. border river Rubicon (Latin Rubicō, Italian Rubicone), speaking from the province of Cisalpine Gaul (now northern Italy) and brought his troops to Italy, this caused a crisis in Rome.

The legions also played a huge role in the Romanization of the “barbarian” (non-Roman) population. The Roman legions were stationed on the borders of the Empire, and attracted traders from the center and thus cultural exchange took place between the Roman world and the “barbarians” - neighboring peoples.

Imperial Legions

Under Emperor Augustus (63 BC - 14 AD), who served as consul 13 times, the number of legions, which had greatly increased during the civil wars, was reduced and at the end of his reign amounted to 25 legions.

The transition during the imperial era to the creation of a larger number of permanent legions was caused mainly by internal reasons - the desire to ensure the loyalty of the legions to the emperor, and not to the military leaders. The names of the legions came from the names of the provinces in which they were created - Italic, Macedonian.

The legion began to be led by a legate (lat. legatus) - usually this was a senator of about thirty years old, who held this position for three years. They were directly subordinate to him six military tribunes - five staff officers and the sixth - a candidate for senator.

Legion officers
Senior officers

Legate of the Legion (lat. Legatus Legionis) - Commander of the legion. The emperor usually appointed a former tribune for three to four years ah, but the legate could hold his post for much longer. In the provinces where one legion was stationed, the legate was also the governor of the province. Where there were several legions, each had its own legate, and they were all under the general command of the governor of the province.

Tribune Laticlavius ​​(Tribunus Laticlavius) - this tribune was appointed to the legion by the emperor or the senate. He was usually young and had less experience than the five military tribunes (Latin Tribuni Angusticlavii), nevertheless, his position was the second most senior in the legion, immediately after the legate. The job title comes from the word "laticlava" - meaning two wide purple stripes on the tunic , due to officials of senatorial rank.

Camp Prefect (lat. Praefectus Castrorum) - the third most senior post in the legion. It was usually occupied by a promoted veteran soldier who had previously held the post of one of the centurions.

Tribunes of Angustiklavii (lat. Tribuni Angusticlavii) - each legion had five military tribunes from the equestrian class. Most often, these were professional military men who held high administrative positions in the legion, and during hostilities they could command the legion. They were supposed to tunics with narrow purple stripes (lat. angusticlava).

Primipil (lat. Primus Pilus) - the highest-ranking centurion of the legion, standing at the head of the first double century. In the first and second centuries AD, upon discharge from military service Primipil was included in the class of horsemen and could achieve a high equestrian position. The name literally means "first rank" . Due to the similarity of the words pilus - line, and pilum - "pilum, throwing spear", the term is sometimes incorrectly translated as "centurion of the first spear".

Average officers

Centurions . In every the legion had 59 centurions, each of whom commanded a century. Centurions were the backbone of the professional Roman army. These were professional warriors who lived the daily lives of their subordinate soldiers and commanded them during battle. Usually this post was received veteran soldiers , however, one could become a centurion by direct decree of the emperor or other high-ranking official. The cohorts were numbered from the first to the tenth, and the centuries within the cohorts were numbered from the first to the sixth. Moreover, in the first cohort there were only five centuries, but the first century was double - thus, there were 58 centurions and primipiles in the legion. The number of the century commanded by each centurion directly reflected his position in the legion, that is the highest position was occupied by the centurion of the first century of the first cohort, and the lowest - centurion of the sixth century of the tenth cohort. The five centurions of the first cohort were called "Primi Ordines". In each cohort, the centurion of the first century was called "Pilus Prior".

Junior officers

Standard bearer (lat. Aquilifer) . An extremely important and prestigious post ( Aquilifer - "carrying an eagle"). The loss of the banner (“eagle”) was considered a terrible dishonor. The next step up the ranks is becoming a centurion.

Standard bearer (lat. Signifer). Each century had a treasurer who was responsible for paying the soldiers' salaries and safeguarding their savings. He was carrying combat badge of a century (Signum) - a spear shaft decorated with medallions. At the top of the shaft there was often an image of an open palms - a sign of oath, given by the soldiers.

Option (lat. Optio) . Assistant to the centurion, replaced the centurion in battle if he was wounded. He was chosen as a centurion from among his soldiers.
Tesserary (lat. Tesserarius). Assistant option. His duties included organizing guards and transmitting passwords.
Bugler (lat. Cornicen). He was next to the standard bearer, giving commands to gather to the battle badge and transmitting the commander’s orders to the soldiers with bugle signals.
Imaginifer- carried a standard with the image of the emperor, which served as a constant reminder of the army’s loyalty to the emperor.
Standard bearer (lat. Vexillarius). Carried the standard of a certain infantry or cavalry unit of the Roman troops.

Reforms of Octavian Augustus

The legate of the legion is the only commander, the first cohort has double the number of people, and the post of camp prefect is introduced.

Military service is permitted for provincial residents, but command positions are only for Roman citizens.

Military service in auxiliary units gives citizenship to immigrants and increases their salaries.

Leggings are no longer used in army weapons! In the 1st century AD Segmented armor appears in the German legions. During Trajan's Dacian campaign, foot soldiers are used bracers.

Hadrian's reforms

Organization: increasing the powers of the tribunes, reducing the powers of the centurions.

Formation: legions are formed in places of permanent deployment.

Armament: Cavalry equipment is being improved.

Reforms of Septimius Severus

Organization: the camp prefect becomes the prefect of the legion and takes on part of its powers.

Formation: Non-citizens are allowed to hold command positions.

Weapon: the long sword of the spatha is replacing the traditional gladius, which indirectly indicates a change in the nature of combat formations, because with a long sword it is easier to fight in a less dense formation than with a gladius, which is openly adapted for a dense formation.

Gallienus' reforms

Organization: senators are prohibited from holding military positions (while prefects from among the equestrians finally replace legates at the head of the legions), the posts of military tribunes are abolished.

Reforms of Diocletian and Constantine

Legionnaire from the northern provinces of the Roman Empire, 3rd century. (modern reconstruction) Constantine divided the army into two parts - relatively light border troops and heavy soldiers of the field army (the former were supposed to restrain the enemy, and the latter to destroy him)

Organization: transition to recruiting border legions from barbarians, division of the legions - a maximum of 1000 people with a tribune at the head, a significant part of the army serves within the country, cavalry is no longer assigned to the legions.

From the 3rd century AD e. the fighting qualities of the legions are gradually declining due to the barbarization of the army, in addition, cavalry is beginning to play an increasingly important role.

The legions (now largely composed of Germans) were formed into columns, switched to the spear instead of the javelin and sword, and their armor was significantly lightened. At the end of the existence of the Western Roman Empire, they give way to mercenary barbarian units, but the last legion was disbanded already in the Byzantine Empire.

Legions in new history

The name "legion" was used in the 16th-20th centuries. for military units of irregular strength, usually volunteer. The French Foreign Legion is especially famous.

There is a legend about how two Roman philosophers once argued: “We are always reproached for borrowing culture, art, science, even laws.” That we brought the luxury that surrounds us from other countries. Everything, absolutely everything - Egypt, Greece, Syria... What did Rome create? The second philosopher thought for a while, then answered with proud dignity: “Rome created the most important art!” Rome created war!

Undoubtedly, the Roman legionnaires were the best warriors of that time.
A legionnaire had to be a Roman citizen, although in the east citizenship could be conferred upon enlistment in the army.
If possible, it would be a good idea to bring a letter of recommendation with you.
If a person was accepted into the legion, he was paid a small sum to cover travel expenses. Arriving at the fortress, the legionnaire took the military oath. Then he was enrolled in the century. The oath was taken anew every new year.

2. Sit back and look at the photographs I took during the “Times and Epochs of Rome” festival in Kolomenskoye.

3. Cavalry.

4. The Romans after the Punic Wars more often did not use cavalry from Roman horsemen and Italian allies, but used Numidian, Gallic, Germanic, Spanish and other mercenary units, either as separate units (300-400 people) or 120 people in a legion .

5. The main part of the cavalry during the Principate was the Gallic cavalry, uniformly armed and organized into alas under the leadership of Roman prefects.

6. The Numidians were renowned as light cavalry, throwing javelins and being incredibly mobile. Gauls, Iberians and Germans were used as shock cavalry and reconnaissance. The emperor's guard included from 1000 to 2000 Batavian horsemen.

7. Let's continue about the legionnaires.
The recruit needed to undergo extensive training and gain experience before he could stand on par with the veterans.

8. He was taught to walk in formation: during his service, soldiers were supposed to walk thirty kilometers three times a month.

9. Recruits were taught to set up camp and were forced to drill twice a day (a trained legionnaire drilled once a day). All recruits were taught to throw stones from a sling, swim and ride a horse. They were taught to jump on a horse, as well as sit in the saddle and dismount, fully armed and with a shield, right and left.

10. For training in the use of weapons, a pole as tall as a man was used. The recruit, armed with a shield woven from twigs and a wooden sword, both of which were twice as heavy as an ordinary shield and sword, attacked the post, learning to stab rather than chop with a swing. Once the basics were laid, it was time to move on to practice combat, using swords and javelins with a protected point to avoid serious injury.

11. A catapult is a combat machine for throwing stone balls, which first appeared in service with the ancient Greeks. It was intended for shooting at enemy soldiers, equipment, and defensive structures. The catapult was a terrible weapon, because, in addition to cannonballs, it threw barrels of burning coals.

12. Military discipline among the Romans was based not so much on the warrior’s awareness of his civic duty as on coercion, and was supported by the rods of lictors. Disobedience was punished with all severity, including the death penalty.

13. Every Roman citizen was obliged to serve. Slaves were not allowed into the army. People aged 17 to 45 were selected for military service in the field army. Men 45-60 years old served in the rear during the war.

14. Only those persons who participated in 20 military campaigns when serving in the infantry or in 10 military campaigns when serving in the cavalry were exempt from military service. The poor were exempt from military service. Subsequently, they won the right to serve in the army and formed light infantry.

15. At first, the entire army of Republican Rome was called a legion and consisted of 4,200 infantry and 300 horsemen. But over time, this norm was not observed and the number of the legion began to reach 6 thousand people.

16. The legionnaire’s main weapon was a spear and a short, double-edged sword with a pointed end, suitable for chopping and stabbing.
The sword was military emblem Rome. The short, stabbing and chopping sword was most suitable for the Roman foot formation, since the battle was a tightly closed battle.

17. Discipline was of great importance in the army. During the campaign, the soldier was completely subordinate to his superior. Discipline was maintained by severe punishments. The army commander, the consul, and even more so the dictator could, at their discretion, put the offender to death. Centurions could punish soldiers at their discretion for any offenses: corporal punishment was widely used in the army. But discipline was based not only on punitive measures. The Roman army consisted of free people interested in victory over the enemy, because it was about protecting their hometown (as was the case during the Gallic invasion or the war with Pyrrhus) or about seizing new lands for arable land and pastures.

18. If necessary, Roman legionaries formed the so-called “turtle” - special kind a closed formation formed by connecting shields.

19. Roman military small and large units had their own distinctive signs. They consisted of various metal images: wreaths, medallions, eagles, etc., attached to small quadrangular flags of white, red and purple.

20. In the Roman army, along with punishments, there were also rewards. A commander who won a war with an external enemy received the right to a triumph - a solemn meeting in Rome: the commander in a laurel wreath and a purple toga decorated with gold rode into the city in a chariot, accompanied by a victorious army. The procession ended at the Capitol, where a solemn sacrifice was performed.

21. A minor triumph was called an ovation. In this case, the commander entered the city on horseback or on foot, wearing a myrtle wreath on his head. The highest insignia were wreaths. Military leaders received laurel wreaths. The warrior who was the first to climb the wall of the besieged fortress received a golden wreath, made like a fortress wall with towers. For the rescue of a Roman citizen, a wreath of oak leaves was placed on the head of the person who distinguished himself.

22. In addition to the legions, which consisted exclusively of Roman citizens, the Roman army also had so-called allies, recruited from the conquered tribes and communities of Italy.

23. They were auxiliary troops located on the flanks of the legions. One legion relied on 5 thousand infantry and 900 horsemen from among the allies.

24. The lightly armed infantry, which was lined up in front of the front of the legion, was the first to enter the battle. Then, after the main forces entered the battle, the lightly armed warriors retreated into the intervals between the maniples, and the battle was fought by the first line, that is, the hasts.

25. The troops, drawn up in battle formation, attacked the enemy with a warlike cry to the sounds of military music.

26. Veterans - Roman citizens from the provinces by origin - received land in trans-Alpine Gaul, Spain, Africa, Illyricum, Epirus, Achaea, Asia, Bithynia.
Unlike Italy, in the provinces veterans often laid the foundation for new cities, including those with the highest status according to Roman law - colonial status.

27. The secret of the victories of Roman weapons was a rare combination of the high skill of each warrior with the impeccable ability to fight in large and small teams.
The Romans, like none of their opponents, knew how to clearly and quickly reorganize during battle: scatter into small units, gather together, close in defensive defense, launch a crushing attack, coordinatedly carrying out the orders of commanders at any tactical level - from squad to cohort and legion generally. Each soldier in battle knew his place and was confident in his comrades and commanders.

28. Roman soldiers, being true bearers of ancient values, knew a lot about wine. The legionnaire's "wine list" was very extensive. Wine vinegar - a mixture of wine and water - was not considered alcohol in the Roman army and was an indispensable companion for a soldier during the march and at a guard post.

29. Basic food for Roman soldiers was free.

30. Grain (about 1 kg per person per day) formed the basis of the traveling ration of the Roman legionnaire. Each compartment had hand millstones, as well as pots and pans for cooking. The legionnaire's marching diet included porridge, flatbread, cheese, ham and wine diluted with water.

31. Recipe for marching soldier’s stew, which Roman legionnaires cooked at rest stops during the march.
0.5 kg of grains ground using hand millstones, 2 liters of water, half a tablespoon of ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon of salt, a few crushed cloves of garlic, 50 grams of diced bacon, 100 grams of diced raw beef. Cook all this over a fire for 45 minutes.
It is better to drink it with dry red wine.

32. Roman legionaries reached our borders.
Based on archaeological excavations, one can trace the episodic stay of legionnaires on the territory of the Crimean peninsula.
It begins during the period of the Dacian wars, from the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd century AD.

33. The first time the legions entered Crimea was to forestall the attempts of the Bosporan king Mithridates III to get rid of the patronage of Rome. The result is short-lived, but bloody war was the enthronement of King Kotis, who swore allegiance to the emperor.

34. The Romans returned to the peninsula for the second time 20 years later at the request of the archons of Chersonesos, who petitioned the Senate to protect the city from Scythian raids.
Legionnaires in Crimea built the Kharaks fortress (Miskhor region), built a paved road through the pass to the Baydar Valley, and made several aqueducts and small fortresses to protect fresh water sources. In addition, in Chersonesus there was a large garrison of two combined cohorts, and in Balaklava there was a stationary base for the ships of the Rivne squadron.

35. The Roman Empire disappeared a long time ago. Gone is the past, like wars with spear and sword.
But we still remember the iron legions of Rome.

Roman legionnaires (reconstruction)

Legionnaires in service (reconstruction)

Later, formations were created under this name in armed forces many states (See section Legions in new history).

The legion in Rome consisted of 2 to 10 thousand (in later periods 4,320) infantry and several hundred horsemen. Each legion had its own number and name. According to surviving written sources, approximately 50 different legions have been identified, although it is believed that their number in each historical period did not exceed twenty-eight, but this could be increased if necessary.

The legion was headed by a military tribune during the Republic period, and by a legate during the Empire period.

Legion of Roman Kings

Initially legion was the name of the entire Roman army, which was a militia of about 3 thousand infantry and 300 horsemen from wealthy citizens who gathered only during war or for military training.

Thus, the military power of the curia and the community as a whole was made dependent on the natural reproduction of the male population. In the early royal period, when the Roman community had not yet reached its demographic limits and was open to accepting new families from neighboring conquered tribes, these negative sides were still hidden. But in the 7th century. BC e., as is clear from the data of the written tradition, the formation of new curiae and the relatively easy adoption of new clans into existing ones came to naught, and soon the inhibitory role of the curiat principle of army formation was especially clearly manifested during the clash between the Romans at the end of the 7th and 6th centuries. BC e. with such a strong people as the Etruscans.

In the 8th century BC. e. the warriors fought on foot, and their weapons were spears, darts, swords, daggers and axes. Only the richest could afford armor, which was most often limited to a helmet and a small plate that covered only the chest.

In the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. the Roman army was presumably a typical Etruscan army (since the Romans were under Etruscan rule and the army included representatives of the Romans, Etruscans (who formed the phalanx) and Latins (who fought, out of habit, in a free formation). The Etruscan-Roman army consisted of 40 centuries of hoplites (I category), who were armed according to the Greek model, 10 centuries of spearmen with medium weapons (II category), armed according to the Italian model with a spear and sword, and also having a helmet, greaves and an Italian shield (scutum): 10 centuries of lightly armed spearmen (III category), who had a spear, sword, helmet and scutum, 10 centuries of skirmishers (IV category), who owned a spear, javelin and scutum, and, finally, 15 centuries of slingers (V category). The size of the centuries depended on what size army was required?According to the same scheme, an army was built from veterans who made up the internal garrison.

Reform of Servius Tullius (VI century BC)

Organization: property qualification and age division (the older ones were in reserves and garrisons, so-called “juniors” (from 18 to 46 years old) and “seniors” (over 46 years old) were identified), universal military service for citizens, high command - two military tribune.

Tactics: basic phalanx formation with cavalry on the flanks and light infantry out of formation

• I category (property of more than 100 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 80 centuries and had to have a shell (lorica), a helmet (galea), leggings (ocrea), a round shield of the clipeus type, and an offensive weapon (tela) - a spear (hasta) and sword (gladius or mucro). Such complete armament generally corresponds to the type of so-called hoplite equipment. Warriors of the 1st category stood in the phalanx in the first row.
• II category (property of more than 75 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and had to have a helmet (galea), leggings (ocrea), shield (scutum), sword (gladius) and spear (hasta). Historians give these fighters a place in the second rank of the army.
• III category (property of more than 50 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and had to have a helmet, shield, sword and spear. In the ranks, they respectively occupied the 3rd row.
• IV category (property of more than 25 thousand asses) - Warriors of this category formed 20 centuries and had to have a shield (scutum), a sword (gladius or mucro), as well as two spears (long hasta and throwing dart verrutum). Warriors of the 4th category occupied the last line in battle, and also, according to some sources, covered the legion in case of retreat.
• V category (property of more than 11 thousand aces) - Warriors of this category formed 30 centuries and were required to have a sling. They were out of formation and performed a supporting role.

Centuries of different categories were undoubtedly of different sizes.

Early Republic Legion

Tactics: transition from phalanx to manipular formation (clear division into 3 lines and manipular units in a row with intervals). The combat formation of the legion consisted of 3 lines of 10 maniples each.

• hastati - 1200 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 60 people - 1 row;
• principles - 1200 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 60 people - 2nd row;
• triarii - 600 people = 10 maniples = 20 centuries of 30 people - 3rd row;
• light infantry - velites, out of formation (1200 people);
• cavalry on the flanks.

The legions (now largely Germanic) were formed in columns, switched to the lance and spatha instead of the pilum and gladius, used the oval auxilium shield instead of the scutum, and had significantly lighter armor. At the end of the existence of the Western Roman Empire, they increasingly gave way to mercenary barbarian units or themselves mainly consisted of the same barbarians, but the last legions were disbanded already in the Byzantine Empire during the transition to the thematic system.

Legionnaires' weapons

Pilum

The pilum was a javelin - an infantry throwing spear, somewhat shortened and lightweight compared to spears for mounted or hand-to-hand combat and appropriately balanced for ease of throwing. The Romans had two types of pilums - short (2 m long) and heavy (4-5 kg). The shaft of the pilum ended in a long iron tip with a hook. The pilum was thrown at a distance of 7-10 m into enemy shields. The pierced pilum with its weight pulled back the shield and deprived the enemy of the opportunity to cover himself from blows.

Gladius

The gladius was the legionnaire's most terrible weapon, universal in purpose: it could stab, chop, cut and even throw if necessary. This sword had a short double-edged blade about 0.5 m long and 4-7 cm wide, ending in a cross-shaped handle. It was worn on the right, not the left, side. Its small size made it very convenient for use in close formations and in hand-to-hand combat in close contact with the enemy. Puncture wounds from a gladius were always fatal. It was the gladius that turned the Roman legion in close combat into a devilish meat grinder, mercilessly grinding any enemy.

Scutum

Scutum is a huge rounded shield of legionnaires, unsuitable for individual combat, but very effective in formation; it reliably protected the legionnaire from blows from all sides, except for piercing blows from above. The dimensions of the scutum were about 75 cm wide and about 1.2 m high. It was made from several wooden plates glued together, covered with felt and covered with iron strips along the edges and along the perimeter. A strongly convex round iron umbon was attached to the center of the shield. The shield's handle was horizontal and held with a full grip. The legionnaires held the shield not in front of their chest, but along the left side, and pressed the enemy, leaning on the shield with their shoulders and helping themselves with a short sword, which, when using the shield in this way, is more convenient to wear on the right.