Legio I Parthica

• The Legio I Parthica was founded by Septimius Severus in 197 CE.
• It was based Singara (Sinjar, Iraq) between 198-360 CE.

Regimental Details

• Creation Date:
  • 197 CE Levied by Septimius Severus
• Reason for creation
  • To campaign against the Parthians.
• Dates: 197-c.400 CE
• Fortress Bases:
  • Singara (Sinjar, Iraq), Mesopotamia (c.198-360 CE)
  • Nisibis (360-363 CE)
  • Constantina (Viransehir, Turkey) (363-c.400 CE)
• Title:
  • Legio I Parthica
    • meaning ‘First Parthian Legion’
• Emblems:
  • The Centaur
• Notable Commanders:
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

Early Campaigns:

• 197 CE Campaigned successfully during Septimius Severus Parthian Campaign (195-197 CE), resulting in the sack of Ctesiphon and the acquisition of the new Province of Mesopotamia where the Legion was to remain.

Posting in Mesopotamia

• Based at Singara (Sinjar, Iraq). Its sister Legion, the Legio III Parthica was based at Rhesaena, in the River Khabur.
• 360 CE Moved its Base to Nisibis (Nusaybin, Turkey) after Singara was overrun by the Parthians.
• 363 CE Moved again to Constantina (formerly Antioch in Mesopotamia) (Viransehir, in Turkey today)
• It is known that Units of the Legion served in Lycia and Cyrenaica.

Conclusion

• The Legion is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum c. 400 CE as still being in Constantina (Viransehir, Turkey). After this, its fate is unknown.