Legio III Gallica

Creation Date:
- c.49 BCE Levied by Julius Caesar
Reason for creation
- To campaign in the Civil War against Pompey.
Dates:
- c.49 BCE-323 CE.
Fortress Bases:
- Raphanae Syria (31BCE-69 CE) (possibly) and
- Syene, (Aswan, Egypt)
Title:
- Meaning the ‘Third Gallic Legion’.
Emblems:
- The Bull
Notable Commanders:
Structure of the Legion:

Early Campaigns:

Campaigned under Julius Caesar at the:
- Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BCE)
- Battle of Pharsalus (48 BCE 9 August)
- Battle of Munda (45 BCE 17 March)
44 BCE After the Assassination of Julius Caesar, they were led by Mark Anthony, then by his wife and brother, against Octavian. At one point in 41 BCE the Legion was forced to surrender at Perugia.
42 BCE It campaigned at the Battle of Philippi.
36 BCE The Legion campaigned in Parthia under Mark Anthony.
31 BCE After the Battle of Actium and Mark Anthony‘s death, Octavian sent the Legion to Syria.

Oescus, Moesia Inferior.
69 CE During the Year of the Four Emperors, the legion supported Vespasian.
They outwitted Vitellius‘ army at the Battle of Cremona and sacked the city. They were briefly based at Capua, Italy, before returned to Syria.

c.70 CE Returned to Syria, probably Raphanae, but not confirmed, but Raphanaea had been the Base of the Legio XII Fulminata who left in 70 CE.
132-135 CE Campaigned in Judaea during Bar Kokhba's Revolt.
162-6 CE Campaigned under Lucius Verus against the Parthian Empire.
Units of the Legion at Cyrrhus, Sidon and Aradus.
193 CE After the assassination of Pertinax the Legion supported Pescennius Niger as Roman Emperor, but were defeated by the Legions loyal to Septimius Severus.
197-8 CE Campaigned under Septimius Severus against the Parthian Empire, who created the new Province of Mesopotamia.

323 CE This is the last mention of the Legion, referring to a unit based at Syene (Aswan, Egypt).
It is not mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum (c. 400). Therefore we do not know whether it was Destroyed or Disbanded.

Raphanae, Umm Qais, Jordan