Legio IX Hispana

• The Legio IX Hispana was founded by Julius Caesar in 58 BCE.
• It was based in York between 71-c.120 CE. Its disappearance has been the subject of several books and films.

Regimental Details

• Creation Date:
  • 58 BCE by Julius Caesar, but more probably raised earlier in 65 BCE by Pompey, as its name was originally ‘Legio IX Hispaniensis’.
• Reason for creation
  • One of the Four Legions used for the Gallic Wars along with the Legio VII Claudia Pia Felix, Legio VIII Augusta and the Legio X Gemina. The other three were all raised by Pompey and used by Caesar against the Lusitani whilst he was Governor of Hispania Ulterior in 61 BCE.
• Dates:
  • 58 BCE-c.120 CE.
• Fortress Bases:
  • 14-43 CE Siscia (Sisak) Pannonia, divided later into Pannonia Superior.
  • 48 CE. Longthorpe. (Peterborough), Britannia
  • 65 CE Leicester, Britannia
  • 65-c.71 CE Lindum, (Lincoln), Britannia
  • c. 71-c.120 CE Eboracum (York), Britannia
• Title:
  • Originally named Legio IX Hispaniensis’ meaning ‘Ninth Legion Stationed in Spain’ later abbreviated to Hispana.
• Emblems:
  • The Eagle
• Notable Commanders:
  • Julius Caesar (58-52 BCE)
  • Octavian (42-29 BCE)
  • Quintus Petilius Cerealis (60-61 CE)
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

• Early Campaigns:
  • 61 BCE Probably campaigned under Julius Caesar in his war against the Lusitani.

Campaigned in the Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE)

• 58-51 BCE The Legion fought in almost every Battle in Gaul during the Gallic Wars, along with the Legio VII Claudia, Legio VIII Augusta and Legio X Equestris.
  • 58 BCE Battle of the Arar
  • 58 BCE Battle of Bibracte
  • 58 BCE War against the Suebi
  • 57 BCE Battle of the Sabis, and annihilation of the Nervians
  • 55 BCE Caesar's Invasion of Germania
  • 54 BCE Second Invasion of Britannia One of the 5 Legions involved.
  • 53 BCE War against the Eburones
  • 52 BCE Battle of Noviodunum
  • 52 BCE Battle of Gergovia
  • 52 BCE Battle of Alesia

Campaigned in the Great Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE)

• 48 BCE Threatened with Decimation by Julius Caesar during his Civil War against Pompey. According to Appian only 12 men were executed for their role in a potential Mutiny.
• 48 BCE 10 July Battle of Dyrrhachium
• 48 BCE 9 August Battle of Pharsalus
• 46 BCE Campaigned in Africa
• 46 BCE Julius Caesar disbanded the Legion after winning all his Campaigns.

Campaigned under Octavian (42-31 BCE)

• c. 42 BCE Octavian recalled the Legion to fight and defeat Sextus Pompeius in Sicily.
• Then the Legion was sent to Macedonia.
• 31 BCE Battle of Actium: Fought under Octavian against Mark Anthony and Queen Cleopatra VII.

Posting in Pannonia (9-43 CE)

• 9 CE Relocated to Pannonia.
• 14-43 CE Based at Siscia (Sisak)
• 21-23 CE The whole Legion and its Auxiliaries was sent to Africa to assist in the Campaign against Tacfarinas.
• 23 CE Returned to Pannonia.

Roman Conquest of Britannia (43 CE)

• 43 CE The Ninth was part of the four known Legions employed in the invasion of Britannia: Legio II Augusta, Legio IX Hispana, Legio XIV Gemina, Legio XX Valeria Victrix.

Posting in Britannia (43-c.120 CE)

• 60-61 CE During Boudicca's Revolt they were ambushed and massacred, and had to be reinforced later by units from Germany. Only the Cavalry and the Legate Quintus Petilius Cerealis escaped, to join the Governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus.
• c.71 CE They built and moved into the Legionary Fortress at Eboracum, York.
• 108 CE Last known testimony of the Legion’s existence.
• 117-120 CE The Ninth disappears from the record and is replaced at York by the Legio VI Victrix, around 119 CE.
• The Ninth was not involved in the building of Hadrian's Wall (122-128 CE).

Conclusion

• c.117-120 CE The Ninth was either annihilated or possibly disbanded.
• 118-122 CE Falco was Governor of Britannia and in 118 CE he successfully suppressed an uprising of the northern Brigantes and the Scottish Selgovae, which may also have involved foreign sea invaders. Many British coastal cities were burnt, and the Ninth may have been lost during this war.
• Another Legion also disappeared from the record after 132 CE, the Legio XXII Deiotariana. This Legion however, is recorded by Dio Cassius as being one of six legions sent by Hadrian in 132 CE to Judaea.
• A possible explanation is that both Legions were annihilated during Bar Kokhba's Revolt in Judaea between 132-5 CE.
• Alternatively, the Ninth may have been disbanded for insubordination when Hadrian came to power.
• However, normally a record was kept of lost or disbanded Legions, which seems not to have happened with either of these legions.
• Neither were the Standards of either legion ever recovered, unlike the 3 legions lost in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 CE), the Legio XVII, Legio XVIII and Legio XIX. Their standards were recovered a few years later by Germanicus.

Books and Films

• The disappearance or Disbandment of the Ninth Legion has been speculated on in several Books and Films:
• Books:
  • The Eagle of the Ninth (1954) by Rosemary Sutcliff.
  • The Last Legion (L’Ultima Legione) (2002) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi.
• DVD:
  • The Last Legion (2007)
  • Centurion (2010)
  • The Eagle (2011)

York