Legio V Macedonica

• The Legio V Macedonica was founded by Octavian in 43 BCE.
• It was based in Roumania between 101-274 CE and Bulgaria between 6-101 CE and 274-c.400 CE.

Regimental Details

• Creation Date:
  • 43 BCE Levied by Octavian and Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus.
• Reason for creation:
  • Levied to fight for Octavian in the civil wars following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 CE.
• Dates:
  • 43 BCE-c.400 CE
• Fortress Bases:
  • Macedonia (30 BCE-6 CE)
  • Oescus (Ruins near Pleven, Bulgaria), Moesia Superior (6-101 CE and in 274-c.400 CE)
  • Troesmis (Iglita, Romania) Dacia (106-166 CE)
  • Castra Potaissa (Ruins, Turda, Romania) Dacia (166-274 CE)
  • Memphis, Egypt: Comitatenses Cavalry unit.
• Title:
  • Legio V Macedonica
    • meaning ‘Fifth Macedonian Legion’ because it was originally posted in Macedonia.
  • ‘Pia Fidelis’
    • meaning ‘Faithful and Loyal’ awarded in c.187 CE for defeating a mercenary army in Dacia.
  • ‘III Pia III Fidelis’
    • awarded by Valerian meaning ‘Three times Faithful and Loyal’.
  • ‘VII Pia VII Fidelis’
    • awarded by Gallienus meaning ‘Seven times Faithful and Loyal’.
• Emblems:
  • The Bull and the Eagle
• Notable Commanders:
  • Vespasian
  • Hadrian was Tribunus Militum in 96 CE, then Legate.
• Structure of the Legion:
  • Roman Legion
  • Roman Army
  • Roman Weapons

Chronology

Early Campaigns:

• 31 BCE Probably fought under Octavian at the Battle of Actium.

Posting in Macedonia (30 BCE-6 CE)

• 30 BCE- 6 CE Based in Macedonia.
• c.15 BCE Retired veterans settled the city of Berytus (Beirut, Lebanon).

Posting in Moesia Inferior (6-101 CE)

• 6-101 CE Based at Oescus (Ruins near Pleven, Bulgaria).
  • The Legion constructed Roads and other engineering works.

Campaigns (62-70 CE)

• Parthian War: (58-62 CE)
  • The legion campaigned against the Parthian Empire along with the Legio III Gallica, Legio VI Ferrata and Legio X Fretensis
• First Jewish-Roman War: (66-71 CE)
  • The Legion was sent by Nero to Judea to campaign under Vespasian, along with the Legio X Fretensis and Legio XV Apollinaris. In 67 CE the Legion helped conquer the city of Sepphoris in Galilee. Subsequently it defeated the Samaritan Base of Mount Gerizim.
• Year of the Four Emperors: (69 CE)
  • The Legion remained uncommitted, based at Emmaus, returning to Oescus in 70 CE.
• Dacian Wars (88 CE)
  • The Legion campaigned against King Decebalus of Dacia and was present at his defeat at the Battle of Tapae in 88 CE.

Posting in Dacia (101-274 CE)

• 101-c.166 CE Trajan took the Legion to campaign in the Dacian Wars.
• 107 CE The Legion remained in Dacia based at Troesmis (Iglita, Romania)
• 161-166 CE The Legion campaigned against the Parthians under Lucius Verus.
• c.166 – 274 CE Moved its Base to Castra Potaissa (Ruins, Turda, Romania)
• 168-182 CE Marcus Aurelius took the Legion to campaign in the Marcomannic Wars.
• 193 CE Year of the Five Emperors: After the assassination of Pertinax, the Legion supported Septimius Severus to become Emperor.
• 269-271 CE A Legionary unit campaigned against Victorinus, Emperor of the breakaway Gallic Empire.
• 275 CE Dacia was lost to the Goths.

Return to Moesia Superior (274-c.400 CE)

• 274-c.400 CE The Legion returned to its Base at Oescus (Ruins near Pleven, Bulgaria), after Dacia was lost as a Roman Province.
• Other Legionary Units were posted to Cebro, Sucidava and Variniana.

Comitatenses Unit (296-c.400 CE)

• 296 CE A Cavalry Unit was detached by Diocletian to become a Comitatenses Unit whilst campaigning against the Sassanid Empire. It was later based in Memphis, south of Cairo, Egypt.

Conclusion

• The Notitia Dignitatum (c.400 CE) still records the Legion at its old base at Oescus (Ruins near Pleven, Bulgaria) Moesia Superior, and the Cavalry Unit still at Memphis, Egypt.

Oescus, Pleven, Bulgaria