List of Roman legions

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

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

Contents

1 Republican and Imperatorial legions

2 Early Empire legions

3 Late Empire legions

4 Reference

5 External link

Republican and Imperatorial legions

The Republican legions were formed by Roman citizens and raised whenever it was necessary. Usually they were levied by the Roman Senate, and were later disbanded.

In the last years of the Republic, several Roman generals started to levy legions with their own money; these legions were loyal to their commanders, rather than to the Senate, so their presence increased the power of these generals. Maintaining these legions was, however, expensive, so they were usually levied for particular campaigns (such as those of Pompey against the pirates, those of Julius Caesar against Gauls, those of Mark Antony and Crassus against the Parthian Empire, and so on), and disbanded as soon these campaigns ended.

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

Legio I Germanica (German) - 48 BC to 70 AD (Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar
Legio II Sabina (Sabine) 43 BC to circa 9 AD, early name of the Legio II Augusta
Legio III Cyrenaica (from Cyrenaica) – probably around 36 BC to (at least) 5th century, Mark Antony
Legio III Gallica (from Gallia) – around 49 BC to at least early 4th century, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull)
Legio IV Macedonica (Macedonian) - 48 BC to 70 AD (disbanded by Vespasian), Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, capricorn)
Legio IV Scythica (from Scythia) - around 42 BC to at least early 5th century, Mark Antony (emblem: capricorn)
Legio V Alaudae (Larks) - 52 BC to 70 AD (destroyed in the Batavian rebellion), Julius Caesar (emblem: elephant)
Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad) - 52 BC to after 250 AD, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, wolf and Romulus and Remus)
Legio VII - 51–44 BC, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio VII Paterna
Legio VIII - 59–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio VIII Augusta
Legio IX Triumphalis (Triumphant) - 59–48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded and re-enlisted by Augustus as Legio IX Hispana
Legio X Equestris (Knights), 58 to 48 BC, Julius Caesar, disbanded, reconstituted by Lepidus, incorporated into the Legio X Gemina by Augustus.
- Legio X Veneria (devoted to the goddess Venus), probably another name of X Equestris.
Legio XI - 58-45 BC, Julius Caesar (emblem: Neptune), disbanded, reconstituted by Augustus as Legio XI
Legio XII Victrix (Victoriuos) - 57 BC to 45, Julius Caesar
- Legio XII Antiqua (Ancient) - reconstituted by Lepidus in 43 BC, named by Mark Anthony, included in Augustus army as Legio XII Fulminata
Legio XIII - 57 to 45 BC, Julius Caesar, later (41 BC) reconstituted as Legio XIII Gemina by Augustus
Legio XVIII Lybica (from Lybia) - disbanded 31 BC, Mark Antony
Legio XXX Classica (Naval) - 48–41 BC, Julius Caesar

Early Empire legions

Legio I

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

Legio II

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

Legio III

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

Legio IV

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

Legio V

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

Legio VI

Legio VI Ferrata (Ironclad) - 52 BC to after 250 AD, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull, wolf and Romulus and Remus)
Legio VI Victrix (Victorious) - 41 BC to late 4th century, Augustus (emblem: bull)
- Legio VI Hispaniensis, another name of the Legio VI Victrix

Legio VII

Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 58 BC to end of 4th century AD, Julius Caesar (emblem: bull)
- Legio VII Paterna (Paternal), name of Legio VII Claudia Pia Fidelis up to 42 AD
Legio VII Gemina (Twin) - October 68 AD to end of 4th century AD, Galba

Legio VIII

Legio VIII Augusta (raised by Augustus), 59 BC to after 371 AD - Caesar Augustus
- Legio VIII Gallica (from Gallia), early name of VIII Augusta
- Legio VIII Mutinensis (from Mutina), early name of VIII Augusta

Legio IX

Legio IX Hispana (Spanish) - before 41 BC to before 160 AD, Caesar Augustus

Legio X

Legio X Fretensis (Of the sea streits) - 41/40 BC to at least 260 AD, Augustus (emblem: boar, bull, dolphin, galley)
Legio X Gemina (Twin) - 44 BC to early 5th century, Lepidus

Legio XI

Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis (faithful and loyal Claudian legion) - 42 BC to early 5th century, Caesar Augustus (emblem: Neptune)

Legio XII

Legio XII Fulminata (wielder of thunderbolt) - 43 BC to (at least) 5th century, Lepidus (emblem: thunderbolt)

Legio XIII

Legio XIII Gemina (Twin) - 41 BC to (at least) 5th century, Caesar Augustus

Legio XIV

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

Legio XV

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

Legio XVI

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

Legio XVII

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

Legio XVIII

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

Legio XIX

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

Legio XX

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

Legio XXI

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

Legio XXII

Legio XXII Deiotariana (levied by Deiotarus) - 48 BC to about 132-136 AD (probably destroyed in rebellion in Iudaea), Deiotarus
Legio XXII Primigenia (devoted to goddess Fortuna) - 39 to 3rd century, Caligula

Legio XXX

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

Late Empire legions

Diocletian reorganized the Roman army, in order to better handle the menace of the barbarians from north Europe as well as that of the Persians from the East. The army was formed by border and field units.

The border (limitanei) units were to occupy the limes, the structured border fortifications, and were formed by professional soldiers with an inferior training.

The field units were to stay well behind the border, and to move quickly where they were needed, with both offensive and defensive roles. Field units were formed by elite soldiers with high-level training and weapons. They were further divided into:

Scholae units – the personal guard of the Emperor, created to substitute the Praetorian Guard disbanded by Constantine I;
Palatinae units – "palace" units were the highest ranked units;
Comitatenses units – "line" or "regular" units, some of them were new legions, other were Early Empire legions;
Pseudocomitatenses units – they were limitanei units diverted into the field army and often kept there; some Early Empire legions became pseudocomitatenses units.

Some of these units kept a numbering scheme. Primary source is the Notitia Dignitatum

Legio I
- I Armeniaca – pseudocomitatensis under Magister militum per Orientis command
- I Flavia Constantia – comitatensis
- I Flavia Gallicana Constantia – pseudocomitatensis under Magister Peditum command
- I Flavia Martis – pseudocomitatensis
- I Flavia Pacis – comitatensis under Magister Peditum
- I Flavia Theodosiana – comitatensis
- I Illyricorum
- I Iovia
- I Isaura Sagitaria – pseudocomitatensis
- I Iulia Alpina – pseudocomitatensis under Magister Peditum command in Italia
- I Martia
- I Maximiana Thaebanorum – comitatensis
- I Noricorum
- I Pontica

Legio II
- II Armeniaca – pseudocomitatensis
- II Britannica – comitatensis under Magister Peditum
- II Flavia Constantiniana – comitatensis under Magister Peditum
- II Flavia Virtutis – comitatensis under Magister Peditum
- II Herculia
- II Isaura
- II Iulia Alpina – pseudocomitatensis under Magister Peditum, in Comes Illyricum command
- II Felix Valentis Thebaeorum – comitatensis

Legio III
- III Diocletiana
- III Flavia Salutis – comitatensis under Magister Peditum
- III Herculea – comitatensis under Magister Peditum, in Comes Illyricum command
- III Isaura
- III Iulia Alpina – comitatensis under Magister Peditum command in Italia

Legio IIII
- IIII Italica
- IIII Martia
- IIII Parthica

Legio V
- V Iovia
- V Parthica

Legio VI
- VI Gemella
- VI Gallicana
- VI Herculia
- VI Hispana
- VI Parthica

Legio XII
- XII Victrix

Reference

Oxford Classical Dictionary
Keppie, Lawrence. The Making of the Roman Army, 1984
Notitia Dignitatum reports the military units and their locations at the beginning of the 5th century.