- The Legio III Cyrenaica was founded between 43-31 BCE.
- It was based in Bostra, Arabia Petraea between 106-400 CE.
Regimental Details
- Creation Date:
- Possibly levied by Lepidus or Mark Anthony between 43-31 BCE.
- Sent to Egypt in 30 BCE after the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE.
- Reason for creation
- Dates: 30 BCE-c.400 CE
- Fortress Bases:
- Thebes, Upper Egypt (possibly) (30 BCE-c.35 CE)
- Units at Berenice, Upper Egypt, on the Red Sea.(30 BCE-c.35 CE)
- Nicopolis, Alexandria Egypt (35-106 CE)
- Coptos, Upper Egypt (c.90 CE)
- Bostra Arabia Petraea (106-c.400 CE)
- Title:
- Meaning ‘The Third Legion from Cyrenaica’ (Modern Libya)
- Emblems: Unknown.
- Notable Commanders:
- Structure of the Legion:
Chronology
Early Campaigns:
- It is unknown if the Third campaigned during the Roman Civil Wars between Mark Anthony and Octavian.
- However in 30 BC, Octavian sent it to Egypt after the Battle of Actium and from then on it remained in the East.
Posting in Egypt (30 BCE-106 CE)
- 30 BCE-c.35 CE The Legion was based in Upper Egypt, possibly at Thebes. There were units at Berenice, Upper Egypt on the Red Sea, probably guarding the road and mines between Berenice and Coptos.
- 26-5 BCE The Roman Prefect of Egypt, Aelius Gallus, possibly took the Legion for his campaign against Arabia Felix (The Yemen). During his absence, the Kushan kingdom attacked Upper Egypt.
- 24 BCE Gallus sent the Egyptian Legions to attack Kush. Under the General Gaius Petronius, they followed the Nile and reached and sacked the Kushan Capital, Napata. After this, Kush did not attack again for three hundred years.
- Possibly, as early as 7-11 CE, the Legion was transferred to the Double Fortress at Nicopolis in Alexandria, and definitely by 35 CE.
- 63 CE Corbulo used a unit of the Legion in his War against the Parthians.
- 66-70 CE The Legion campaigned in Judaea during the First Jewish-Roman War and besieged Jerusalem.
- 90 CE A Vexillatio of the Legio III built a bridge in Coptos and probably had a base there.
- 106 CE The Legion moved to Bostra in Arabia Petraea. It was replaced in Nicopolis, Alexandria, by the Legio II Traiana Fortis.
Posting in Arabia Petrae (106-400 CE)
- After 106 CE the Legion was transferred to the new Province of Arabia Petraea and based in the Capital, Bostra.
- Between 117-125 CE It appears to have returned to Nicopolis, Alexandria, Egypt. This is possibly to do with Trajan’s Wars against the Parthian Empire.
- 132-5 CE Campaigned in Judaea against Bar Kokhba's Revolt.
- 162-66 CE The Legion campaigned in Parthia under Varus.
- 193 CE After the assassination of Pertinax, the Legion supported Pescennius Niger against Septimius Severus.
- 260-274 CE During the Palmyrene Empire, the Legion was probably absorbed into the armies of the Palmyrene Empire under Queen Zenobia.
- By 274 CE After Aurelian had defeated Queen Zenobia, the Legion appears to have continued at Bostra as before.
Conclusion
- Last mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum c. 400 CE, as still being based in Bostra, Arabia Petraea.
Bostra