Legio III Italica

Creation:
- c. 165-6 CE Levied by Marcus Aurelius for the Marcomannic Wars.
Dates: c. 165-c.400 CE.
Fortress Bases:
- Regensburg (Castra Regina), Raetia (171-c.400 CE)
  - The Legion built this fortress with walls 26 feet (8m) high and 6 feet (2m) wide.
- Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicum)
  - Units were stationed here, as well as in other small towns, because the Commander of the Legion was also the Governor of Raetia.
Title:
- Meaning ‘Third Legion from Italy’
- Also ‘Legio III Italica Gordiana’ from the campaign under Gordian III in Parthia.
- Also ‘Legio VI Pia VI Fidelis’ meaning six times faithful and loyal.
- Also ‘Legio VII Pia VII Fidelis’ meaning seven times faithful and loyal.
Emblems:
- The Stork
Notable Commanders:
Structure of the Legion:

Early Campaigns:

168 CE Campaigning in the Marcomannic Wars to repel the Marcomanni who had invaded Raetia and Noricum.
The other Legions in the Campaign were the Legio II Italica and the Legio I Adiutrix.

171 CE Built Castra Regina (Regensburg) in Raetia where they remained until after c.400 CE.
193 AD during the Year of the Five Emperors, they supported Septimius Severus in the Civil War against Pertinax and Didius Julianus, then against Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus.
213 CE Campaigned against the Alemanni under Caracalla and possibly also against the Parthians in the same year.
243-244 CE Campaigned against the Sassanids in Parthia under Gordian III and given the title Legio III Italica Gordiana.
Campaigned under Gallienus against Postumus.
273 CE Campaigned under Aurelian against Queen Zenobia.

c. 400 CE The Legion was mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum as still being based in Castra Regina, Regensburg, after which its fate is unknown.

Regensburg