Legio II Augusta
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de:Legio II Augusta no:Legio II Augusta es:Legio II Augusta Legio II Augusta was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in 4th century. Its emblem was the Capricorn.
It was originally raised by Octavian and consul Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, to fight again Mark Anthony; II Augusta fought in the battle of Philippi and in the battle of Perugia. At the beginning of Augustus rule, in 25 BC, this legion was relocated in Hispania, to fight in the Cantabrian wars, which definitively established Roman power in Hispania, and later camped in Hispania Tarraconensis. With the annihilation of Legio XVII, XVIII and XIX in the battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD), II Augusta moved to Germania, possibly in the area of Mainz. After 17 AD it was at Argentorate (modern Strasbourg).
The legion participated in the Roman invasion of Britain in 43. The future Emperor Vespasian was the legion's commander at the time and led the campaign against the Durotriges tribe. II Augusta proved to be one of the best legions, even during the uprise of queen Boudicca. After the defeat of Boudicca, the legion was dispersed over several bases; from 66 to around 74 it was stationed at Glevum (modern Gloucester), and then moved to Isca Silurum (probably modern Caerleon), building a stone fortress that the soldiers occupied until the end of the 3rd century.
In 122, II Augusta helped building Hadrian's Wall.
The legion in literature
In his fantasy novel Grail, the author Stephen R. Lawhead states that the legion was ensnared by the black magic of the witch Morgan le Fay, doomed to perpetually wander the mists of Lyonesse.
See also
- List of Roman legions and Roman legion
- livius.org account (http://www.livius.org/le-lh/legio/ii_augusta.html)
- LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA (http://www.legiiavg.org.uk/), British 1st - 2nd Century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
- Second Legion Augusta (NZ) (http://www.spqr.co.nz/), New Zealand re-enactment group