Legio VI Ferrata

The Legio VI Ferrata was founded by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE.
It was based in Syria between 70-106 CE, then in Arabia Petraea between 106-135 CE and finally Judaea between 132-215 CE.

Creation Date:
- 52 BCE Levied by Julius Caesar
Reason for creation
- To fight in the Gallic Wars
Dates:
- 52 BCE-215 CE.
Fortress Bases:
- Cyrrhus, Syria, where it replaced the Legio X Fretensis (70-106 CE)
- Bostra Arabia Petraea (106-135 CE)
- Caesarea Maritima and Caparcotna, Galilee, Judaea (135-c.215 CE)
Title:
- ‘Ferrata’ meaning ‘Sixth Legion Ironclad’
- ‘Fidelis Constans’ meaning ‘Firmly Constant’ for supporting Septimius Severus against Pescennius Niger in 193 CE.
Emblems:
- The Bull, also, an image of the Wolf of Rome with Romulus and Remus.
Notable Commanders:
Structure of the Legion:

Early Campaigns:

58-50 BCE Campaigned in the Gallic Wars.
48 BCE Battle of Pharsalus.
Campaigned in Egypt under Julius Caesar and was besieged in Alexandria and suffered severe losses.
48-7 BCE Campaigned in Pontus under Julius Caesar and won the Battle of Zela.
46 BCE Taken by Scipio to Africa to fight Julius Caesar, the Legion deserted Scipio and went to fight for Julius Caesar instead.
45 March 17 BCE The Legion campaigned at the Battle of Munda, after which it was disbanded and formed the colony at Arelate (Arles).
44 BCE Reformed by Lepidus, and campaigned under Mark Anthony against Cassius and Brutus, and was present at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE.
41 BCE The veterans were retired to Beneventum (Benevento, Campania, Italy).

41 BCE Mark Anthony sent the Legion to Judaea with another Legion to place the Roman Client King, Herod the Great in power, which was achieved by 37 BCE. The Legion then remained in Judaea.
36 BCE Mark Anthony used the legion in his War against Parthia.
31 BCE The Legio VI Ferrata fought at the Battle of Actium under Mark Anthony where it suffered severe losses, after which it was sent to Syria. Confusingly. the other sixth Legion, the Legio VI Victrix fought against them, under Octavian.

Between 30 BCE and 70 CE the Base locations are unknown.
70-106 CE Based in Cyrrhus where it replaced the Legio X Fretensis who moved to Jerusalem in Judaea.

132-5 CE The Legion campaigned in Judaea during Bar Kokhba's Revolt.
135-c. 215 CE This resulted in the Legio VI Ferrata being moved from Arabia Petrae, and permanently stationed at Caesarea Maritima and Caparcotna, Galilee (The ruined village of Lejjun today, named after ‘Legio’).
Caparcotna was on the Via Maris connecting Syria with Egypt and controlled the Megiddo Pass in the Carmel Mountains, leading into the Jezreel Vally. It is the site of many ancient Battles. Megiddo is the Biblical Armageddon.

138-150 CE Briefly sent to campaign in Africa Proconsularis, before returning to Judaea.

162-5 CE Lucius Verus sent the Legion to campaign in the Parthian Wars during which the Capital Ctesiphon was captured.

The Legion successfully supported Septimius Severus against Pescennius Niger, after the assassination of Pertinax. As the Legio X Fretensis supported Pescennius Niger it’s possible the two Legions fought each other.
The Legion was awarded the Title ‘Fidelis Constans’ meaning ‘Firmly Constant’ for its support.

The Legion is referred to in 215 CE as still being based in Judaea.
The Legion is last referred to during the reign of Philip the Arab (244-9 CE),
Although nothing is known of its fate subsequently, it may have been lost during the Parthian defeat of Valerian in 260 CE, when he was taken prisoner.
It is recorded that Roman Soldiers, who had been captured after Valerian‘s defeat, built a bridge at Shushtar and at Bishapur. They built the City, its Palace and the Temple of Anahita. It is thought these Roman soldiers may have been from the lost Legio VI Ferrata.

Caesarea Maritima, Israel