Legio II Augusta

• The Legio II Augusta was founded by Octavian in 43 BCE.
• Between 75-c.290 CE, the Legion was based at Caerleon in Wales.

Regimental Details

• Creation:
  • c. 43 BCE by Octavian and Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus to fight Mark Anthony.
• Dates:
  • 31 BCE-c. 290 CE
• Title:
  • Meaning the ‘Legion of Augustus’
• Emblems:
  • Capricornus, Pegasus, Mars
• Fortress Bases:
  • Mainz (Moguntiacum) (uncertain), Germania Superior (9-17 CE)
  • Strasbourg (Argentoratum) Germania Superior (17-43 CE)
  • Alchester (Aelia Castra) near Bicester, Britannia (44-68 CE)
  • Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum), Britannia (55-66 CE)
  • Gloucester, (Glevum) Britannia (66-75 CE)
  • Caerleon (Isca Augusta) with a unit Sea Mills (Bristol) (75-c.290 CE)
  • Richborough (Rutupiae), Britannia A unit recorded here c.400 CE.
• Notable Commanders:
  • Vespasian
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons
  • Roman Legions by Province
  • Roman Legion List by Date

Chronology

Early Campaigns:

• Great Roman Civil War:
  • 42 BCE Battle of Philippi
  • 41-40 BCE Battle of Perugia
• Cantabrian Wars:
  • 25-13 BCE Campaigned against the Cantabri in Hispania.

Posting in Germania Superior (9-43 CE)

• 9 CE Based at Mainz (Moguntiacum) (uncertain), Germania Superior
• c. 9-43 CE Based at Strasbourg (Argentoratum) Germania Superior
  • Responsible for building all the Forts down the Rhine to the North Sea and controlled the Tolls on the Rhine.
• 21 CE Defeated the Gallic Rebellion of Julius Sacrovir and Julius Florus, and is commemorated by a Triumphal Arch in honour of the Legio II Augusta, built at Arausio Orange (Arausio) in Gallia Narbonensis.

Posting in Britannia (43-c.290 CE)

The Invasion of 43 CE:

• 43 CE Commanded by Vespasian, it was one of the 4 Legions employed in the Roman Conquest of Britannia: Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispana, Legio XIV Gemina and the Legio XX Valeria Victrix.

First Century CE:

• 49 CE Based at Lake Farm, Dorchester.
• 44-68 CE Another Unit at Aelia Castra Alchester (Aelia Cstra), near Bicester.
• 55 CE Based at Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum)
• 60 CE During Boudicca's Revolt The Legate was absent and the Prefect, Poenius Postumius, avoided action and ordered the Legion not to leave the Fortress throughout the Revolt. Afterwards he committed suicide.
• 66-75 CE Based at Gloucester (Glevum)
• 75-c.290 CE Based at Caerleon (Isca Augusta) with a Unit connected by ferry at Sea Mills (Abonae), Bristol.
• c.75 CE The Legion probably built the walled Roman City of Caerwent (Venta Silurum) meaning the Market town of the Silures. Caerwent was the ‘Civitas Silurum’ Tribal Capital of the Silures, built only 9 miles (14km) from Caerleon.
• 78-84 CE Used in Agricola’s Campaigns in Scotland and built Inchtuthil Legionary Fortress.

Second Century CE:

• 122-128 CE Assisted with the construction of Hadrian's Wall, but this was then manned by Roman Auxiliaries.
• 139-142 CE Later assisted with the construction and manning of the Antonine Wall
• 155 CE The Revolt of the Brigantes caused a withdrawal back to Hadrian's Wall.
• 195 CE Clodius Albinus was proclaimed Emperor by all 3 Legions in Britannia and taken to Gaul, but was defeated by Septimius Severus and all 3 Legions were returned to Britannia.

Third Century CE:

• 208-211 CE Septimius Severus campaigned in Caledonia, moving the Legio II Augusta and the Legio VI Victrix to Carpow on the River Tay, Caledonia, and possibly Cramond near Edinburgh on the Forth Estuary.
• 287-293 CE Carausius proclaimed himself Emperor of Britannia and Gaul, until he was replaced by Allectus.
• In 296 CE Allectus was defeated by the invasion of Constantius I Chlorus, Commander of the Fleet in Gaul. The 3 Legions were then returned to their Bases with the exception of Legio II Augusta who disappears from the record.
• All that is known is that the Legion dismantled the structures at Caerleon in c.290 CE and left. It may have been disbanded by the Roman Emperor for its disloyalty under Carausius.

Fourth Century CE:

• However, during the Fourth Century CE, a unit is recorded by the Notitia Dignitatum as still being based in Britannia, but now at Richborough, Kent. After this, there is no further record of the Legio II Augusta.

Conclusion

• In c. 290 CE, the Legion left Caerleon after dismantling its structures, and a Unit is only mentioned again at Richborough in the Notitia Dignitatum c.400 CE.
• It is possible, since Cardiff Roman Fort seems to have been built around the same time that Caerleon was dismantled in c.290 CE, that this may have been the Legion’s new Base under the breakaway State of Carausius. After the invasion of 296 CE and the defeat of Allectus by Constantius I Chlorus, they may have been disbanded for disloyalty but no record exists to confirm this.

Caerleon, Wales