Famous Legions

[Julius Ratus]

I have been reading a copy of The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan, an Osprey book by Michael Simkins and illustrated by Ron Embleton. I was looking at the map on p. 7, for all of you who have the book. The map is of Legionary disposition, circa 80 AD (833 AUC ). Anyway, I was wondering if the Legio X Fretensis, stationed in Jerusalem, was the beloved 10th Legion of Caesar. Likewise, is the XIII Gemina, stationed in Poetovio, the 13th from HBO's ROME?

 

Thanks

[Primus Pilus]

I have been reading a copy of The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan, an Osprey book by Michael Simkins and illustrated by Ron Embleton. I was looking at the map on p. 7, for all of you who have the book. The map is of Legionary disposition, circa 80 AD (833 AUC ). Anyway, I was wondering if the Legio X Fretensis, stationed in Jerusalem, was the beloved 10th Legion of Caesar. Likewise, is the XIII Gemina, stationed in Poetovio, the 13th from HBO's ROME?

 

Thanks

 

Legio X Gemina (rather than Fretensis) is the more likely successor to Caesar's 10th. It gained the name Gemina (twin) after a revolt forced it to be merged with veterans from other legions in the reign of Augustus. It also survived well into the imperial period. I have read, though I do not have the sources readily available, that some scholars believe that both X Gemina and X Fretensis were originated from Caesar's famous 10th. X Gemina may have been the active men serving at the time under Antonius, while Octavian may have formed X Fretensis from among Caesar's retired veterans.

 

XIII Gemina does carry the legion number from the time of Caesar, though during the course of it's history was also merged with men from other disbanded legions (hence the name Gemina for this legion as well).

 

Excellent summaries from Jona Lendering:

X Gemina

X Fretensis

XIII Gemina

[Virgil61]

Legio X Gemina (rather than Fretensis) is the more likely successor to Caesar's 10th. It gained the name Gemina (twin) after a revolt forced it to be merged with veterans from other legions in the reign of Augustus. It also survived well into the imperial period. I have read, though I do not have the sources readily available, that some scholars believe that both X Gemina and X Fretensis were originated from Caesar's famous 10th. X Gemina may have been the active men serving at the time under Antonius, while Octavian may have formed X Fretensis from among Caesar's retired veterans.

 

XIII Gemina does carry the legion number from the time of Caesar, though during the course of it's history was also merged with men from other disbanded legions (hence the name Gemina for this legion as well).

 

Excellent summaries from Jona Lendering:

X Gemina

X Fretensis

XIII Gemina

 

One question PP, has he ever posted here? Quite a resource his page.

[Primus Pilus]

One question PP, has he ever posted here? Quite a resource his page.

 

Not under his real real name at least. Though I suspect that since he posts under his name at RAT, that if he did post here, he would do the same.

[Julius Ratus]

Thanks for that, PP. Those articles were interesting.

 

A new thirteenth legion is mentioned after 41. This was probably not a new creation but a reconstitution of the old unit. However this may be, it was used by Julius Caesar's heir Octavian, who had to put an end to Sextus Pompeius' occupation of Sicily, which put the grain supply of Rome into peril. On one occasion, soldiers of the Thirteenth saved Octavian's life.

 

To any of you who watch HBO's ROME, I can see this being part of the next season.