Legio II Augusta ( Second Legion "Augustus'") was a Roman legion of the Imperial Roman army that was founded during the late Roman Republic. Its emblems were the Capricornus,[Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000
]By L. J. F. Keppie page 128
[[Pegasus]],[Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000
By L. J. F. Keppie page 129] and Mars. It may have taken the name "''Augusta''" from a victory or reorganization that occurred during the reign of [[Augustus]].
In Republican service
The Legio II, Sabina was a Roman military unit of the late Republican era, which may have been formed by Julius Caesar in the year of the consulate of 48 BC and coincide, in this case, with the Legio II. Enlisted to fight against Pompey, they took part in the subsequent Battle of Munda of 45 BC.
Alternatively it could be the Legio II, formed by the consul, Gaius Vibius Pansa in 43 BC and recruited in Sabina, hence its nickname.
After the defeat of the Republicans, Legio II swore allegiance to Octavian
In Imperial service
Hispania
At the beginning of Augustus' rule, in 26 BC,
this legion was relocated to a place north of Hispania Tarraconensis, to fight in the
Cantabrian Wars.
This war would definitively establish Roman power in Hispania. While the legion was in Hispania, they along with the Legio I Germanica helped build the Colonia
Acci.
They also constructed the city of
Cartennae.
Germania and Gaul
With the annihilation of several legions at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the Legio II
Augusta moved to
Germania, possibly in the area of
Moguntiacum. While in Germania, during the 15 AD the legion would participate in the campaigns of
Germanicus against the Germanic tribes.
After Germanicus was recalled the legion was stationed at
Argentoratum.
On its way back from Germania, the legion was drenched in heavy rain and harassed by heavy storms.
After
Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus revolted against the Roman Empire in Gaul, the Legio II
Augusta, under the command of Gaius Silius would help put down the revolt.
Britain
Invasion of Britannia and Boudica's revolt
The legion was one of the four legions used during
Claudius invasion of
Roman Britain.
The commander of the Legion at the time was
Vespasian. He led the campaign against the
Durotriges and
Dumnonii tribes. During the campaign the Legion marched across the south of Britain, fighting many battles against the local tribes.
The Legion was first stationed at Alchester and in 49 AD it was probably moved to the Fort at Lake Farm, and then Bradford Abbas. Small forts were established at Hod Hill till AD 50 then Waddon Hill until AD 60.[G Webster, Rome against Caractacus, p 45, ]
During the uprising of queen Boudica, its praefectus castrorum Poenius Postumus, who was then its acting commander (possibly because its legatus and tribunes were with the governor Suetonius Paulinus), contravened Suetonius' orders to join him and so later committed suicide.
Year of the Four Emperors
In 69 CE, during the Year of the Four Emperors, a
of the Legio II Augusta sided with emperor Otho.
After Otho was defeated the vexillation switched sides and served Vitellius.
This vexillation possibly took part in Vetellius's march on Rome, and fought in the Battle at Cremona against the legions of
Otho.
Later these soldiers were defeated by those of Vespasian and returned to Britain in 70. It is possible that the main body of the legion had always been loyal towards Vespasian.
Continued service in Britain
Julius Frontinus, the governor of Britain from 74 to 78 ordered several campaigns against the
Silures tribe
and during the war the fortress of
Caerleon in
Wales was constructed where from 75 the legion was based.
The legion remained there, even during Agricola's term as governor of Britain although several vexillations of the Legio II
Augusta fought in the Battle of Mons Graupius.
In 139 the Legion helped build the short lived Antonine Wall.
In 196 Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain, declared himself emperor and the Legio II Augusta supported his claim.
During Severus Alexanders reign as emperor of Rome, the conquests in Scotland were given up and the Second Legion returned to Caerleon.
Attested members
|
|
| Caius Largennius | miles | 1st century | Germania | Argentoratum ? | Argentoratum | |
| Gaius Caetronius Miccio | legatus legionis | c. 34–36 | Germania Superior | | | |
| Lucius Antistius Rusticus | tribunus | c. 69 | Britannia | | | |
| Gnaeus Julius Agricola | tribunus | 58-61 | Britannia | | | |
| Gaius Fabius Agrippinus | tribunus | before 140 | Britannia | | | |
| Publius Septimius Geta | tribunus | c. 170s | Britannia | | | |
Julius Marcellinus | centurio | 122-300 | Britannia | Banna | | |
Poenius Postumus | praefectus castrorum | AD 60–61 | Britannia | Glevum | Committed suicide out of shame following the battle of watling street. | Tacitus The Annals. 4.12; 14.37 |
| Vespasian | legatus legionis | AD 42-47 | Britannia | Italy | Rome | Suetonius Vesp. 4; Tacitus Hist. III 44; Josephius Bell. Jud. III 12 |
| Aulus Larcius Priscus | legatus legionis | between 97 and 105 | Britannia | | | |
Aulus Claudius Charax[Géza Alföldy, Konsulat und Senatorenstand unter der Antoninen (Bonn: Rudolf Habelt Verlag 1977), p. 298] | legatus legionis | c. 141-c. 144 | Britannia | | | |
Fronto Aemilianus Calpurnius Rufilanus | legatus legionis | 161/169 or 177/180 | Britannia | | | = |
Quintus Aurelius Polus Terentianus[Anthony Birley, The Fasti of Roman Britain (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), pp. 261f] | legatus legionis | between 185 and 190 | Britannia | | | |
| Lucius Julius Julianus | legatus legionis | end 2nd century | Britannia | | | , |
| Tiberius Claudius Paulinus | legatus legionis | early 3rd century | Britannia | | | |
| Vitulasius Laetinianus | legatus legionis | between 253 and 259 | Britannia | | | |
| Titus Flavius Postumius Varus | legatus legionis | 3rd century | Britannia | | | |
| Lucius Valerius Geminus | | AD 43-66 | Britannia | | Alchester | |
| Flavius Quadratus | aquilifer | 1st century BCE | Hispania | Olisipo | | = HEp 11, 2001 |
| Titus Flavius Rufus | centurio | 2nd century | Roman Italia, Moesia, Roman Dacia | | Dacia | = ILS 2082, |
In popular culture
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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.
-
Lindsey Davis' character Marcus Didius Falco and his best friend Lucius Petronius Longus both served in the legion during Boadicea's Revolt in AD 60/61, while they were teenagers (probably 19–20 years old). Marcus and Lucius only refer to their service in asides, due to the bad memories of the Revolt and the boredom in a cold, unfriendly country. The scenes of carnage and destruction in Londinium left a deep impression on both of them, with neither keen to return to Roman Britain. Their internal references also hint that their disgraced prefect, Postumius, did not commit suicide, but instead was executed by the legionaries for his refusal to march to Governor Suetonius's aid during the Revolt, but the legionaries swore an oath never to speak of this to outsiders. Novels that most directly refer to their service in Britain are The Silver Pigs, The Iron Hand of Mars, A Body in the Bath House and The Jupiter Myth.
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It is also the Legion in which Optio Quintus Licinius Cato and Centurion Lucius Cornelius Macro serve during the first five books of the Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow. The books also cover Vespasian's career as commander of the legion and the invasion of Britain.
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The story of the legion's role in Boadicea's Revolt and the subsequent suicide of its acting commander features in Imperial Governor, George Shipway's 1968 novel about Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.
-
The II Legion features in Adrian Goldsworthy's novel series, beginning with Vindolanda, about a fictitious centurion of the legion.
See also
Further reading
External links
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LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA , British 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
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LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA FACEBOOK PAGE, Facebook Page for British 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
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LEGIO SECVNDA AVGVSTA (NL) Dutch 1st - 2nd century AD ~ Roman Living History Society
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Second Legion Augusta (NZ), New Zealand re-enactment group
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Richard Stillwell, ed. Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, 1976: "Abonae (Sea Mills, Bristol), England"
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Capricorn Rising: Astrology in Ancient Rome: Poetry, Prophecy and Power, article by David Wray. assistant professor of classics, University of Chicago.
